Madinat az-Zahra's Creation was the Pinnacle of the Cordovan Caliphate.Madinat az-Zahra Leads as Europe's most Significant Archaeological SiteThe city was built, purposely, to rival with the Abbasidian Caliph's cosmopolitan Palatial city of Samarra, Baghdad. It was discovered in 1910, by a Spanish archaeologist. Medina Azahara (its more popular name), was a replica design of the Damascene Umayyadian palace: a symbolic bond to the Umayyad family-connection.Quick Chapter Jumps Impelling Reasons for His Action A Sweeping Approach for Unity Umayyad Rule Consolidated Internal and Foreign Affairs Location The Metropolis with the Shortest Lifespan Busy Hands Further al-Andalus related pages
The City's ConceptThe Palatial city was focused on impressing the world.
Madinat az-Zahra Court Life in the Salon Rico Abd-ar-Rahman 111 intiated the royal city's project in 936, not long after he declared himself Caliph, in 929. Simultaneously, he assumed the titles of 'Commander of the Believers' and 'Defender of the Religion of God,' in doing so, he actively showed his support for the Malikite religious angle. The Malikite system was the principal theological format identified by al-Andalusian believers. Impelling Reasons for His Action for His ActionDuring this period the al-Andalus world was fraught with the worry over the slow expansion of an alarming Shiite movement, affecting not only the al-Andalus but also the al-Magreb. The Fatimid shiites were a dangerous threat to the whole Islamic realm. Unity or Disunity in the Umayyad EmirateAbd-ar-Rahman 111 inherited the throne at the age of twenty-two, in an unquestionable inheritence situation.Rival-inheritors: his father, uncle and father's uncle, were killed in order to supress continuous insurgent uprisings which had begun to occur throughout the al-Andalus realm, splitting it into ever smaller Taifas: self-declared independent states: (During previous decades, both Arab aristocrats and Berber military, accumulated vast acres of land, joining them together, these became freehold properties - otherwise known as Taifas.) Central Government was losing all its power because of the 'splitting-away Taifas'. Unceasing internal riots and revolts reigned, provoked by Arab aristocrats who maintained dangerous alliances with Muslims of native Iberian parentage AND with Christians. The Umayyad al-Andalus Emirate was utterly drained by a generation of non-stop riots. The al-Andalus Emirate was on the brink of total disaster. A Sweeping Approach for UnityThere was only two choices for the non-conformists:Either by the power of the sword Or, by sworn fidelity. He sent emissaries with his message in order to avoid direct confrontations (errors previously commited by his ancestors). It was the Arab aristocracy who posed the most serious threat as state enemies. Abd-ar-Rahman 111 contracted a Slavic Christian army and with the al-Andalus slaves together they defended the Caliphate, crushing the Arab nobles' intentions. All but two Taifa states acquiesced to his leadership. Ibn-Hafsun and al-Hajjaj. The Bobastro state fell. The master of Sevilla, al-Hajjaj was executed within his own ranks. Umayyad Rule ConsolidatedIn the space of a year, Abd-ar-Rahman 111, finally consolidated Ummayad rule, after ninety years of bitter in-fighting; he spent the next twenty years strengthening this policy of unification.Long years of close observation of Central Government's failures gave him perspicacity. He became an excellent politician, diplomat and was a totalitarian ruler. A young prince, wise, brave and daring: perfectly suited to rule. Abd-ar-Rahman 111 took the remmants of a fast-dying Emirate to dazzling heights in the Umayyad al-Andalus caliphate. Political stability and military power gave birth to incredible al-Andalus monuments. Society on every level was educated, affluent and highly advanced. Internal and Foreign AffairsInternal AffairsParallel to this time, while the prince set to restoring a stable economy and to re-organising the Government, the Abassid caliphate was disintegrating. Foreign Affairs
View of Cordoba from the Ruins of Madinat az-Zahra Location of the Royal CityThe Medina Azahara is situated on the foothills of Sierra Morena, on the hill of al-Arus, west of Cordoba, 8 kilometres from the old city. Buried for over a thousand years, it was often believed only a legend, referred by the locals, as 'Cordoba La Vieja,' the Old Cordoba. Unlike other ruins, Madinat az-Zahra, gives the visitor, a life-size idea of what the original city looked like. A museum exhibition-idea was not a practical idea. The millions of scattered pieces are slowly being placed onto 1.1 scale models of the original structures.
The Sierra Morena directly behind the Top The Metropolis with the Shortest LifespanAbd-ar-Rahman 111 was an ambitious ruler and celebrated his triumphs with architectural monuments. The economy had suffered duing the rioting.Soon the whole country became invloved in two important projects. The Building Boom era of the Cordoban CaliphateDetails of the Structure and its DecorThe skills of: Architects, engineers, blacksmiths, carpenters, specialised artisans: jewel workers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, iconographers, stone and glass workers; wood, plaster and marble carvers. Their work was delicately woven into the spectacular new royal city with its sumptuous decor, bejewelling laced marble walls and sheathing roofs with incredible gold and silver roof tiles of the Salon Rico: the Hall of Abd-ar-Rahman 111. Historical logistics reported over 10,000 labourers worked in its creation. Over 6,000 stone blocks were cut daily and its spectacular columns were sought from throughout the al-Andalusi realm.
Hall of Abd-ar-Rahman 111 Specialised craftsmen were brought from every part of the world to train local Spanish artisans for the decor required for the palace. The Great Dome, The Great Mosque of Damascus and Santa Sophia's ornamentation were deeply admired by the Cordovan Emirs and Caliphs. Santa Sophia's decor techniques were closely observed, emulated improved and applied to Medina Azahara and to The Great Mosque of Cordoba. Many of these elements were thereafter repeated in Spanish Caliphal Architecture. Busy Hands were NOT involved in Revoltsal-Andalusi society evolved and prospered. Manufacture of beautiful silks, wools, musical intruments and many luxury articles became commonplace. Simultaneously, The 'Green Revolution' blossomed as al-Andalus science and hydology techniques combined to create a lush and highly productive land.The building of Madinat az-Zahra received one third of the state revenue and the construction proceeded, uninteruupted. Construction of the Medina Azahara took over forty years to complete. The city then only survived a further thirty-four years. Bridges and RoadsAccess was important for the supply of building materials. Bridges, roads and acqueducts were schemed and established . Their remains are still visible. The route from Cordoba transported the building materials on camels, horse and donkey drawn carriages. Madinat-az-Zahra functioned independently from Cordoba's sources.al-Hakim 11 became the City's Construction SupervisorIn Order to Fit SatisfactorilyThe city had to placed on three levels, thus fitting onto Sierra Morena's slopes. Its exterior walls measured over 1,518 metres in width with 745 metres in a south-north direction. The city was enclosed within a rectangular shape.The excavated parts reflect the amazing amalgamation of Byzantium and Damascene artisanship combined with the handicraftmanship of the local workers. Its orientation: the direction of the Mecca. The city's expanse was situated on over 112 hectares. Ninety percent of the ruins remain to be excavated. A City on Three LevelsThe upper terrace: the Caliph's Palace.The middle terrace: Vizier's Administration and Governmental offices. The lower terrace: the solidiers quarters and artisans. The city's Mosque was situated nearest to Cordoba. Its name too was Aljama Mezquita. The Medina Azhara's Mosque was built in a record forty days. On the same level were the Public Baths and the city's markets. The city housed over 12,000 inhabitants. How Did the City Function?Military Power was Extremely Important to the CaliphateTwo natural enemies of the Caliphate were: the Abassidians and the Shiites. However, there were Christians in Northern Spain and the Aristocatic Nobles who should not be forgotten.All enemies. Madinat az-Zahra's purpose was built to impress visiting diginitaries. Especially, for exhibiting its massive military power. Further al-Andalus related pagesGo to Historic CordobaGo to Moorish Spain Go to Moslem Disunity and the Caliphate Go to Caliphal Cordoba Go to al-Andalus Water Secrets Go to Averroes Archaelogical Complex
To Top of Madinat az-Zahra's page. Back to Andalucia-Andalusia's Homepage |
