Siege of Córdoba (1009–1013)

The city of Córdoba in al-Andalus, under the rule of Umayyad Caliph Hisham II al-Hakam, was besieged by Berbers from November 1009/late 1010 until May 1013, with the city beyond the Roman walls completely destroyed.^[2] The siege, the massacres and the sackings that followed have been linked to the decline and end of Umayyad rule.^[3]

Siege of Córdoba
Part of Fitna of al-Andalus
The Iberian Peninsula in 1000 AD
Date 1009/late 1010-1013 Location Córdoba Result Berber victory Sulayman ibn al-Hakam restored as Caliph of Córdoba Sack and Destruction of Córdoba and beginning of the Taifa age
Belligerents
Berbers	Caliphate of Córdoba
Commanders and leaders
Sulayman ibn al-Hakam Zawi ibn Ziri Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir Al-Qasim al-Ma'mun[1] many others	Muhammad II of Córdoba † Hisham II † Wadih al-Siqlabi †
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Heavy, many massacred and fled, city destroyed and sacked

Background

Muhammad II of Córdoba rise to the Umayyad state of Córdoba throne after overthrowning Hisham II provoked Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo , he marched on Córdoba to restore order but was defeated and executed by Muhammad followers.^[4]

Muhammad then turned on the Berbers , supported by Córdoban population , the berbers were oppressed and their homes were pillaged , they weren't allowed to be armed in the city, which made them an easy target for attack^[5]

Berbers having been expulsed from Córdoba , and in order to support their cause , they choose an Umayyad member called Sulayman ibn al-Hakam as their candidate for the caliphate throne,^[6] Sulayman rose in rebellion and with the backing of Berbers and Castilians with the leadership of count Sancho García of Castile had defeated Muhammad and the Córdobans at the Battle of Qantish^[7][8] where he entered Córdoba and proclaimed himself with the title "al-Musta'in" on 9 November 1009 , Muhammad retreated to Toledo where he got supported by two frankish counts , he confronted Sulayman at the Battle of Aqbat al-Bakr where the latter got defeated and retreated to southern Andalucia.^[9][10] Muhammad entered Córdoba but he turned to chase the retreated Berbers , the two parties meet at the Battle of Guadiaro where Sulayman was victorious and al-Mahdi had to retreat to Córdoba.^[11][12]

Siege

After retreating , Muhammad started to fortify the city walls and towers and fix what was destroyed , he made trenches along the city , he was forced to use the city people on this work , however they got tired of him and his hajib Wadih al-Siqlabi killed him and restored Hisham II ^[13][14]

Berbers however refused Hisham II and did not recognize him , 4 months after the Battle of Guadiaro the Siege of Córdoba that will last from the late 1010 till 1013 has just started.^[15][16] From 1011 to 1013, the Berbers engaged in raids on the countryside as well as maintaining a blockade of Córdoba from a base at the Madinat al-Zahra.^[17] Historian Elizabeth Nash reports that, "Berber mercenaries from North Africa stationed in Córdoba rebelled and sacked Medina Azahara, hauled down its columns, horseshoe arches and soaring vaults, demolished its elaborate water channels, bathhouses and aqueducts, plundered the ruins, then set fire to them.^[18]". In November 1011 Wadih al-Siqlabi tried to make peace with the berbers but he was executed by his allies for that matter^[19] while trying to flee,^[20] due to the lack of food the people of Córdoba were forced to eat human bodies and blood of slaughtered animals, they risked their lives by going out the trenchs at night to gather food,^[21] in 1013 the garrison of Córdoba tried a last sortie that failed resulting in the city surrender.^[22] Berbers entered the city and got their revenge, they massacred the Arab citizens of Córdoba , many officials, learned men and jews were killed , Prominent jews like Samuel ibn Naghrillah were forced to flee the city^[23][24]Berbers didnt retrain in the pillage and destruction of the city and what left was put on fire. Hisham II was murdered resulting in Sulayman ibn al-Hakam restoration to the throne.^[25][26]

Aftermath

Córdoba was placed under Berber rule, ibn adhari says :"this Sulayman marked the beginning of the berber dynasty",^[27] Sulayman and the Berbers settled in Madinat al-Zahra to avoid frictions with the Córdobans^[28]

Supporters of Sulayman got cities and lands as rewards , the Zirids with Zawi ibn Ziri took Elvira and reigned in Granada , Banu Ifran in Ronda , Banu Khazrun in Arcos de la Frontera , Banu Birzal in Carmona , Banu Dammar in Morón de la Frontera, Hammudid in Malaga,Algeciras and Maghrawa in Jaén^[29][30][31] leading to the foundation of Taifa age.

See also

• Fitna of al-Andalus
• Timeline of Jewish History
• List of massacres in Spain
• Timeline of antisemitism
• Timeline of the Muslim presence in the Iberian peninsula