Emirate of Córdoba: Map & History
The Emirate of Córdoba, and from 929, the Caliphate of Córdoba, was an Arab Islamic state ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 756 to 1031.
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The Emirate of Córdoba, and from 929, the Caliphate of Córdoba, was an Arab Islamic state ruled by the Umayyad dynasty from 756 to 1031. Its territory comprised most of the Iberian Peninsula, the Balearic Islands, and parts of North Africa, with its capital in Córdoba. From 756 it was ruled as an independent emirate until Abd al-Rahman III proclaimed himself as caliph in 929.
Modern Countries Once Part of Emirate of Córdoba
At its mapped extent, Emirate of Córdoba covered territory in 3 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Emirate of Córdoba's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Emirate of Córdoba in Depth
Political history
The Visigothic Kingdom had ruled Iberia for over two centuries when it was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate. The Umayyads had previously conducted small raids on the southern tip of Iberia against the Visigoths, but full-scale conquest did not begin until April of 711. An army led by Tariq ibn Ziyad crossed into Southern Hispania from North Africa across the Strait of Gibraltar. After the crossing, Tariq's troops defeated Visigothic forces at the Battle of Guadalete. Roderic, the last king of the Visigoths, was killed, leaving an open path into Hispania. The Umayyads established the Iberian Peninsula as a province (wilāya) of their empire. The rulers of this province established their capital in Córdoba and received the administrative titles wāli or emīr.
Economy
The economy of al-Andalus had been monetized by the end of the 8th century, but it wasn't until the 10th century that both gold and silver coins were minted, thanks in large part to the flow of gold from trans-Saharan trade. A new mint was established at Madinat al-Zahra circa 947 CE (336 AH), though it was moved back to Córdoba circa 975–976 CE (365 AH).
The state also benefited greatly from trade with the rest of the Islamic world to the east. In addition to exporting crafted goods (primarily silk cloth), it provided raw materials to North Africa and the Middle East, regions that were poorer in natural resources than al-Andalus. This trade advantage promoted a higher standard of living, which in turn attracted more skilled labour to the country.
Culture
In high society, both men and women were expected to learn adab, a kind of formal social etiquette common to al-Andalus and other Islamic societies at the time. Women, such as royal concubines, were sometimes sent abroad to be trained in adab and other forms of high culture.
Al-Andalus was subject to eastern cultural influences, with Abd al-Rahman I likely having an interest in Syrian culture. During the reign of Abd al-Rahman II the culture of Baghdad became fashionable, and his reign is considered a high point of culture and patronage during the Emirate period. The musician Ziryab was a "major trendsetter of his time" creating trends in fashion, hairstyles, and hygiene. His students took these trends with them throughout Europe and North Africa.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Umayyad state of Córdoba (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Emirate of Córdoba: Key Facts
| Capital | Córdoba |
|---|---|
| Official language | Arabic |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 756 CE |
| Dissolved | 929 CE |
Preceded by
- Wilaya of al-Andalus
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q1337854 (CC0).
Emirate of Córdoba Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Emirate of Córdoba appears, with the other states of the time.
Emirate of Córdoba Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 445,142 km² in 760 CE.
Emirate of Córdoba: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Emirate of Córdoba exist?
Emirate of Córdoba is dated to 757 CE – 935 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Emirate of Córdoba?
The capital of Emirate of Córdoba was Córdoba.
How large was Emirate of Córdoba at its peak?
At its peak in 760 AD Emirate of Córdoba covered about 445,142 km².
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