Sulayman ibn al-Hakam or Sulayman al-Musta'in bi-llah (; died 1016) was the fifth

Caliph of Córdoba A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with Khalifa, the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of ...

, ruling from 1009 to 1010, and from 1013 to 1016 in

Al-Andalus Al-Andalus () was the Muslim-ruled area of the Iberian Peninsula. The name refers to the different Muslim states that controlled these territories at various times between 711 and 1492. At its greatest geographical extent, it occupied most o ...

. In 1009, after Muhammad II ibn Hisham had led a revolt against caliph Hisham II al-Hakam and imprisoned him, taking advantage of the fact that the kingdom's strongman,

Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo Abd al-Rahman al-Mahdi (9834 March 1009), nicknamed Sanchol ('little Sancho', Sanchuelo to later historians), was the ʿĀmirid '' hajib'' (chief minister) of the Caliphate of Córdoba under Caliph Hisham II from October 1008, at a time when ...

, was fighting in León against the Christian king

Alfonso V Alfonso V (Spanish), Afonso V (Portuguese), Alfons V (Catalan) or Alphonse V (French) may refer to: * Alfonso V of León (999–1028) * Alfonso V of Aragon (1416–1458), The Magnanimous * Afonso V of Portugal (), The African * Afonso V of Kongo Af ...

, Sulayman took command of an army of Berbers who had abandoned Muhammad; by an alliance with count

Sancho García of Castile The name Sancho () is an Iberian name of Basque origin (Santxo, Santzo, Santso, Antzo, Sans). Sancho stems from the Latin name Sanctius. Feminine forms of the name are Sancha, Sancia, and Sanchia (), and the common patronymic is Sánchez and ...

, he was able to defeat Muhammad on November 1, 1009, in the battle of Alcolea. While Muhammad took refuge in

Toledo Toledo most commonly refers to: * Toledo, Spain, a city in Spain * Province of Toledo, Spain * Toledo, Ohio, a city in the United States Toledo may also refer to: Places Belize * Toledo District * Toledo Settlement Bolivia * Toledo, Or ...

, Sulayman entered Córdoba, which he allowed to be sacked by Berbers and Castillans; he freed and recognized caliph Hisham II, only to depose him after a few days. He was thus elected caliph by his Berber troops, assuming the title (

laqab Arabic names have historically been based on a long naming system. Many people from Arabic-speaking and also non-Arab Muslim countries have not had given name, given, middle name, middle, and family names but rather a chain of names. This system ...

) of al-Musta'in bi-llah ("He Who Seeks for God's Help"). Sulayman was however unable to conquer Toledo. In May 1010 Muhammad, who had reorganized his troops of "slave" mercenaries from all over Europe and had allied with Count Ramon Borrell of

Barcelona Barcelona ( ; ; ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within c ...

, defeated Sulayman and conquered Córdoba, which was plundered by the Spaniards. Muhammad was made again caliph, but his mercenaries assassinated him in July and restored Hisham II. After he had withdrawn to

Algeciras Algeciras () is a city and a municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain belonging to the province of Cádiz, Andalusia. Located in the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula, near the Strait of Gibraltar, it is the largest city on the Bay of G ...

, Sulayman managed to reconquer Cordoba in 1013 with Berber help and depose Hisham II. His policy of concessions to Berbers, Arab and "slave" troops and leaders, effectively reduced the caliphate's authority to only Córdoba. In the meantime the

Zirids The Zirid dynasty (), Banu Ziri (), was a Sanhaja Berber dynasty from what is now Algeria which ruled the central Maghreb from 972 to 1014 and Ifriqiya (eastern Maghreb) from 972 to 1148. Descendants of Ziri ibn Manad, a military leader of th ...

Granada Granada ( ; ) is the capital city of the province of Granada, in the autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada (Spain), Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence ...

formed an independent dynasty. In 1016 Córdoba was attacked by a large Berber army under the Hammudid governor of

Ceuta Ceuta (, , ; ) is an Autonomous communities of Spain#Autonomous cities, autonomous city of Spain on the North African coast. Bordered by Morocco, it lies along the boundary between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Ceuta is one of th ...

Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir () (d. 22 March 1018) was the sixth Caliph of Córdoba from 1016 until his death. He was a member of the Hammudid dynasty of Al-Andalus. He was named governor of Ceuta after 1013 by caliph Sulayman ibn al-Hakam. Taking ...

, who conquered it on 1 July 1016. Sulayman was imprisoned and, shortly afterwards, beheaded.

Sources

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sulayman Ibn Al-Hakam 10th-century births 11th-century Arab people 1016 deaths Umayyad caliphs of Córdoba 11th-century caliphs of Córdoba Executed Spanish people