Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad

• Name — Al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad • Succession — Emir of the Seville Taifa • Reign — 1069–1091 • Predecessor — Abbad II al-Mu'tadid • Successor — Yusuf ibn Tashfin (as Almoravid ruler) • Born — c. 1040 • Birthplace — Beja, Al-Andalus • Died — c. 1095 • Place of death — Aghmat, Almoravid Empire (now Morocco) • Burial Place — Aghmat • Full Name — Al-Mu'tamid Muhammad ibn Abbad Ibn Ismail al-Lakhmi (Arabic: المعتمد محمد ابن عباد بن اسماعيل اللخمي) • Dynasty — Abbadid • Father — Abbad II al-Mu'tadid • Spouse — Al-Rumaikiyya • Issue — Buthaina (daughter) • Issue Type — Children • Religion — Sunni Islam • Illustration — Column of Al-Mutamid, Jardines de los Reales Alcázares, Alcázar of Seville

When he was 13 years old, Al-Mu'tamid's father bestowed on him the title of Emir and appointed the Andalusi Arabic poet Ibn Ammar as his vizier. However, Al-Mu'tamid fell strongly under the influence of Ibn Ammar. Al-Mu’tamid's father was wary of Ibn Ammar and the influence he had, ultimately sending him into exile.[2]

After the death of his father Abbad II al-Mu'tadid in 1069, Al-Mu'tamid inherited Seville as caliph. One of his first acts was to recall Ibn Ammar and to bestow military honours and high political offices on him, including as Governor of Silves and Prime Minister of the government in Seville. This reconciliation would later be rebuked for unknown reasons. More likely the cause of resentment grew from the fact that the Prime Minister had let al-Mu'tamid's son, Prince al-Rasid, be captured and held hostage during a military campaign. He had also declared himself Emir of Murcia without properly acknowledging the rights of his own sovereign. The two men exchanged verses full of bitter criticisms and accusations. Murcia was subsequently lost and Ibn Ammar himself taken hostage. A final attempt to conspire with the young prince against his father proved too much for al-Mu'tamid, who "fell into a rage and hacked him to death with his own hands". After Ibn Ammar's death, the caliph was reported to have grieved bitterly and gave his former friend a sumptuous funeral.[3] Large parts of al-Andalus were under the dominion of al-Mu'tamid: to the west his territory encompassed the land between the lower Guadalquivir and Guadiana, plus the areas around Niebla, Huelva and Saltes. In the south it extended to Morón, Arcos, Ronda, and also Algeciras and Tarifa. The capital, Córdoba, was taken in 1070, lost in 1075, and regained in 1078. Nevertheless, the family was still subject to taxation by the King of Castile, to whom they were vassals. The drain of these taxes effectively weakened the kingdom's power: al-Mu'tamid's decision to stop paying these taxes caused King Alfonso VI of Castile (who had already conquered Toledo in 1085) to besiege Seville. Al-Mu'tamid asked help from the Berber Almoravids of Morocco against the Castilian king. Al-Mu'tamid supported the Almoravid ruler Yusuf ibn Tashfin against Alfonso in the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086. The Almoravids established themselves at Algeciras and, after defeating the Christians, occupied all the Islamic taifas, including Seville itself in 1091.[6] After they ravaged the city, al-Mu'tamid ordered his sons to surrender the royal fortress (the early Alcázar of Seville) in order to save their lives. When his son, Rashid, had advised him not to call on Yusuf ibn Tashfin, Al-Mu'tamid had rebuffed him: In 1091, Al-Mu'tamid was taken into captivity by the Almoravids and exiled to Aghmat, Morocco, where he died (or was perhaps assassinated) in 1095. His grave is located in the outskirts of Aghmat.[8]

The authorities additionally record the heading Mu'tamid ibn Abbad. His recorded language was Arabic. His recorded confession was Islam. He was the child of Abbad II al-Mu'tadid. He married Al-Rumaikiyya. 2 children are recorded: Buthaina bint al-Mu'tamid ibn Abbad and Abu Nasr al-Fath al-Ma'mun. Other recorded relations include Zaida of Seville.

Indexed under Islamic Studies and History, Education and Islamic Studies, Linguistic, Cultural, and Literary Studies. Recorded as poet, writer and politician.