To understand the current state of our narrative, elapsed from the year 981, we need to establish how the main political protagonists in Cordoba's history led the policy there until we reach the current environment at the pre-denouement of conspiracies involving Jalila and Amal.

Galib Abu Tamman Al-Nasiri also called Ghalib ibn'Abd al-Rahman was a powerful military leader who served three caliphs, of Slavic origin and started as a slave being released from this condition by Al-Rhaman III, the father of Al-Hakam. His military prestige peaked at Al-Hakam government.

With the death of Al-Hakam Ghalib that was not very in tune with the Vizier Mus-hafy did not react to the attacks of northern groups of Christians who felt encouraged to attack the caliphate with the death of the Caliph.

By taking advantage of the situation and despite the fear of Sultana Subh, Abi Amir astutely even without being a military leader offered himself as a volunteer to lead a defense against northern Christians if supported by receiving men and weapons.

He got approval by the Sultana and by the council, although not unanimously, and left Cordoba in late February 977 crossing the border to set up a siege to the fortress of Los Bafios. The raid was a success and three months later Abi Amir returned to the capital, despite the limited relevance of the campaign, with a lot of prisoners and countersigned by the soldiers as a leader, more, by the way, he treated the soldiers as an intelligently worked for successful recognition of someone who was not military. In any event, the campaign caused enormous joy in the capital that was frightened by the possibility of attacks.

With the rise of the power and prestige of Abi Amir, the popularity of Mus-hafy who was a man of mediocre abilities waned. His ascent to the high office since his father had been the tutor of Hakam and the son consequently enjoyed the esteem that the prince had by his father. It was thus that of Hakam's private secretary climbed little by little successive positions and came to be secretary of state. He was not an idiot, but the talent necessary for a statesman he had none. What happened was that Abi Amir, instead of the first virtual minister, was the real minister. In public and in front Abi Amir was treating Mus-hafy with honor and respect, but behind he diminished him and never missed an opportunity to show to Subh his disability. Mus-hafy had no idea that this was happening and considered him a good friend and collaborator.

Mus-hafy nevertheless did not ignore the dangers that the political situation was heading and decided to approach General Ghalib to strengthen himself. For this, he asked Abi Amir to help him in this endeavor and ended up getting their support, but the words contradicted his intentions. While assuring the Mus-hafy his total devotion to reconcile him with Ghalib, he took steps to ensure that the differences were even more deepened.

So he influenced Subh to recognize the enormous qualities of the General suggesting that not to lose your competition she should promote him to the honorable post of dimL-Wizuratain (civil and military chief administrator) and Generalissimo of the Frontier Army. Mus-hafy far from opposing this promotion did support it because Abi Amir said to him that would be a step towards the desired reconciliation.

Abi Amir a month after his return to Cordoba arriving from the military incursion that promoted him as Commander in Chief of the Capital Army prepared himself for a second expedition. In Madrid, he met with Ghalib who did huge accolades and homages and won his heart by making a harsh criticism about the Mus-hafy capacity. A firm alliance was established between the two generals who agreed to unseat the prime minister. Together they attacked the Mola fortress where they captured an immense booty and many prisoners. The campaign was a success and the two generals parted, without before Ghalib praise the performance of Abi Amir to encourage him as being qualified to return to Cordoba and take the place of the Mayor of the Capital instead of Mus-hafy's son who was in the position. Promising to follow the advice Abi Amir returned to Córdoba while the General got back to the province ruled by him.

The honors of the campaign fell on the shoulders of the general who had planned and executed almost everything and Abi Amir who considered himself an apprentice in the military issue did nothing to disqualify it. But Ghalib wanted to push out his new ally and made a point of saying in court, to Subh, to the boy caliph, and to the council, which Abi Amir had accomplished military wonders. Thus, it was not difficult for him to get the office of Mayor to replace the son of Mus-hafy.

The resignation of his son countersigned by the Caliph opened the eyes of Mus-hafy. Abi Amir was playing a double game. He was worried. The power of its rival had exceeded his own power, he was having the support of the Sultana that he was already slandering, saying it was his mistress. Finally stating that even the nobility was with him.

Mus-hafy concluded that his only way out was to join Ghalib. So he wrote the general lending his full alliance and suggesting, to settle this union, the marriage of his son Othman with the daughter of the General, the beautiful and graceful Asthma, as mentioned briefly in Chapter 3.

The general persuaded that should leave aside the hate surprisingly gave his consent. Mus-hafy hurried and before Abi Amir knew it he signed an engagement agreement with Ghalib.

Once Abi Amir knew about the fact wrote for Ghalib remembering the conversations they had maintained during the recent campaign and the numerous reasons that led them to consider Mus-hafy inefficient and harmful to Cordoba and that if the general really intended a fruitful alliance, he even offered to marry Asthma.

Ghalib was convinced of the great mistake he had made and wrote the Mus-hafy stating that the contract was broken, and in August of 977, signed a new engagement agreement which stated that Abi Amir would marry Asthma. A little later, on 18 September 977, the groom went again to the field. He went to Toledo where he joined his future father and captured two Christian castles and the suburbs of Salamanca. Returning to the capital another honorific title was conferred on him along with a monthly salary of 80 gold pieces, the same amount as the Vizier himself received.

The setting of the wedding date was due to the Caliph or in other words Subh. The marriage was celebrated in the New Year 978, a Christian festival, but with Muslim participation. The Caliph himself paid the expenses of a sumptuous ceremony. Never in the history of Cordoba had happened a retinue so splendid as the cortege that accompanied Asthma. The beautiful daughter of General captivated her husband not only for beauty but also for its culture to the point that he always favored in relation to his other wives.

From the moment that Ghalib canceled the engagement contract with his son, Mus-hafy knew had fallen into political disgrace. So, suffer an imputation he himself predicted it would be a short step till reality. In March, two months after the wedding ceremony, Mus-hafy, his sons, and nephews were accused of prevarication, removed from office, and arrested. All his property was confiscated until their crimes were clarified. he would be jailed for five years until his death.

Abi Amir won the first turn toward the full acquisition of power in Cordoba. On the same day of the arrest of his opponent, he was elevated to the post of Hajib. From then shared with his father-in-law the supreme power in the caliphate, it would be folly to oppose him.

But as crazy as it would seem, the opposite happened.

The same Jaudhar, who though no longer a courtier, still had access to the Palace dependencies and got involved in a conspiracy that began satirizing situations involving Subh, to raise the people to face Abi Amir's anger, because he reacted violently to any allusion to his alleged involvement with the Sultana; he actually put to death a singing-girl hose master, in the hope of selling her to the Minister, had taught her an amorous ditty with Subh for its subjects. Nevertheless, verses like the following were recited in the streets:

"The end of the world draweth nigh!

Destruction impendeth for abominations are rife!

The Khalif is a stripling and a brace of lovers share his teeming dam"

Actions satirizing members of the court did not involve great risk, but Jaudhar was beyond that. Allied with the President of the Court of Appeals, al-Malik ibn Mundhir he volunteered himself due also to its easy access to the court, to serve as executioner to kill the Caliph. And put on the throne another son of al-Rahman III. Also were involved some judges and some men of culture as a poet Ramadis.

Once again Jauhar did not achieve his purpose and was prevented from stabbing the Caliph for the protection guard. Being discovered, the plot's key stakeholders met death by crucifixion. The same fate fell to the applicant to replace the Caliph. The Ramadi poet was spared by the requests received by his admirers but was sentenced to silence for the rest of his life. Thus, condemned to exercise his skill, the poor artist wandered the streets of Cordoba as a dead man.

The plot showed Abi Amir that the most dangerous enemies were in the same rows beside which he had studied literature, theology, and law. He did not doubt that the disagreements were by simple envy. But he knew this was not the only cause for which he inspired their aversion. The main cause was the religious indifference which they attributed to him.

It was then passed first through his head the idea of purging of books in the Library to show publicly that did not care, nor was the lover of philosophy A characteristic of him that some were divulging subtly, trying to say that therefore he was a Muslim by half. As he was aware of it and did not leave loose ends, philosopher or not, he was, in essence, a political and quickly devised a way to end what he considered slanders taking away from his enemies the only weapon used against him. He decided to show with a single action, one orthodoxy sign, and what kind of Muslim he was.

He gathered the most distinguished and renowned clerics and led them to the great Al-Hakam library, which we know was under the command of Amal. He declared for the divines that he had determined the destruction of all treatises on philosophy, astronomy, and other sciences forbidden by religion. He ordered that they got rid of the hateful volumes.

The divines went to work and when the task was completed the Minister ordered that the books were all burned and to show their zeal for faith committed some to the flames with his bare own hands. Nobody better than he knew that this was an act of vandalism, but what mattered now was that he was posing as the guardian of the Islamic faith.

From the moment that neutralized the question of orthodoxy in such a solid way that no one could challenge more, he turned to the Caliph, whose growth to adulthood was the immediate danger to be faced.

Hisham showed as a child a great future, he learned new things with ease and had a sense of judgment rare in children, as we learn from the account of his Zubaidi tutor.

He had the misfortune to ascend to the throne at a young age in a caliphate that would not take well the institution of regency. At first, his mother took control over it, but with the growth of the power of Abi Amir, he realized his future was put in control of the reins that led the Caliph, and little by little, using all kinds of devices, could ward off the influence of Subh on Hisham, keeping it under their direct control.

We cannot be sure, but one of his strategies was to introduce the boy prematurely in harem pleasures. In parallel with this, he confused the head of the young man with religious obligations, trying to foist on your mind the idea that he was destined to divine contemplation and the affairs of the state would distract the main target and harm his salvation.

He succeeded in a sense because the caliph was given to good works and read the Quran with attendance, prayed and fasted; but this situation was not enough to let Abi Amir with calmness because the Minister was afraid that sooner or later someone else could gain influence over the boy and open your eyes to the real situation.

While affairs of the state were being conducted in the Caliph's palace this danger would be present. There were numerous transit officers coming and going and eventually the Caliph could fall into the arms of one of them and everything would crumble to the Minister in a heartbeat.

He needed to ward off this danger.

Then Abi Amir was the recent idea to remove the state offices, from where they stood, by transferring transactions to another location. For this purpose, envisioned the construction of a city east of Cordoba, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, where he built a grand palace for himself and other palaces to the officers of the senior management. This city received the name of Zahira was built in two years and the offices of government were transferred then. Soon Zahira received a large population. All those who preferred to stay close to the power and the source of favors migrated from Cordoba, and Al-Zahara and Zahira grew to join the outskirts of Cordoba.

From then it was easier to keep your eyes on the Caliph and prevent him from meddling in government business. However, in addition, the Minister adopted other means to isolate him as completely as possible. All movement was watched by guards and spies who put the safety alert system in action no matter how small the attempt to contact the Caliph. Hisham was a prisoner, could not leave the palace, all that he spoke about was soon informed to the Minister and on the other hand, he was not knowing anything about what was going on, except what was released to his knowledge.

As a caution, for external consumption, the Minister said that the Caliph had him in charge of the affairs of the caliphate so that he could devote to spiritual matters, but later when success was assured not even mention his name was most needed.

In the meantime, the Minister was preparing a new but no less important political coup. He was determined to change the organization of the army.

Two were his motives - one of a patriotic order and other personal: while he wanted Hispania leading the list of states in Europe, he also wanted to get rid of his colleague Ghalib.

According to an analysis that he had been developing since he has been involved with the army, the force that was basically formed mostly by Iberian Arabs was not suitable for any of his reasons. The military organization was, without a shadow of a doubt, ineffective. There was too much power in the hands of chiefs and few soldiers available to the crown. The best of the troops were stationed at the border and could only be called unless in case of need. The regular army was not very big and the cavalry that could give you about five thousand horsemen had lost much of its skill in recent years.

He knew that sooner or later would have to confront that Ghalib, he had been helpful in the removal of Mus-hafy, but now had no more usefulness and was a stone in his way. He already had manifested itself against some of its measures and opposed openly to Hisham situation, grandson of his great boss Al-Rahman III, which he did not accept to be placed caged like a criminal, as well as being a fiery monarchist. The battle was imminent, and he could not emerge victorious without strong-armed support. I knew that this time could not succeed with simple palace intrigue. Ghalib was a distinguished general and could count on the whole army in his defense. He had no illusions, needed an army, and would seek out, in Mauritania or in Christian Hispania.

We will not detail here how and by what preconditions Abi Amir, who had previously served as Chief Justice in Mauritania during the Al-Hakam government, as already mentioned, could get the troops in that country. But the fact is that he had had at his disposal six hundred men who came to Hispania ready to serve him.

The Northern Christians also provided Abi Amir with excellent troops. Poor, ambitious, and unpatriotic, the men of Leon, Castile, and Navarre just responded to the request in search of higher payments promised by the Arabs.

After getting the men he wanted, he gave progress to the part of his plan that also aimed Ghalib

With the dominance of foreigners in the Army he changed an entrenched feature of the regiments, squadrons companies always coincided with the tribes and their subdivisions. Abi Amir abolished this practice and put the Arabs in different regiments without regard to which tribe they belonged. He knew that if he had done it a century ago would receive vehement protests of the troops and would suffer a possible insurrection, but times had changed so much, the Arabs even knew anymore which tribe each one of them belonged, therefore the change was implemented without any disturbance.

While making these substantial changes in the organization of the army, Abi Amir was still maintaining a good relationship with his father, but his opponent was quite keen not to be deceived about the real motives of all those structural changes in the force and decided to break up with him.

And what had to happen, happened.

One day the two enemies were, after a banquet, in a tower in a castle on the border and Ghalib ranted with reproaches against the Minister that were answered in the same tone. The temperature of the dispute grew so much that Ghalib taken by anger shouted:

- "Dog that thou art! Thou claimest supreme authority and schemest to overthrow of the dynasty!"

So, seething he drew his sword and attacked in the direction of the Minister. Some officials tried to intercede, but he struck Abi Amir that taken of terror threw himself from the tower. Fortunately, he held on to a projection of the structure and saved the life, and had to flee from the scene.

After this meeting, the war was inevitable and did not take long to happen. Ghalib proclaimed himself the defender of the rights of the Caliph: a body of troops joined to his regular troops and further support he got from Leon.

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Notes:

8. Historical view based on Reinhart Dozy - Spanish Islam; History of the Moslems in Spain