, Abdallah Ibn Mohammed

Biography
Contemporary historians accused Abdullah of orchestrating the death ofhis elder brother, al-Mundhir, whereby he ascended to power.[2] This isunlikely, as ibn Muhammad showed very little interest in governing,becoming a neurotic recluse who was only interested in hunting and hisfaith. Once in power, however, he showed no reluctance to dispose ofthose he viewed as a threat, even if they were family. Two of his ownbrothers were executed on his orders, and he commanded one of his sons(al-Mutarrif) to kill his own brother. Even this extreme display ofloyalty was not enough to save al-Mutarrif, as he too was executed fortreason a few years later.[citation needed]

Abdullah is described as an apathetic[clarification needed] emir. Hisgovernment was marked by continuous wars between Arabs, Berbers andMuladi. His power as emir was confined to the area of Córdoba, while therest had been seized by rebel families that did not accept his authority.

The most formidable threat for the emir was Umar Ibn Hafsun, who hadconquered the provinces of Rayya (including Bobastro),[3] Elvira(including Granada) and Jaén, and had allied with the populations ofArchidona, Baeza, Úbeda and Priego. In 891 Ibn Hafsun was defeated nearthe castle of Polei and lost several cities. After the victory, Abdullahmassacred all the Christians, while the Muslims of the conquered citieswere pardoned. However, by the following year Ibn Hafsun had alreadyrecovered, and conquered back all the lost territories.

In 901, the emir signed a peace agreement with Ibn Hafsun (who had alliedwith the Banu Qasi family, controlling the Ebro valley, and the Kingdomof Asturias). However, the war broke out again the following year, onlyto be halted by the death of Abdullah at Córdoba, who was improving hispositions. The son he had designated as successor was killed by one ofAbdullah''s brothers. The latter was in turn executed by Abdullah''sfather, who named as successor Abd ar-Rahman III, son of the killed sonof Abdullah.

Family
Abdullah was the son of Muhammad I and the younger brother of al-Mundhir.
Around 863, Abdullah married Onneca Fortúnez, daughter of FortúnGarcés,[2] King of Pamplona and his wife Aurea (Orea). She was repudiatedsometime before 880 and returned to the Kingdom of Pamplona, mostprobably with her father who returned that year,[2] and took her cousinAznar Sánchez of Larraun as her second husband with whom she had at leastthree children, including Queen Toda of Navarre who was, therefore, theaunt of Abd ar-Rahman III.[2]

Abdullah had several children:
Muhammed ibn Abd Allah (864 – 3 Dec 895). Recorded to be a son ofOnneca.[4][5][6] He was murdered by his brother al-Mutarrif (with theapproval of their father) on 28 January 891[7] He married a Basque orFrankish woman named Muzna. They were the parents of Abd ar-Rahman III[4]who was born three weeks after his father''s death.[7]
al-Mutarrif, murdered in 891 after being accused of conspiracy.[7]
Aban al-Asi, executed in 921 after being accused of conspiracy.