Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa facts for kids

Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa ibn Nusayr (Arabic: عبد العزيز بن موسى) was the first governor of Al-Andalus, which is modern-day Spain and Portugal. He was the son of Musa ibn Nusayr, who was the governor of Ifriqiya (a region in North Africa). Abd al-Aziz had a long history of working with his father in politics and military campaigns.

Early Life and the Conquest

Abd al-Aziz joined his father in 712. They went to help a Berber general named Tariq during the Umayyad conquest of Hispania. This was when Muslim armies expanded into the Iberian Peninsula. Some people thought that Musa and Abd al-Aziz, who were Arabs, wanted to share the glory of this conquest.

The conquest went well under Tariq, Musa ibn Nusayr, and Abd al-Aziz. In 714, the Umayyad caliph (leader), Al Waleed, called Tariq and Musa back to Syria. Abd al-Aziz was then made governor of Al-Andalus by his father. After returning to Damascus, Musa ibn Nusayr lost favor with the caliph. He spent his last days in Medina. Musa ibn Nusayr actually lived longer than his son, Abd al-Aziz.

Governing Al-Andalus

Abd al-Aziz chose the city of Seville as his capital. Seville is in southern Spain, on the Guadalquivir River. After his father and Tariq left, Abd al-Aziz continued to lead. Under his rule, Islamic power in Al-Andalus grew. It spread into modern-day Portugal in the west. It also reached the areas near the Pyrenees mountains in the north.

Abd al-Aziz signed a peace treaty with a Visigothic lord named Theudimer in Murcia. This treaty was called the Treaty of Tudmir. It allowed Visigothic Christians to keep practicing their religion. In return, they had to pay a special tax and stay loyal to their new Muslim rulers.

Personal Life and Rumors

Abd al-Aziz stayed in power and married Egilona. She was the widow of Roderic, the last Visigothic king. Egilona changed her name to Umm ‘Asim after they married. Abd al-Aziz marrying a local Visigothic woman became a common trend. This was because there were not many Arab or Berber women in Al-Andalus at the time. These women had not traveled with the army during the conquest.

Some people felt that Egilona had too much influence over Abd al-Aziz. There were rumors that she encouraged him to act more like a king. She supposedly had him lower the entrances to his rooms. This would make people bow as they entered, showing great respect to him.

These connections to the old Visigothic royalty and Egilona's influence led to rumors. People wrongly thought that Abd al-Aziz had converted to Christianity. These rumors even reached the Umayyad Caliph Sulaymān in Damascus.

Assassination and What Happened Next

The caliph was worried by these rumors. He ordered Abd al-Aziz to be killed. It is likely that these rumors were started by a group of rivals. This group was led by Habib ibn Abi Ubayda al-Fihri. They were the ones who eventually killed Abd al-Aziz. Before these rumors, Abd al-Aziz was known as a good Muslim.

Sources give different years for his death, either 715, 716, or 718. Abd al-Aziz was beheaded in a monastery in Seville, which was used as a mosque then. After his death, Abd al-Aziz’s head was sent to Damascus. It was shown publicly, and his father, Musa ibn Nusayr, was there to see it.

Abd al-Aziz was replaced by his cousin, Ayyub ibn Habib al-Lakhmi. Some believe his cousin played a part in his assassination. His time as governor was short. For about forty years after Abd al-Aziz’s death, Al-Andalus faced a lot of trouble. Different Arab groups fought for power. They also tried to expand Muslim control. Governors were appointed, but they were often removed by rivals or by the caliph in Damascus.

This situation continued until 756. That year, an independent Umayyad emirate was set up in Córdoba. However, Abd-ar-Rahman I still faced much resistance in places like Toledo and Zaragoza. He had to fight for another 25 years to fully control the area. Islamic power remained in the region until 1492. That is when Ferdinand and Isabella conquered the Islamic Emirate of Granada.

See also

In Spanish: Abd al-Aziz ibn Musa para niños