Al-Ghazal facts for kids

Abū Zakariyyāʾ Yaḥyā ibn Ḥakam al-Bakrī al-Jayyānī, known as al-Ghazāl (which means "the gazelle"), was an important Arab poet and diplomat from Al-Andalus (what is now Spain). He lived from about 790 to 864. Al-Ghazāl was famous for two big trips he made for the Emirate of Córdoba. The first was to the Byzantine Empire in 840, and the second was to the Vikings in 845.

Who Was Al-Ghazāl?

Al-Ghazāl was born in Jaén. He got his nickname, al-ghazāl, when he was young. This was because he was thin and handsome, like a gazelle. He was a Muslim and part of the Arab tribe called Bakr ibn Wāʾil.

A Wise Diplomat

A historian from the 11th century, Ibn Ḥayyān, called al-Ghazāl "the sage of Spain." This means he was seen as a very wise person. Another writer, Ibn Diḥya, wrote more about al-Ghazāl's skills as a diplomat than his poetry. A diplomat is someone who represents their country when dealing with other countries.

Ibn Diḥya is the only source for the story of al-Ghazāl's trip to the Vikings. He said he read about it in a book that is now lost.

Missions for the Emir

Al-Ghazāl went on two very important missions for the Emirate of Córdoba. These trips helped build relationships with other powerful groups.

Trip to the Byzantine Empire

Around 839 or 840, the Emir ʿAbd al-Raḥmān II sent al-Ghazāl on a mission. He went to the court of the Byzantine Emperor Theophilos. This trip was a follow-up to an earlier visit from the Byzantines. They wanted to form an alliance against the Abbasids.

Al-Ghazāl carried a letter from Emir ʿAbd al-Raḥmān to Emperor Theophilos. He traveled with another ambassador and the Byzantine ambassador who had visited Córdoba. They went all the way to Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire.

There are many interesting stories about al-Ghazāl's time in Constantinople. One story says that Emperor Theophilos tried to make al-Ghazāl bow down. The emperor lowered the doorway to his throne room. This would force anyone entering to go on their knees. But al-Ghazāl was clever. He went through the doorway feet first, on his back! The emperor was very impressed by his quick thinking.

Trip to the Vikings

According to Ibn Diḥya, in 844 or 845, the Majūs (which was his name for the Vikings) attacked Seville. The Emir ʿAbd al-Raḥmān II fought them off. After this, a Viking ambassador came to make peace.

The Emir then sent al-Ghazāl on a mission to the Viking king. Al-Ghazāl was chosen because he was very smart and good at getting things done. He took valuable gifts with him. He sailed in his own ship alongside the Viking ship.

They arrived at one of the Viking islands. It was a large island in the ocean with fresh water and gardens. It took three days to travel from the mainland to this island. Many Vikings lived there, and they also controlled other islands and a large part of the mainland. At that time, the Vikings were not Christians, but they later became Christians.

However, some historians think this story about the Viking trip might be a legend. Ibn Diḥya, the source, was sometimes seen as unreliable. Also, parts of the story, like al-Ghazāl returning through Santiago de Compostela (which was not important back then) or the Vikings converting to Christianity (which happened much later), suggest it might not be entirely true. It's possible this story combines parts of the Byzantine trip with the Viking attack on Seville.

Al-Ghazāl's Poetry

Ibn Diḥya also shared many of al-Ghazāl's poems. One poem describes his admiration for the Viking queen. He wrote about her beauty and how she lived in a far-off land.

Al-Ghazāl also wrote a poem criticizing his nephew for playing chess. He thought chess was a bad game. Chess was a new game in Córdoba at that time, brought by a musician named Ziryāb.

See also

In Spanish: Al-Gazal para niños