Bust of Abd al-Rahman III, Cadrete facts for kids
A bronze statue, called a bust, of Abd al-Rahman III was put up in June 2016. He was a very important leader, the first Caliph of Córdoba, in a small Spanish town called Cadrete. This town is near Zaragoza in a region called Aragon. Three years later, a new local government took the bust down. This removal started a big discussion about how Spain should remember the history of Al-Andalus. Al-Andalus was the name for the Muslim lands in Spain during the Middle Ages.
Why the Bust Was Made
Abd al-Rahman III was a powerful ruler. He was the eighth and last Emir (a type of ruler) and the first Caliph (a top religious and political leader) of Córdoba. In 935 AD, he ordered the building of Cadrete's castle. He was in the area to stop a rebellion by a group called the Banu Tujib.
A bust was made to honor him. It was put up on June 18, 2016, in the town's Plaza de Aragón. The town celebrated this event with a fun medieval fair.
The Artist Behind the Bust
The artist who made the bust was Fernando Ortiz Villarroya from Teruel. He has a special connection to Cadrete because his partner is from there. He did not ask for any money for his work. However, making the bust out of bronze cost €7,000 of public money.
Ortiz described his artwork as "a simple portrait." He said it has a serious look because Abd al-Rahman III was a leader. But he also said it looks gentle because of its artistic style.
See also
In Spanish: Busto de Abderramán III (Cadrete) para niños
