Muhammad ibn Ammar facts for kids

Abū Bakr Muḥammad ibn ʿAmmār (1031–1086), often called Ibn Ammar, was a famous Arab poet from Silves. In some Spanish writings, his name appears as Abenámar. He lived during a time when Spain was known as al-Andalus, and it was a place where art and learning were very important.

Early Life and Friendship

Ibn Ammar grew up without much money or fame. But he was very good at writing poetry. His amazing poetry skills helped him become close friends with a young prince named Abbad III al-Mu'tamid. This prince later became the ruler of Seville, a small kingdom in al-Andalus.

However, Al-Mu'tamid's father, Abbad II al-Mu'tadid, did not like their friendship. He thought Ibn Ammar was a bad influence on his son. Because of this, Ibn Ammar was sent away from the kingdom for a while.

Rise to Power

After Al-Mu'tamid's father passed away, Al-Mu'tamid became the new ruler. He remembered his old friend and brought Ibn Ammar back. Al-Mu'tamid made Ibn Ammar his prime minister, which is like a chief advisor or top government official.

Ibn Ammar was not just a poet and politician. He was also known for being incredibly good at chess. One story says that he won a chess game against Alfonso VI of Castile, a powerful Christian king. This victory was so impressive that it helped convince Alfonso VI to leave Seville alone for a time.

Governor of Murcia

Ibn Ammar was very clever and helped his friend Al-Mu'tamid expand his kingdom. He planned for the kingdom of Seville to take over the nearby taifa of Murcia. He then convinced Al-Mu'tamid to make him the governor of this new territory.

But once he was in Murcia, Ibn Ammar made a big mistake. He decided to declare himself the king of Murcia and stopped listening to Al-Mu'tamid. This made Al-Mu'tamid very angry.

Downfall and End

Ibn Ammar's time as king of Murcia did not last long. He soon lost his power and was caught in a surprise attack. He was then sent back to Seville and put in prison.

At first, Al-Mu'tamid thought about forgiving his old friend. But then he read a letter that Ibn Ammar had written from prison. What was in the letter made the king furious. In a fit of rage, Al-Mu'tamid himself killed the poet.

Ibn Ammar's story is a sad one about friendship, power, and betrayal. He was a talented poet and a smart politician, but his ambition led to his tragic end.

See also

In Spanish: Ibn Ammar para niños