Recemundus facts for kids

Recemundus was a very important person in the 900s. He was a Mozarabic bishop (a church leader) in a city called Elvira in Spain. He also worked as a secretary for the caliph of Córdoba, who was a powerful ruler. His job was to help the caliph with important papers and messages.

Who Was Recemundus?

Recemundus (also known by his Arabic names Rabi ibn Sid al-Usquf or Rabi ibn Zaid) was a key figure in Spain during the 10th century. He was a Christian leader, a bishop, in a place called Elvira. But he also worked closely with the Muslim ruler, the Caliph of Córdoba. This shows that people from different religions could work together back then.

Diplomat and Ambassador

In 953, Recemundus became an ambassador. An ambassador is someone who represents their ruler in another country. He was sent by Caliph Abd al-Rahman III to Germany. He visited Otto I, who was the German King and later became the Holy Roman Emperor.

Before Recemundus went, the leaders had sent some unfriendly letters to each other. Recemundus's job was to fix these problems. He successfully made the relationship between the Christian and Islamic leaders much better. This was a big achievement for peace.

Meeting Liutprand

While he was in Germany in 956, Recemundus met Liutprand of Cremona. Liutprand was an Italian bishop and also a diplomat. Recemundus convinced Liutprand to write a history book about the events of that time. This book was called the Antapodosis, and Liutprand dedicated it to Recemundus.

Return to Spain

When Recemundus came back to Spain, he received a special reward. He was given the important position of bishop of Elvira. He continued his work as an ambassador, traveling to other parts of the Christian world.

He went to Constantinople, which was the capital of the other European empire. Then, he traveled to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a very holy city for three major religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

The Calendar Gift

In 961, Recemundus gave a special gift to the new caliph, al-Hakam II. It was an Arabic calendar that listed Christian holidays. This calendar even included some days to remember the Martyrs of Córdoba. These were Christians who had died for their faith.

See also

In Spanish: Recemundo para niños