The Umayyad shadow. Cordova and the Almohads of the second half of the VI/XII century

Abstract

Archaeology has recently revealed the existence of a new urban revitalization in Cordova during the Almohad Caliphate, barely treated until now by historiography, frequently focused on its Umayyad past. On the one hand, there was a significant investment by Almohad rulers in palaces and fortress, perhaps because Cordova was a key city in the historic conceptualization of al-Andalus and a very important place to fight against the Christian Kingdoms. On the other hand, a significant organic and private growth outside the walls has been detected. All this matches with its choice as the Andalusian capital in 557/1162 by ‘Abd al-Mu’min to legitimize his new caliphate. After his death a few months later, Abū Ya‘qūb Yūsuf moved the court back to Seville, creating a major shift in Almohad policy that did not affect the urban revival of the former Umayyad capital. In fact, during the Almohad government, Cordova would still remain in Andalusian collective mind as the main refer-ent of ancient splendor, and as the essential nucleus of the Mālikī tradition.