Abd ar-Rahman III

From Philosopedia

Abd ar-Rahman III (891—961)

Called by Joseph McCabe “the greatest of the Moslem Arab Caliphs,” Abd ar-Rahman is said to have “raised Spain from a state of profound demoralization to one of unprecedented prosperity, culture, and brilliance while Christian Europe lay in the darkest phase of the Dark Age.” He built up a strong army and navy, waging war successfully against the Fatimids in North Africa and the Christian kings of León. Abd ar-Rahman III made Córdoba one of the greatest cities in the West. Not only was he an atheist but also he defied the Koran (Qur’an) throughout his lifetime.

{CE; JM; RE}