2024-01-03 05:13:04
Palace for some, fortress for others and gigantic city for the last. Little is known about Al-Madina Al-Zahira (Medina Alzahira, the ‘Shining City’), the enclave that Almanzor built in the mid-10th century as a symbol of his power. Just some remains hidden in a museum and several chronicles in which its greatness is narrated: from crystalline columns like water, to “pools adorned with fountains in the shape of lions.” Because we don’t know, we don’t even know the exact place where the Hajib – chamberlain – of Hisham II He ordered the construction of its walls, a mystery that has stood indestructible for two millennia. What no one doubts is that it existed, that it was located somewhere near Córdoba and that, after the death of the scourge of Christianity, it was destroyed to the ground by its enemies.
Build the pearl
The construction of this architectural pearl, now lost from maps, harbors a certain historical meaning. According to the Arab chronicles, Almanzor, then Hayib of the weak and very young Hisham II, decided to raise it, already fed up with the persecution that he suffered from the enemies who dreamed of his position. The historian Felipe Maíllo Salgado confirms this theory. In his biography of this character prepared for the Royal Academy of History, he reveals that the company had a basic objective: to escape the control of the Caliph’s mother. More than logical, since Subh Umm Walad’s tentacles were more robust in the Córdoba court.
But there are theories in pairs. The great Italian biographer of this soldier, Laura Bariani, explains in his great essay ‘Almanzor’ that Hajib “began to fear for his own life, especially every time he went to the caliph’s residence.” Too many enemies in old Córdoba. The conclusion is that, on the one hand, his new residence offered him security. And, on the other hand, he demonstrated his independence and power against the power of Hisam II. The most striking thing is that nothing was done at random. Even the very name of the new city, Al-Madīna al-Zāhira, evoked that of the caliphal residence of Madīnat al-Zahrā.
In any case, what is clear is that its construction began in 978 and that the main nucleus was built in just two years; for the rest, we had to wait six more. First, the walls and towers were built, key to the defense of the enclave against possible Christian harassment. “Once the ground of the inner enclosure was leveled, it was the turn of the beautiful palaces with attractive names, such as the Almunia de la Alegría or the Almunía de la Perla,” reveals the Italian author in her work. The latter had a tower from which Almanzor had a complete view of the entire territory.
The Spanish historian is of the same opinion. In his dossier he confirms that “a lavish palace was built inside the city from where Almanzor ruled.” al-Andalus as absolute sovereign. In turn, he is in favor of the fact that he ordered the construction of houses for his children and for the most select dignitaries in his entourage, as well as “housing and premises for the chancery offices and for the staff.” The same thing happened with all the facilities necessary in case of war. From barracks and stables for the closest guard, to warehouses in which to store weapons and grain to use in the event of a siege.
Classical texts speak of an enclave dominated by columns “transparent as water” and “slender as maidens’ necks,” as well as “pools adorned with fountains in the shape of lions.” A real beauty. However, Al-Madina Al-Zahira also fulfilled a defensive function. Its small size compared to other large cities, as well as its location – the most widespread theory states that next to the Guadalquivir – made it easy to defend from any enemy, Christian or Muslim. In this sense, it seems that Almanzor demanded that the enclave only have one door; In this way, it reduced the weakest points of the wall.
However, the chronicles confirm that the bulk of the buildings related to Al-Madina Al-Zahira were not within its walls, but around the wall. In Bariani’s words, notables of the time lived there, such as “the father of the poet Ibn Hazm, vizier of the Amirids”, a good part of the personnel dedicated to the services and almost all of the troops. “These were called to the Shining City only in case of danger,” adds the expert. Soon, and according to the writer of the time Ibn Jaqan, those suburbs expanded with markets and houses and ended up merging with those of Córdoba.
Gran enigma
The location of The Shining City is one of the great enigmas in the history of Al-Andalus. Today, more than a thousand years after it was built, its exact location is still unknown, although no one doubts its existence. The most widespread version maintains that it was built on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, east of the caliph Córdoba. It is the theory that Maíllo maintains, for example: “The city was located next to the river, upstream from the capital of Cordoba to the east and on the same bank of the river.” Close enough to monitor the city, but at the same time, far from its orbit of influence.
But, at least for the moment, archaeologists have not yet found his remains. And that has led authorities such as Manuel Ramos to affirm that the city of Almanzor would have been located at the opposite end, there in Turruñuelos, next to the Trassierra highway. In a article written for the ABC of Córdoba, this notary argued that in the 1950s, during the redevelopment of the area, a “rectangular structure with enormous walls and surprising dimensions” – about twenty hectares – was found that could correspond to those of the Shining City. A bold and groundbreaking idea.
«We were then told that that ‘city’ was the western outskirts of Córdoba mentioned in the sources. However, archeology limited and made those remains coincide with the peak period of Córdoba, with the short life of Medina Alzahira,” explained the author. In his favor, the expert used the ‘parasanga’, the distance that, according to the chronicles, existed between the mosque of Medina Azahara and that of Al-Madina Al-Zahira. In total, 4,000 meters. «This is the distance that exists precisely between Turruñuelos and the Azahara mosque in a straight line. Coincidence…? », added the notary in his article. The signs, he insisted, are many. Although the work of archaeologists and historians would be needed to corroborate any of the twenty existing theories.
Shortly after the publication of this article, many other experts confirmed, also on the pages of ABC, in which that hypothesis was little more than bizarre. Juan Murillo, head of the Archeology Office of the Urban Planning Management of Córdoba, insisted that “there is no basis to propose that option” and that the debate has been resolved for years: sources confirm that it was located east of Córdoba. , and “not between Córdoba and Medina Azahara.” He was joined by Arabists José Ramírez del Río and Juan Pedro Monferrer, as well as many other personalities and scholars about the city. Although, at the same time, they also admitted that there are no material indications of the Shining City; At least for the moment.
Total destruction
The testimonies that speak of the greatness of the city are counted by dozens. And each one, more extravagant than the last. The 10th-century poet Sá’id of Baghdad, for example, wrote that an ambassador “from the most powerful of the Christian kings of those times” appeared before Almanzor eager to “inquire about the situation of the Muslim forces.” The chamberlain summoned him to Al-Madina Al-Zahira. What he saw that legacy shook him. “Shortly before dawn, a thousand soldiers dressed in gold and silver with belts also made of gold and silver appeared,” the chronicler explained. All that wealth collected in a single capital led him to ask for a truce; Nothing could be done against that rich Muslim general.
But its design did not prevent it from being destroyed just thirty years after its construction. After the death of Hajib, the Umayyad Muhammad al-Mahdi took up arms against Hisham II. His objective was to seize the throne, but he knew that the power of the child caliph emanated from the descendants of Almanzor, the Amirids. To triumph, therefore, he had to put an end to that geographical and symbolic bastion. According to the texts of the 13th century writer Ibn ‘Iḏari, in February 1009 “he ordered Al-Madina Al-Zahira to be destroyed, its walls demolished, its gates torn down, its palaces dismantled and its traces erased, making haste to do so.”
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