(^166) EARLY MEDIEVAL SPAIN
and by now relatively long-established, Arab communities throwing
off the authority of the fragmented and weak central government
of the Umayyads. In the east a more active opposition led to the
outbreak of a major revolt in Iran in 749 and the overthrow of the
Umayyad regime in Syria the following year.
The new caliphal dynasty of the 'Abbasids, descendants of the
Prophet's uncle 'Abbas, tried to eliminate the surviving Umayyads.
One of these, a grandson of the caliph Hisham called 'Abd al-Raq.man
took refuge in North Africa, from where he made contact with loyal-
ist elements in Spain. Taking advantage of the absence of Yiisuf on
campaign against a rebel in Zaragoza, 'Abd al-Ral}man crossed into
Al-Andalus in 756. He was able to install himself in Cordoba, and
then defeat Yiisuf, who had been forced to hasten south to face this
unexpected threat. These events marked the beginning of the rule in
Spain of the independent Umayyad Amirs or kings. However, it is
important to notice that a precedent had already been created with
the regime ofYiisuf, who seems to have ignored the authority of both
the Umayyad and then the 'Abbasid caliphs.^40 Indeed it was a legiti-
mist 'Abbasid revolt that he had had to crush in Zaragoza in 756, only
to make himself vulnerable to an un looked for coup on the part of
the supporters of the Umayyads.
There has always been an assumption that 'Abd al-Ral}man's sei-
zure of power in Cordoba and defeat of Yiisuf marked the beginning
of his rule over all of Al-Andalus, and that his authority was thereafter
accepted in theory or practice throughout the parts of the peninsula
under Arab or Berber control. The events of his reign, if left to speak
for themselves, suggest otherwise. What can be seen is rather the
gradual extension of his power and acceptance of his authority from
its starting point in the Guadalquivir valley over ever-widening areas
of Al-Andalus in the course of three decades.^41 He also had to face
two serious attempts, in 763 and 777, by the 'Abbasids to overthrow
him and install governors loyal to their dynasty.
Even after his defeat in 756 Yiisuf al-Fihri remained an active threat.
He had retained control of Toledo, which passed to his cousin Hisham
ibn 'Urwa following his murder (757 or c. 760 according to different
sources) at the hands of some of his own followers, and the city was
not taken by 'Abd al-Raq.man until 764. By this time 'Abd al-Ral}man
had had to face and had defeated the first attempt to overthrow him
in favour of the 'Abbasids. Seville, although initially loyal to the
Umayyad ruler, supported a rebel called Sa'id al-Matari in 766, and
ron
(Ron)
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