Abd al-Rahman al-Dakhil

Abd al-Rahman ibn Mu'awiya ibn Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik al-Umawi, known as "al-Dakhil" (the one who entered). He entered al-Andalus in 138 AH and took it, and his descendants ruled it for a long time. ¹

Al-Suyuti says that he was a man of learning and justice, that his mother was a Berber, and quotes the saying: "The kingdom of the world was ruled by two sons of Berber women." He says that he did not take the title of commander of the faithful, but only that of amir, and so did his sons. ¹

Al-Maqqari says that his people had been awaiting a king for him in the Maghrib, and he came down with his maternal uncles of Nafza, and sent his client Badr to the clients of the Marwanids in al-Andalus. He then crossed the sea in 138 AH, the people of Seville and others gave him their allegiance, the armies gathered to him, and Yusuf al-Fihri was routed before his army near Cordoba. ² See the entry of Abd al-Rahman into al-Andalus.

Al-Maqqari quotes Ibn Hayyan that his seizing of the throne in Cordoba was on the day of the Feast of Sacrifice in Dhu al-Hijja 138 AH. ³

Al-Suyuti says that he was given the allegiance to the caliphate when he entered al-Andalus, and that he died in Rabi al-Akhir 170 AH. ⁴