3. Ibn Abi 'Amir Mohammed, commonly called Almanzor by European writers, of an ancient but not illustrious Arab family, which had its seat at Torroχ near Algeciras, was born 939 a.d., and began life as a lawyer at Cordova. In 967 he obtained a place at the court of Hakam II., the Andalusian caliph, and by an unusual combination of the talents of a courtier with administrative ability and address in dealing with men, rapidly rose to distinction, enjoying in particular the powerful support of Subh, the favourite of the caliph and mother of his heir Hisliâm. On the death of Hakam (976) the accession of a minor gave fresh scope to the genius of Ibn Abi 'Amir, who threaded his way with consummate but unscrupulous talent through the intrigues of the court, and in 978 became prime minister. He now aimed at absolute dominion. The weak young caliph, absorbed in exercises of piety, was easily reduced to a cipher, but at first Ibn Abi 'Amir had to share the power with his father-in-law Ghâlib, the best general of Andalusia, and his chief aid, along with the mother of Hishâm, in the steps that had raised him to power. At last a rupture took place between the two ministers, and ended in a war in which Ghâlib professed himself the champion of the caliph and called in the aid of the Christians of Leon. But his rival had anticipated the struggle; he had long before found means to add military to administrative reputation, and since he rose to the direction of affairs had remodelled the army so as to make it more formidable and more devoted to his cause. Ghâlib fell in battle (981); a victorious campaign chastised the Leonese; and on his return to Cordova the victor assumed the regal surname of Λl-Mansûr billah, and became practically sovereign of Andalusia. The caliph was a mere prisoner of state, holding a nominal dignity, and Al-Mansxrr ultimately assumed the title as well as the prerogatives of king (996). Unscrupulous in the means by which he rose to power, he wielded the sovereignty nobly. His strict justice and the enlightened excellence of his internal administration were not less notable than his military prowess. But it is by the latter that he is best known. His arms were the terror of the Christians, and raised the Moslem power in Spain to a pitch it had never before attained. He fought more than fifty campaigns, all glorious, and destroyed many cities, including the three capitals of Leon, Pampeluna, and Barcelona, and the sacred shrine of Santiago de Compostella. In Africa his armies were for a time hard pressed by the revolt of Ziri, viceroy of Mauretania, but before his death this enemy had also fallen. Al-Mansür died at Medinaceli 10th August 1002, and was succeeded by his son Modaffar.

4. Abd Ydsuf Ya'kdb ibn Yusuf (Jacob Almanzor), of the Moorish dynasty of the Almohades, the conqueror of Alphonse» III. in the great battle of Alarcos (1195), reigned 1184-99.