Al-Hajib Al-Mansur (938 – 1002),

was the de facto ruler of Muslim Iberia (al-Andalus) in the late 10th to early 11th centuries.
His rule marked the peak of power for al-Andalus.

Early Life

Almanzor was born Muhammad ibn Abi Aamir, into a noble Arab family from the area of Yemen.
He arrived at the Court of Córdoba as a student studying law and literature.
He subsequently became manager of the estates of Prince Hisham II.
He was elevated to the post of city police chief of Cordova and later on became the chief justice.

In a few years Almanzor had worked his way from this humble position to considerable heights of influence, eliminating his political rivals in the process.

Caliph al-Hakam II died in 976 and Ibn Abi Amir was instrumental in securing the succession of the young Hisham II, aged twelve, to the throne.
Almanzor exercised strong influence over Subh, the mother and regent of the young Hisham II.

On death of Hakam II He took advantage of situation and supported 12 years old Hisham II for succession.

When top eunuchs courtiers were divided over making him as their ruler.
Two years later he became hajib (a title similar to that of vizier in the Muslim East).

During the following three years Almanzor consolidated his power with the building of a new palace on the outskirts of Córdoba, al-Madina az-Zahira,

while at the same time completely isolating the young Caliph, who became a virtual prisoner in Medina Azahara.

Following al-Hakam's death,Almanzor had al-Hakam's library of "ancient science" books destroyed.

His efforts to win hearts of Theologians:

He wrote the text of Holy Quran with his hands to paortray himself as the bastion of islam.
It was an attempt to obliterate and mitigate tha hatred garnished by faqihs of his time against him.
He ordered to burn the books on philosophies and sciences which were pointed out by Faqihs.
This helped him again favours of some hardliners theologians of his time.

Millitary Campaigns

In 981, upon his return to Córdoba from the Battle of Torrevicente, in which he crushed his last remaining rival (and father-in-law), Ghalib al-Nasiri,
he assumed the title of al-Mansur bi-llah, [the] Victorious by God. In
Christian Spain he was referred to as Almanzor.

He captured fortress of Alhama in Leon in 981AD

Almanzor's hold on power within al-Andalus was now absolute.
Almanzor dedicated himself to annual military invasions of the Christian states of the peninsula.

He organized and took part in 57 campaigns, and was victorious in all of them.

Although Almanzor mainly fought against León and the Castile, Navarre
he also sacked Barcelona in 985, Leon in 988 and Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in 997,

These endless campaigns against the Christians served as a constant demonstration of the greatness of Islam and undoubtedly appealed to the religious leaders in Córdoba;they also helped unite the disparate Muslim population.

They were also a practical source of booty and served as an important incentive, especially to the mercenaries, with promises of wealth, slaves, livestock etc.

Significantly there was no attempt to establish Muslim garrisons.

Almanzor also waged several campaigns against the Kingdom of Navarra, including his longest, in which he defeated a Castilian army at the Battle of Cervera.

Sacking of Santiago:

It was regarded as holiest city of Christians.
No other ruler had dared to invade it.
Al Mansur razed the city and brought all churches to the ground.

Military Reforms

In order to improve the efficiency of his forces for the razzias, al-Mansur reorganised his armies in 991, and eliminated regiments made up of tribal groups.As this kind of organization had lost its utilityAs they were more under the control of their chiefs not ruler.

He also recruited mercenaries, especially Berbers from the Maghreb --and even Christian soldiers-- to provide the manpower that the raids required.
He organized his army of approximately 600000 men.

His army consisted of two divisions Regular and Volunteers.

Madinatul AZ ZAHIRA:
It was a magnificent city buit by him on the banks of river Guadlaquivis.
He constructed a huge palace for himself which remains to be a worth seeing site.
He also built a bridge on this river.

Revolt Berber Ziri:

Regent Subh mother of HishamII wanted to set hi son free from clutches of Al mansur.

She hired Berber chief Ziri and offered him heavy amount to cast away Al Mansur.

Character:
Himself a devout Muslim, al-Mansur always carried a copy of the Koran with him,
He married Abda, daughter of Sancho Garcés king of Navarra, who bore him a son by the name of Abd al-Rahman. He was commonly known as Sanchuelo (Little Sancho, in Arabic: Shanjoul).

Adminstration:Before him law and order situation had worsened horribly,Looting and killing people all around.
He ordered his police to deal with culpirits with heavy hand the wrong doers were severly punished. Even his own son who had violated the law was beaten with so many lashes that he had died a few days later.
Law and order situation improved so much that people of Cordova could sleep at night without fear.

Al Mansur held Responible for fall of Cordova:

He created an unprecedent example in system of succession of Umayyads.

Though he expanded boundaries of empire but did not attempt to consolidate them under one central authority.

His ignorance towards the policy of recolonization.
Lack of will, far sightedness ,strategic plans to settle muslim colonies in newly conquered areas caused fall of Cordova.