The Battle of Alameda, also known as the Battle of al-Musarah or Battle of Almuzara (Arabic: àùñÃÂé çÃÂàõçñé), was fought in 14-15 May 756 CE near Córdoba. It formed part of the process by which ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn I al-DÃÂkhil established an independent Umayyad emirate in al-Andalus, separate from the newly established Abbasid Caliphate based in Iraq which had overthrown the Syria-based Umayyad Caliphate.
Since the Berbers were unwilling to assist him in seizing power, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn I (âÂÂal-DÃÂkhilâÂÂ) decided to cross into Hispania, then divided among the Kalbë, Qaysë, and Yemeni factions. He took advantage of this instability and of the presence of Syrian Umayyad troops led by Balj ibn Bishr, who had organized a number of junds (military districts) that effectively controlled parts of al-Andalus.
His loyal servant Badr prepared the ground and secured local support, allowing ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn to sail from Morocco, landing at Almuñécar on 14 August 755. He settled in Torrox.
In 756, Isbiliya opened its gates to him, after which he advanced on Córdoba, then defended by ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn Abà « Zayd, son of the governor Yà «suf ibn ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn al-Fihrë. The latter was defeated at Merch Rahita, and Córdoba was besieged by ten thousand men commanded by Taman ibn AlqamÃÂh, one of ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂnâÂÂs earliest supporters.
The Yemeni chief Abà « á¹¢abbÃÂḥ Yaḥyàal-Yahsà «bë attempted to assassinate ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn but was not followed by his men. Shortly afterward, the new emir entered Córdoba and appointed Abà « ÿUthmÃÂn as governor. However, Yà «suf al-Fihrë had not laid down his arms: he tried to retake the city by attacking through the NavafrÃÂa Valley, briefly entering Córdoba before fleeing again when ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn returned with his troops.
In March 756, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn entered Seville, which at that time controlled the provinces of Elvira, Sidonia, and Málaga. His forces, composed of Syrians, Yemenis, and Berbers, advanced along the Guadalquivir Valley, while Yà «suf marched from his capital Córdoba toward Seville. Upon learning of his opponentâÂÂs advance, Yà «suf returned to the capital.
The two armies eventually faced each other on opposite banks of the swollen Guadalquivir River, which could not be crossed. Both forces marched parallel to each other until they reached al-Musara (Alameda), just outside the city of Córdoba.
Negotiations were opened: Yà «suf offered one of his daughters in marriage and a dowry of lands. On 13 March, aware of his troopsâ exhaustion and the enemyâÂÂs superior condition, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn asked his men whether they preferred peace or battle; they chose battle.
When the riverâÂÂs level dropped, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn pretended to accept Yà «sufâÂÂs proposal, who even sent animals to feed the Umayyad troops. But at nightfall, ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂnâÂÂs army secretly crossed the river. At that moment, his force numbered about 2,000 cavalry and 3,000 infantry.
At dawn, both sides prepared for battle. ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn placed his infantry in the center, despite a shortage of cavalry on the flanks. Armed only with a bow, he was almost the only one mounted on a true warhorse, surrounded by his most loyal men. Lacking a standard, he improvised one with a green turban tied to a spear, a symbol that later became the banner of the Umayyads of al-Andalus.
Yà «suf also arranged his troops for combat. The Umayyad cavalry, composed of slaves and Berbers, charged the center and right wing of Yà «sufâÂÂs army. A notable duel took place between KhÃÂlid Sà «dë, Yà «sufâÂÂs slave and cavalry commander, and Ḥabëb ibn ÿAbd al-Malik al-MarwÃÂnë, commander of the Umayyad cavalry, where the Umayyad general resulted victorious.
During the battle, some Yemenis feared that ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn might flee, since he was on horseback. Hearing this rumor, he called Abà « á¹¢abbÃÂḥ Yaḥyàal-Yahsà «bë and asked for his muleâÂÂa gesture that reassured his men.
Eventually, the Umayyad horsemen of Syria led by Ḥabëb ibn ÿAbd al-Malik al-MarwÃÂnë launched a decisive assault on the enemyâÂÂs center, killing three infantry commanders; two of them being Yà «sufâÂÂs sons, and the other being the son of al-Sumayl ibn ḤÃÂtim. Yà «suf and al-Sumayl fled, abandoning the field and leaving their left flank isolated, which resisted until late in the day before its leaders were slain.
After the Battle of Alameda, fought just outside Córdoba on 14âÂÂ15 May 756, the Umayyads achieved a complete victory, and several chiefs allied with Yà «suf were killed.
Yà «suf ibn ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn al-Fihrë and al-Sumayl ibn ḤÃÂtim al-KilÃÂbë withdrew to Granada. There, on al-SumaylâÂÂs advice, Yà «suf abdicated his title of malik and recognized Prince ÿAbd al-RaḥmÃÂn I al-DÃÂkhil as emir. The other tribal chiefs likewise acknowledged him, bringing peace to the country.
The new emir ordered that the Friday sermon (khuá¹Âba) no longer mention the Abbasid caliphâÂÂs name, signaling the official independence of the Emirate of Córdoba from the Abbasid Caliphate. However, Yà «suf and al-Sumayl attempted to recover power once more in 759.