Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi

For indivduals with the same or similar name, see Abd-ar-Rahman

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Abu Said Abdul Rahman ibn Abdullah ibn Bishr ibn Al Sarem Al 'Aki Al Ghafiqi (? – 732), variously known as Abdul Rahman Al Ghafiqi, Abd er Rahman, Abdderrahman, Abderame, and Abd el-Rahman, led the Andalusian Muslims into battle against the forces of Charles Martel in the Battle of Tours. His unexpected death was probably the main reason for the defeat of the Muslim army.

Related Topics:
732 - Andalusia - Muslims - Charles Martel - Battle of Tours

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From the Yemeni tribe of Ghafiq, he relocated to Ifriqiya (now Tunisia), then to the Maghrib (now Morocco), where he became acquainted with Musa Ibn Nusair and his son Abdul Aziz, the governors of Al-Andalus.

Related Topics:
Yemen - Ifriqiya - Tunisia - Maghrib - Morocco - Al-Andalus

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After Al Samh ibn Malik was killed at the Battle of Toulouse in 721 (102 A.H.) by the forces of Duke Odo of Aquitaine, Abdul Rahman took over the command of Eastern Andalus. He was briefly relieved of his command, when 'Anbasa ibn Suhaim Al Kalbi was appointed in 721 (103 A.H.). After 'Anbasa was killed in battle in 726 (107 A.H.) in Gaul, several successive commanders were put in place, none of whom lasted very long.

Related Topics:
Battle of Toulouse - 721 - A.H. - Odo of Aquitaine - Anbasa ibn Suhaim Al Kalbi - Gaul

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In 730 (112 A.H.) the Caliph Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik appointed Abdul Rahman as governor/commander of Al Andalus. He prepared to invade Gaul, and called for recruits from Yemen and the Levant. Many arrived, and he crossed the Pyrenees range, with an army of 80,000 composed of Arabs and Berbers. He made his way through Gascony and Aquitaine, and captured the city of Bordeaux, defeating the army of Duke Odo of Aquitaine.

Related Topics:
Caliph - Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik - Gaul - Levant - Pyrenees - Arab - Berber - Gascony - Aquitaine - Bordeaux

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However, the Frankish Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, Charles Martel, managed to form an army of Gauls and Germans, and defeated Abdul Rahman in 732 (114 A.H.) near Poitiers, south of the Loire River.

Related Topics:
Frankish - Mayor of the Palace - Austrasia - Charles Martel - German - 732 - Poitiers - Loire River

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Abdul Rahman was killed in this battle.

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One of the reasons for the defeat of the Muslim army was their preoccupation with war booty; another was squabbles between various ethnic and tribal factions.

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All Arab historians praise Abdul Rahman as a just and able administrator and commander, and bestow on him the honor of being the best governor of Andalus. Also, he did not take sides in the ethnic and tribal divisions that plagued Andalus under other rulers.

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