Page "Abd al-Rahman I" Paragraph 15

Al-Fihri eventually did make another bid for power.

He quit Córdoba and quickly started gathering supporters.

While at large, al-Fihri managed to gather an army allegedly numbering to 20, 000.

It is doubtful, however, that his troops were " regular " soldiers, but rather a hodge-podge of men from various parts of al-Andalus.

Abd ar-Rahman's appointed governor in Sevilla took up the chase, and after a series of small fights, managed to defeat al-Fihri's army.

Al-Fihri himself managed to escape to the former Visigoth capital of Toledo in central al-Andalus ; once there, he was promptly killed.

Al-Fihri's head was sent to Córdoba, where Abd al-Rahman had it nailed to a bridge.

With this act, Abd ar-Rahman proclaimed himself the emir of al-Andalus.

One final act had to be performed, however: al-Fihri's general, al-Sumayl, had to be dealt with, and he was garroted in Córdoba's jail.