'Abd al-Rahman III (891-961) was the greatest of the Umayyad rulers of al-Andalus (Islamic Spain and Portugal) and the first of them to take the title of Caliph. A strong leader and an astute politician, he conducted campaigns against Muslim rebels within his own realm, fought the Christian Kings in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, confronted the Fatimids in North Africa and founded the palatine town of Madinat al-Zahra. By the time of his death in 961, 'Abd al-Rahman III had pacified the whole of al-Andalus and made Cordoba a capital city to rival the greatest of the age. This book is the first biography of this fascinating and hugely influential figure to be published in English. Accessible yet authoritative, it also feature a comprehensive guide to further reading, and will prove an indispensable resource for readers of all backgrounds.