Al-Hakam II succeeded to the Caliphate after the death of his father Abd-ar-Rahman III in 961.
10 Facts About Al-Hakam II
2.
Al-Hakam II secured peace with the Catholic kingdoms of northern Iberia, and made use of the stability to develop agriculture through the construction of irrigation works.
3.
Al-Hakam II would have books purchased from Damascus, Baghdad, Constantinople, Cairo, Mecca, Medina, Kufa, and Basra.
4.
Al-Hakam II formed a joint committee of Muwallad Muslims and Mozarab Catholics for this task.
5.
Al-Hakam II was said to be "thoroughly versed in the exact sciences; her talents were equal to the solution of the most complex geometrical and algebraic problems".
6.
Al-Hakam II's building works included an expansion of the main mosque of Cordoba, the Mezquita, and the completion of the royal residence Medina Azahara, which his father had begun in 936.
7.
The Fatimids were defeated in Morocco in 974, while Al-Hakam II was able to maintain the supremacy of the caliphate over the Catholic states of Navarre, Castile and Leon.
8.
Al-Hakam II held sway and strong influence over the court.
9.
Al-Hakam II bore him two sons, the first is Abd al-Rahman, who died young, and the second is Hisham II.
10.
Al-Hakam II was succeeded by his son, Hisham II al-Mu'ayad, who was 11 years old at the time and during his minority under regency by General Ghalib al-Nasiri, al-Mushafi, chief administrator of the late caliph, and Subh, his mother, assisted by her secretary Almanzor.