The
present state of
knowledge concerning
diplomacy between
Andalusia and the
Germans
is
inadequate, for
many of the historical
records have been
lost.
No activity is to
be observed in any
period other than
the middle of the
4th/10th century.
The reason for this
may have been that
there were no common
interests requiring
the establishment
of diplomatic relations.
All the diplomatic
activity we observe
is restricted to
the reigns of both
Abdu'r Rahman (III)
an-Nasir (300-350/912-961)
and Otto (I) the
Great. The fact
that an-Nasir was
the most powerful
monarch in the Muslim
world of his day
and that he represented
the major power
of western Islam
impelled Otto the
Great to foster
diplomatic relations
with him.
Fraxinetum
About 277/890
a ship carrying
twenty Andalusian
adventurers anchored
in the Gulf of
St. Tropez in
Provence in the
south of France.
They began their
attacks on the
neighboring regions
and invited others
to join them.
But when they
increased in number
and strength,
they chose the
castle of Fraxinetum,
to the north of
Marseilles as
a base for them.
It is remarkable
that we know very
little about this
state which lasted
for at least 85
years. Fraxinetum
was the cause
of the establishment
of diplomatic
relations between
the Holy Roman
Empire and Andalusia.
We can say that
the existence
of those andalusian
adventurers in
Fraxinetum made
Otto the Great
send an embassy
to an-Nasir asking
him to intervene
in order to check
their andalusian
adventurers activities.
Otto was convinced
that the caliphate
was supporting
them both morally
and materially,
and it was therefore
in its power to
check them.
In 950 an-Nasir
sent an embassy
in return. It
was led by a Mozarab
bishop (name unknown)
accompanied by
two others. They
conveyed to Otto
the caliph's message
and presents.
Otto received
them ceremoniously
in his court,
but he detained
the embassy for
three years.
Embassy
of John of Gorze
When the first
exchange of ambassadors
proved fruitless,
Otto considered
sending another
embassy to an-Nasir
for further negotiations,
in order to reach
a final solution
with regard Fraxinetum
and to answer
the argument put
forward by an-Nasir
in his message.
Otto's choice
fell on a learned
and loyal monk,
John of Lorraine,
later Abbot of
Gorze in Metz
in Lorraine.
John of Gorze
left Germany with
the Emperor's
instructions and
letter carrying
valuable gifts
to the caliph.
He arrived with
his companions
at the Andalusian
capital in 342/953-4
and lived in a
palace not too
far from the caliphal
palace in Cordoba.
The aim of this
embassy was to
try by employing
the caliph authority
to stop the attacks
of the Andalusian
adventurers in
Fraxinetum.
If there was any
other purpose,
it would be incidental,
such as :
Discussing some
political questions
or opinions possibly
put forward by
an-Nasir in his
previous letter
to the German
emperor.
To learn the extent
of Andalusian
intellectual and
scientific progress,
and the hope of
gaining from it.
To contact Christian
Mozarabs and find
out the conditions
in which they
lived, their means
of livelihood
and position in
the community.
Embassy
of Recemundo
An-Nasir put one
of the Christian
mozarabs, named
Recemundo, who
was known to the
Muslim annalists
as Rabi b,Zqyd
al-Usquf al-Qurtubi
in other embassies
and appointed
him bishop of
Elvira as a reward
for undertaking
this embassy.
It was Recemundo
who presented
al-Hakam II with
the "Calendar
of the year 961"
in Latin and Arabic,
called Kitab Tafsil
al-Azman wa Masalih
al-Abdan, Book
of the division
of the times and
the benefiting
of the bodies.
Recemundo left
Cordoba in late
spring of 344/955
to Germany. He
arrived in August
after about ten
weeks, at the
Abbey of Gorze,
where he was met
by bishop, Adalbero,
who made him his
guest. The Andalusian
Ambassador was
received honorably
and informed the
Emperor about
everything including
the German embassy
waiting in Cordoba.
The emperor wrote
a letter to the
caliph. It asked
him to conclude
a treaty of peace
and friendship,
which would result
in stopping the
raids of the Andalusian
adventurers in
Fraxinetum, and
to hasten his
return.
Recemundo left
Frankfurt with
his mission accomplished,
in the company
of Dudo of Verdun,
the new German
delegate, who
carried the Imperial
letter and presents
to the Abbey of
Gorze.
Reception
of the German
Embassy
About the middle
of Rabi I/ June
21, 956 was fixed
for the reception
of the German
embassy.
Enan mentions
that the reception
was at the Cordoban
palace. Al Maqqari
speaking about
another reception
says that when
the Byzantine
Emperor came to
Cordoba in 334/945,
an-Nasir went
from az-Zahra
palace to the
Cordoban one to
meet them.
After courtersies
had been exchanged,
the caliph welcomed
the ambassador.
Then the ambassador
delivered the
Imperial letter
to the caliph.
It is not known
exactly what passed
between the, at
his first meeting,
or whether the
main issue was
discussed. Thus,
there are no records
of any other meetings,
but it is most
likely because
of the caliph's
desire to repeat
the meetings,
and the lack of
any conclusion
about he principal
aim of the embassy
that at least
dealt in detail
with the object
of the embassy
which lasted for
three years.
