Riflessioni sull’esautorazione del potere califfale di Hišām II da parte di Muḥammad Ibn Abī ‘Āmir al-Manṣūr: dal califfato all’istituzionalizzazione della «finzione califfale»

Abstract

It was the ḥāǧib Muḥammad Ibn Abī ‘Āmir al-Manṣūr who held true power in al-Andalus during the tenth century, depriving the legitimate Caliph Hišām II al-Mu’ayyad of his authority for more than twenty-five years. A highly controversial figure but of unquestionable merit, Ibn Abī ‘Āmir al-Manṣūr hinged his entire policy on maintaining the “illusionary caliphate”, and such was his ability that the he was able to pass on his own political function to his sons, thus giving rise to the dynasty of the Amirids. This article examines the fundamental stages fo this historical period, such as Abī ‘Āmir al-Manṣūr’s rise to power and the years during which he was in contrast with the powerful supreme general Gālib. Particular attention is given to the events which, as a prelude to the great crisis (waḥša) of 386-388/996-998, induced the Calif’s warlike mother, Ṣubḥ, to rebel against al-Manṣūr, her one-time ally. The waḥša came to an end with Ṣubḥ’s defeat and the public delegation of all power to al-Manṣūr. Al-Ḥiǧārī’s biography, dedicated to Hišām II, holds particular interest: the possibility that the Caliph suffered from physical and psychological problems could call the whole historical period into question.