Born in Algeciras during the time of the Arab occupation of Spain, Abu ‘Amir Muhammad ben Abi’ Amir al-Ma’afiri carried out his work as leader of the Caliphate of the Umayyad kingdom of Córdoba, which came to dominate almost completely the entire Iberian Peninsula until its fragmentation during the time of the Taifa kingdoms.
As a reward for their services, the Almanzor family received land in Andalusia, mainly in what we know today as Granada and Malaga. His father is known in the annals of history as a kind and pious man, somewhat withdrawn, while his mother’s father stood out as a minister of Abderramán third, in addition to performing work as a doctor.
In Córdoba, he studied Letters and Law under the tutelage of some of his relatives, which he later completed as a writer of the memoirs of the Caliphate of Córdoba in the well-known Mosque. From a very young age they noticed him for his qualities as a clerk in the city’s courtroom until he became part of the Court of the Caliphate at the hand of the vizier himself.
He also worked as director of the mint and treasurer of the caliph, as well as head of the quartermaster of the army of General Galib Abu Temman Al-Nasir.
His ambition led him to be accused of embezzlement, although he apparently managed to get rid of the charges by making up the accounts and not only was he unscathed, but the process was also for personal benefit.
During his time of greatest fortune he had a majestic palace built and became a powerful ruler in command of the Umayyad possessions in the Maghreb, establishing great relations with the Berber chiefs.
As a great diplomat, he knew how to win the favor of the people thanks to which he took power, which he managed from the shadows as the supposed protector of the caliph, whose life he had saved. The caliph did not leave his palace in Medina Alzahira while he administered all the powers of the kingdom, which earned him the enmity of his own father-in-law, whom he defeated and sent the head to his own wife. He had other governors executed who prevented him from continuing with his plans, some of whom were even related to him.
In the battles against the Christians he used his control of the treasury coffers of the kingdom until he reached the offensive of San Millán de la Cogolla.