Editing Abbadid dynasty (section)

===Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad (ruled 1023–1042)===
{{main|Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad}}
[[Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad]] ({{reign|1023|1042}}), the ''[[qadi]]'' of [[Seville]], founded the house in 1023.<ref name=EB/>

The Abbadids had not previously played a major role in history though they were of noble pedigree from tribe Lakhm in [[Egypt]] and were among the first Arab Muslim families to settle in [[al-Andalus]] after the [[Umayyad conquest of Hispania]].{{sfn|Soravia|2011}} Abu al-Qasim's father, Isma'il ibn Abbad (died 1023) was named as ''qadi'' of Sevilla by the regent [[Almanzor]], and established his family's leading role in the city: the contemporary historian [[Ibn Hayyan]] reports that his son owned no less than third of Seville's territory, making him by far the richest man in the city.{{sfn|Soravia|2011}}

Abu al-Qasim gained the confidence of the townsmen by playing a major role in the successful resistance to the [[Berber people|Berber]] soldiers of fortune who had grasped at the fragments of the [[Caliphate of Cordoba]].<ref name="EB1911"/> After the Berbers were forced out, he was, by near unanimous voice of the people and prompting of the merchant and nobles, given the reins of power.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=117}}</ref> Initially, he refused the position, worried of the fatal repercussions that could follow failure or the changing of the voice of the people.<ref name=sc118>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=118}}</ref> At first, he professed to rule only with the advice of a council formed of the nobles.<ref name="EB1911"/>

Abu al-Qasim's first order of business was to rebuild the military of Seville, which had, in recent times, disappeared. This, he accomplished by first creating recruiting posts in all settlements controlled by Seville. The promise of substantial pay along with promises of unrestricted looting brought many able men to him.<ref name=sc118/> Second, he opened the ranks to all races and social class, as Berbers, Arabs, Christians, and foreigners were all accepted along with slaves from Nubia and Sudan.<ref name=sc119>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=119}}</ref> Before the military could become a formidable force, a Berber army from [[Málaga]] was at the gates demanding entrance and fealty, in the form of sons of the richest and most powerful nobles and merchants as hostages. Abu al-Qasim, to show his people his trust in the situation, offered his own son as solitary collateral. This show of bravery, convinced his population to follow him with near zeal, and at this time dismissed the council and began his solitary rule.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=120}}</ref>

From this point on, he was able to make small inroads into the small principalities surrounding him. This began with an alliance forged with the governor of [[Taifa of Carmona|Carmona]].<ref name=sc121>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=121}}</ref> His first conquest was Beja, followed by the plunder and subsequent control of the coastal regions from [[Cadiz]] west.<ref name=sc121/> The [[Taifa of Badajoz]] was next as he defeated and captured the son of the emir, and at this early time nearly defeated the [[Taifa of Córdoba]], beaten back at the end by an alliance Cordoba made with the Berbers.<ref name=sc121/>

The Berbers continued to be a thorn in the side of Abu al-Qasim, as they now recognized [[Yahya (Zaragoza)|Yahya]] as their supreme leader, something that had not been accomplished before.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=122}}</ref> At this time, it was apparent to Abu al-Qasim that a coalition was needed to defeat the growing Berber threat; however it was also apparent that he would not be accepted as the head of this coalition of caliphates.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=123}}</ref> Abu al-Qasim was able to procure an imposter who resembled the caliph [[Hisham II]]. This man, who was a mat-maker by trade, had previously been involved in an unsuccessful attempt at trickery. This time the deception was successful and the coalition formed starting with Cordoba, then followed by [[Taifa of Dénia|Dénia]], [[Balearic Islands]], [[Taifa of Tortosa|Tortosa]], and [[Taifa of Valencia|Valencia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=127}}</ref> Angered by the growing forces against him, Yahya was lured into an ambush and along with the larger portion of his command killed.<ref>{{harvnb|Scott|1977|p=128}}</ref> When Abu al-Qasim died in 1042 he had created a state which, though weak in itself, appeared strong as compared to its neighbours. He had made his family the recognized leaders of the Andalusian [[Muslim]]s against the neo-Berber element arrayed under the king of [[Granada]].<ref name="EB1911"/>