Sa'dun al Ruayni
Encyclopedia
Sa'dun al Ruayni was Governor, or Wali
, of Barcelona
from 792
to 801
and effectively the last Muslim
ruler of the city.
He was appointed successor to Matruh ben Sulayman al-Arabi in circa 792 by the Emir of Córdoba. However, in 796 he led a revolt against the Emir; in April 797 he travelled to Aachen
and offered Charlemagne
the city's loyalty in exchange for the empire's help against Córdoba.
Charlemagne summoned an assembly in Toulouse
in the spring of the 800 which agreed to send an expedition led by his son Louis the Pious
to Barcelona. The army included several notable commanders including Rostany, Count of Girona
; Ademar, Count of Narbonne; and William I, Count of Toulouse
(cousin of Charlemagne
). However, on arriving at Barcelona, Sa'dun, who had in the meantime been reconciled to the Caliphate, refused to open the city gates. The Frank forces then began a long siege in the autumn of 800. Sa'dun attempted to escape in order to raise help from Córdoba
, but was captured by the besieging army. He was replaced as governor by Harun of Barcelona
, however the siege was successful and Harun surrendered the city and its starving population on Saturday, April 3, 801. Louis I entered the city on the following day (April 4, 801).
Wali
Walī , is an Arabic word meaning "custodian", "protector", "sponsor", or authority as denoted by its definition "crown". "Wali" is someone who has "Walayah" over somebody else. For example, in Fiqh the father is wali of his children. In Islam, the phrase ولي الله walīyu 'llāh...
, of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
from 792
792
Year 792 was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 792 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Irene is confirmed empress of the...
to 801
801
Year 801 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Births :* September 8 or September 9 – Ansgar, German monk and archbishop, known as The Apostle of the North Year 801 (DCCCI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian...
and effectively the last Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ruler of the city.
He was appointed successor to Matruh ben Sulayman al-Arabi in circa 792 by the Emir of Córdoba. However, in 796 he led a revolt against the Emir; in April 797 he travelled to Aachen
Aachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
and offered Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
the city's loyalty in exchange for the empire's help against Córdoba.
Charlemagne summoned an assembly in Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
in the spring of the 800 which agreed to send an expedition led by his son Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious
Louis the Pious , also called the Fair, and the Debonaire, was the King of Aquitaine from 781. He was also King of the Franks and co-Emperor with his father, Charlemagne, from 813...
to Barcelona. The army included several notable commanders including Rostany, Count of Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
; Ademar, Count of Narbonne; and William I, Count of Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
(cousin of Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
). However, on arriving at Barcelona, Sa'dun, who had in the meantime been reconciled to the Caliphate, refused to open the city gates. The Frank forces then began a long siege in the autumn of 800. Sa'dun attempted to escape in order to raise help from Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
, but was captured by the besieging army. He was replaced as governor by Harun of Barcelona
Harun of Barcelona
Harun of Barcelona was the last Wali of Barcelona, ruling from 800 to 801.Harun succeeded as Wali when his predecessor, Sa'dun al Ruayni was captured by besieging Frank Forces while trying reach Córdoba to raise help...
, however the siege was successful and Harun surrendered the city and its starving population on Saturday, April 3, 801. Louis I entered the city on the following day (April 4, 801).