Abd al-Rahman Sanchuelo (983 – 3 March 1009), born and died in C rdoba, was the son of Almanzor and chief minister of Hisham II, Caliph of C rdoba.

His originally Christian mother was Abda (born Urraca), daughter of Sancho II of Pamplona, after whom he was named; Sanchuelo () being the diminutive of Sancho; because he looked like his Christian grandfather.

Almanzor actually had all power in his hands but nominally recognized the suzerainty of the caliph. His son and successor Abd al-Malik al-Muzaffar acted in the same way.

When Abd al-Malik died, his younger brother Abd al-Rahman succeeded him on 20 October 1008. He used his great influence and forced the weak caliph to designate him as his heir (November 1008). Therefore the population of C rdoba was very angry. They had already disliked the rule of Almanzor because he had recruited for his safety many Berbers as mercenaries. Abd ar-Rahman was accused to have poisened his brother Abd al-Malik.

When Abd al-Rahman went on an expedition against King Alfonso V of Le n (February 1009), the citizens of C rdoba rose against him. They were led by Muhammad II al-Mahdi, a member of the dynasty of the Umayyads. Muhammad II al-Mahdi dethroned his relative Hisham II, became new caliph and destroyed the residence of Abd al-Rahman called al-Madina al-Zahira (= "the flourishing city"). On receiving these news Abd al-Rahman returned to C rdoba but his troops abandoned him. He was arrested and later assassinated by the order of al-Mahdi.

References

• E. L vi-Proven al: Abd al-Rahman b. Muhammad b. Abi Amir Sanchuelo, in: Encyclopaedia of Islam. Second edition, vol. 1 (1960), p. 84.

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