Abd ar-Rahman IV

Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Malik , commonly known as Abd al-Rahman IV, was the Caliph of the Umayyad state of Córdoba in Al-Andalus, succeeding Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir in 1018.

On 22 March 1018, Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir the Caliph of Cordoba was assassinated. Six days later, Ali ibn Hammud's brother, Al-Qasim al-Ma'mun claimed the throne. At the same time, conspirators who had been plotting to overthrow Ali ibn Hammud convinced Abd al-Rahman as the grandson of Abd al-Rahman III to claim the throne. On 29 April 1018, the conspirators proclaimed Abd al-Rahman IV caliph. Shortly thereafter Abd al-Rahman IV was killed in a campaign to capture Córdoba. Therefore, for a short period at the outset of his reign the throne was contested with two individuals claiming to be caliph.