The Door of the Caliph: Concepts of the Court in the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus

This book explores the conceptualization of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus' court, palace, and ruler, focusing on the symbology of the main city gate of Cordoba and the performance of ceremonial. It compares the Umayyad Andalusi model to other dynasties within the Mediterranean and Eastern framework of the 10th and 11th centuries.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 29 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the intricate conceptualization of the court, palace, and ruler of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus. While Western terminology continues to hold a normative influence in representing foreign courts, it often fails to adequately capture the unique dynamics and specificities of Muslim courts. Despite the well-established field of Court Studies in modern Western societies, the study of Muslim medieval courts remains relatively underdeveloped. Various sources have developed a distinct terminology to describe medieval Muslim court societies. In the case of the Umayyad Caliphate of al-Andalus, the court is typically referred to as Bāb Suddat al-Khalīfa, which signifies the symbolic significance of the main city gate of Cordoba. Alternatively, the court is simply referred to as Bāb. Bāb Suddat al-Khalīfa emerged as the most emblematic concept to denote the Umayyad palace and its society, which will be further analyzed within the framework of ceremonial performance. The profound conceptualization of the Umayyad court of Cordoba was underscored through the articulation of ceremonial, manifested through gestures, insignia, and hierarchies. By comparing the Umayyad Caliphate of Cordoba with other dynasties such as the 'Abbasid and Fatimid Caliphates and the Byzantine Empire, this book offers a preliminary comparative perspective. While this book primarily focuses on the Umayyad conceptualization and ceremonial expression, it extends its scope to encompass the Mediterranean and Eastern context of the 10th and 11th centuries. This broader framework not only broadens the book's appeal to other fields of research but also contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the Umayyad era and its cultural and political significance.

Weight: 700g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032207155