?Abd al-Malik , originally called Sayf al-Dawla , later al-Mu?affar ^[a] (died 20 October 1008), ^[b] was the second ??mirid ruler of al-Andalus , ruling from 1002 until his death. Like his father and predecessor, al-Man??r , he was the actual power behind the Caliph of Cordoba . The seven-year government of al-Mu?affar was a period of peace and prosperity. Later historians likened it to the s?bi? al-ar?s , the first seven days of marriage, and recalled it as a golden age before the Andalusian fitna (civil wars) began in 1009. ^[1]

In 997, the Maghr?wa leader in Africa, Z?r? ibn ?A??ya , renounced his allegiance to Cordoba. In response, al-Man??r dispatched W??i? al-?i?lab? , governor of the Central March , to Africa at the head of a large army. He then sent his son to reinforce Wadih. The two commanders defeated Z?r?, captured Fez and established Cordoban rule throughout all of Morocco and even into central North Africa. ?Abd al-Malik was appointed governor of Africa. ^[2]

The principal sources for al-Muzaffar's government are the Dhakh?ra of Ibn Bass?m , the Bay?n of Ibn ?Idh?r? and the A?m?l al-a?l?m of Ibn al-Kha??b . On 10 August 1002, ^[c] just days after his father's death, ?Abd al-Malik was invested by the Caliph Hish?m II with the office ??jib . He reduced the taxes levied on the citizens of Cordoba by one sixth. He also removed ethnic Arab aristocrats from the administration. He was easily able to handle the several conspiracies mounted against him. ^[1]

Militarily, ?Abd al-Malik followed his father's policy exactly. He directed either a summer campaign ( ???ifa ) or a winter campaign ( sh?tiya ) against one of the Christian powers lying beyond the marches ( thugh?r ) in every year of his government. In 1003, he attacked southern Francia (today the Spanish provincia of Catalonia ), devastating the countryside around Barcelona and razing 35 fortresses. In 1005, he attacked Castile . In 1006, he attacked Navarre , probably intending to take Pamplona , which he approached but did not capture. In 1007, he again attacked Castile in a campaign that was called the "victorious raid" ( ghaz?t al-na?r ). He took Clunia by force and carried off enormous booty. This feat earned him the honorific by which he is now known, "the victor" ( al-muzaffar ) replacing "sword of the dynasty" ( sayf al-dawla ). In the winter of 1007?1008, he captured a castle called San Martin. He died of angina while preparing his next campaign against Castile. He was succeeded by his brother, ?Abd al-Ra?m?n Shanjwilo . ^[1]

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