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424 began hostilities, he was forced to prepare for war. Meanwhile Ordoño the Bad implored the Caliph to help him against his brother Sancho, and had a splendid reception at Cordova. As soon as Sancho saw that the Caliph's army was supporting Ordoño, he assured the Caliph that he would fulfil his obligations. Ḥakam therefore broke his promise to Ordoño, who soon died at Cordova. Sancho still refused to carry out the treaty, whereupon Ḥakam declared war on the Christians, and compelled Fernan Gonzalez, Garcia of Navarre and Sancho of Leon to sue for peace; the Catalan counts, Borrel and Miron, followed their example at the same time.

Ḥakam was content to leave the Christians to their internal strife. A civil war broke out, during which Sancho died of poison towards 966: he was succeeded by Ramiro III, to whom his aunt, the nun Elvira, was guardian. Under her the kingdom split into pieces. Fernan Gonzalez died in 970, and thenceforth Ḥakam was able to devote himself to literature, his favourite pursuit.

Under him one commanding personality fills the scene of the Caliphate. Mahomet ibn Abī-'Āmir, known to history as Almanzor, belonged to the noble family of the Beni-Abī-'Āmir, and from earliest youth he dreamt of becoming prime minister: natural ability and audacity in action made his dream a reality. From a subordinate official of the cadi of Cordova he rose at the age of twenty-six to administer the property of 'Abd-ar-Raḥmān, the son of Ḥakam. By his courtesy and wit he won the favour of the Sultana Aurora, became administrator of her property and shortly after inspector of the mint, in which post he made many friends. Other offices, all of them lucrative, were heaped upon him. He lived in princely grandeur and he soon became popular.

The Fātimite danger had disappeared in 969 when Mu'izz moved from Ifrīḳiya to the new city of Cairo, but Ḥakam had still to fight the Idrīsids in Morocco, and the war opened up a connexion with the African princes and Berber tribes.

Shortly afterwards the Caliph fell ill, and on 1 October 976 he died. Next day Hishām II took the oath, and his accession raised even higher the power of Ibn Abī-'Āmir who was made vizier, while Muṣḥafī, the ex-vizier, was appointed ḥājib or prime minister.

The Christians in the north had renewed hostilities at the time of Ḥakam's illness. Ibn Abī-'Āmir undertook the command of an army and returned to Cordova laden with plunder. This triumph made him still more popular in Cordova, and brought about a friendship between him and the commanders of the army.

Soon came the inevitable struggle between the two ministers. On 25 March 978 Muṣḥafī was deposed and imprisoned on a charge of embezzlement. All his property was confiscated and after five years of the utmost destitution he was executed.