The Caliph was a title held by the political and religious head of Muslims and belonged to the person controlling the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. Upto 929 the head of the Umayads had been happy to be an Emir but with the division between the branches of Islam, alongside increased power and wealth in Al-Andalus, Abd al-Rahman III declared himself Caliph of Cordoba on 16 January 929.
To reflect this he set about building a new fortified palace-city outside Cordoba, Medina Azahara. It served as a capital and administrative centre of the caliphate for less than 100 years before being sacked during a period of civil war amongst the Moors.
Through the centuries the city was taken apart and the building materials reused, including for a monastery further up the hill. It was long forgotten, with the remains thought to be Roman by the farmers whose land it became, until rediscovered in the 20th century. The site is still in the process of being excavated but there is plenty to see for visitors making the journey about 4 miles west of Cordoba.
Shilli-Fully Travels 