Al-Rumaikiyya

E'etemad al-Rumaikiyya (Arabic: اعتماد الرميكية) was an Andalusian poet, consort of Emir Al-Mu'tamid of Seville.

[1] She was of humble origin and was servant (slave) to a Moor of Seville named Jachach, who employed her in driving beasts of burden.

One day, the future king met her in the street and was so impressed by her abilities and beauty that he at once removed her and made her his wife.

When her husband succeeded to the throne, he complied with every whim of his wife, to the extent that his subjects could not stop themselves expressing their dissatisfaction.

This mutual passion between husband and wife led each to compose inspired and deeply felt poetry for the other, although only one poem of Al-Rumaikiyya’s remains to us.

[4] After Al-Mu'tamid was dethroned by Yusuf ibn Tashfin in 1091, she with her husband and children were taken to a fort at Aghmat, where she is thought to have died.

The relationship of the King of Seville with Rumaikiyya was the source of many stories, one of them being the following famous Spanish story: One day, the earl spoke with his counselor as follows: "Patronio, look what happens with a man: he often asks me to help and succor him some money; but every time I do so, he gives me tokens of appreciation, but if he is not happy with the money I give, he is unhappy and seems to have forgotten the favors I've done to him earlier.