Abd al-Rahman I was an Umayyad prince born in 731 CE in Damascus, Syria. After the Umayyad dynasty fell in 750 CE, he fled to Iberia, where he established the Umayyad Emirate of Córdoba. He became the first emir of Córdoba and ruled from 756 until his death in 788 CE. During his reign, Abd al-Rahman I worked to consolidate power and promote cultural and economic development in Al-Andalus. He built impressive architectural works, including the early stages of the Great Mosque of Córdoba, which became a symbol of the region's prosperity and cultural richness.