Editing Hasdai ibn Shaprut (section)

==As minister==

[[File:La civilització del califat de Còrdova en temps d'Abd-al-Rahman III.jpg|thumb|Hasdai ibn Shaprut presenting ambassador [[John of Gorze]] of [[Otto the Great|Otto I the Great]] to [[Abd al-Rahman III]]  at the [[Medina Azahara]], by [[Dionisio Baixeras Verdaguer]], 1885.]]

Hasdai rendered important services to the caliph by his treatment of an embassy headed by [[John of Gorze]], sent to Córdoba in 956 by [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]]. The caliph, fearing that the letter of the German emperor might contain matter derogatory to Islam, commissioned Hasdai to open the negotiations with the envoys. Hasdai, who soon perceived that the letter could not be delivered to the caliph in its present form, persuaded the envoys to send for another letter which should contain no objectionable matter. John of Gorze said that he had "never seen a man of such subtle intellect as the Jew Hasdeu".<ref>"Vita Johannis Gorziensis," ch. cxxi., in [[Georg Heinrich Pertz]], ''[[Monumenta Germaniae Historica]]'', iv. 371</ref>

Hasdai secured a great diplomatic triumph during the difficulties which arose between the kingdoms of [[Kingdom of León|León]] and [[Navarre]], when the ambitious Queen [[Toda of Pamplona]] sought the aid of Abd ar-Rahman in reinstating her deposed grandson, [[Sancho I of León]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopaedia Judaica |publisher=Gale |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-02-865928-2 |editor-last=Berenbaum |editor-first=Michael |edition=2nd |location=Detroit, Michigan |pages=145}}</ref> Hasdai was sent to the court of Navarre; and he succeeded after a long struggle in persuading the queen to go to Córdoba with her son and grandson, in order to prostrate herself before the caliph, her old enemy, and implore the aid of his arms (958). The proud Navarrese allowed herself to be convinced by Hasdai – as a Jewish poet of the time expressed himself - "by the charm of his words, the strength of his wisdom, the force of his cunning, and his thousand tricks."

Hasdai retained his high position under 'Abd ar-Rahman's son and successor, [[al-Hakam II]], who even surpassed his father in his love for science.