Vizier to Umayyad Caliph Hisham II from 976-1002. By 979 Almanzor had isolated the Caliph and was the effective ruler of all of Muslim Spain. He then proceeded on a series of conquests of Christian territory, including the destruction of Zamora in 981.
Zamora was initially besieged by a lieutenant of Almanzor, Abdalla-ben-Abdallasis, and finally taken by Almanzor himself. The city was completely destroyed, and only repopulated in 999 with Muslims. Ferdinand reconquered it in 1062, and set about repopulating it with Christians.
The pragmatic Almanzor eliminated the requirement for his combatants to be Muslims. He forged an army combining Berbers from Africa, mercenaries from the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain, Italy, and France. At the same time he imposed iron discipline on his troops, in one instance beheading a soldier who pulled his sword from its scabbard before the signal was given. While Almanzor never lost a battle and increased the prosperity of the people, he saw no need for the culture of Islamic Andalusia. Considering philosophy, astronomy and science suspicious activities, he burned the library of al-Hakam, which made him infamous rather than preserved his name in posterity.
Now the men of Leon besought the King that he would repeople Zamora, which had lain desolate since it was destroyed by Almanzor.