Saqaliba

Saqaliba, 'Slavs', was the Arabic term for slaves and freedmen of European origin in the medieval Islamic world, many taken from Slavic lands. In al-Andalus they served as palace officials and soldiers of the Umayyad caliphs of Córdoba, and some rose to high command. After the caliphate collapsed, Saqaliba leaders founded taifa kingdoms of their own, notably at Almería, Valencia and Denia.