Mansur ibn Hussein

Mansur ibn Hussein (1070-1125) was an Arab nobleman and first Emir of the Taifa of Burzand, the first Brunanter state. Ibn Hussein was largely a benevolent ruler and was praised by both his Muslim and Christian subjects.

Biography
Mansur ibn Hussein was most likely born in Spain, joined the military and arrived in Brunant before 1100. There is little on his early life written. Following a failed popular revolt by peasants in 1104, Ibn Hussein began openly criticizing the rulers in Brezonde for their opulence and indulgences and slowly gained the support of the Muslim populace as well as the few Christians, by promising them new freedoms.

Eventually Mansur raised a peasant army of some 1200 and was able to take the town of Adan (in Helmond Parish), ruled over by the governor's brother. Following this, governor Ahmad ibn Rashid amassed an army of nearly 2000 and sent his brother back to crush the revolt. At the Battle of Adan, ibn Hussein led his army to vicious hand-to-hand combat, eventually defeating his opponent, removing his head and sending it back to Brezonde with the few spared survivors.

His troops marched on to Brezonde, where he took the town without a fight, as the governor was deposed and the town surrendered to prevent bllodshed.

Ibn Mansur proclaimed his rule as emir and created a nominally independent kingdom, the Taifa of Burzand. He became known as "The Benevolent", allowing Christians free practice of their faith and social equality with muslims. Ibn Hussein's 16-year reign was one of the most prosperous in Arab Brunant, transforming Brunant into a regional center for trade and commerce. He died in 1125 and was succeded by his son, Muhammad ibn Mansur, as emir.

While his Muslim descendants left Brunant after the Conquest of Brunant in 1244, some converted to Christianity and left behind the Mansur/Mansor surname, still present today among Dutch and Barzuna-speaking in northern Brunant.