His family hailed from
Umayyad-ruled
Ṭurṭūšah (now
Tortosa) close to the mouth of the
Ebro: he may also have lived in
Córdoba. Some written and oral history and his writings suggest that he had a Jewish background. Nonetheless, it has also been argued by most historians that he was a Muslim of Jewish background, and
Bernard Lewis states: "There is some uncertainty to whether he was a professing Jew or a Muslim of Jewish origin." Sent by the
Umayyad Caliph of
Córdoba,
Al-Hakam II, His work is widely known as providing the first reliable description of the
Polish state under
Mieszko I, the first historical ruler of Poland. He is also noted for his description of the
Vikings living in
Hedeby; of the
Nakonid fortification at
Mecklenburg Castle; and of what was, in all likelihood, the nucleus of the later ducal castle and palace at
Schwerin. Ibrahim ibn Yaqub has a unique place in
Czech history as the first person to mention the city of
Prague and its Jewish community in writing. He also mentioned Czech
Boleslaus I, Duke of Bohemia and
Kraków as part of
Duchy of Bohemia. ==See also==