Taifa_of_Seville
Taifa of Seville
Muslim State ruled by Abbadids (1023–1091)
The Taifa of Seville (Arabic: طائفة إشبيليّة Ta'ifat-u Ishbiliyyah) was an Arab[1][2][3] kingdom which was ruled by the Abbadid dynasty. It was established in 1023 and lasted until 1091, in what is today southern Spain and Portugal. It gained independence from the Caliphate of Cordoba and it expanded the territory it ruled in the mid-11th century. The emerging power of Castile led Seville to ask military assistance from the Almoravids, who then occupied Seville.
Taifa of Seville | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1023–1091 | |||||||||
 The Taifa of Seville at its greatest extent in green, c. 1080 | |||||||||
| Capital | Seville | ||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Berber, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Roman Catholicism, Judaism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Downfall of Caliphate of Córdoba | 1023 | ||||||||
• Death of last king Al-Mu'tamid and defeat after Almoravid troops | 1091 | ||||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | Spain Portugal Gibraltar | ||||||||
The taifa (principality) began as a small, weakly-defended territory comprising parts of the modern Spanish provinces of Seville, Huelva, and Cádiz, but quickly emerged as the most powerful taifa of the time, after its rulers began a policy of expansion.[citation needed]
The first emir of Seville was Abu al-Qasim (1023–1042). He was qadi of Seville and declared independence from the Caliphate of Córdoba after its downfall in 1031, becoming Abbad I, emir of Seville. His son, Abbad II al-Mu'tadid (1042–1069) who succeeded him, expanded the taifa by conquering Mertola, Niebla, Saltés and Huelva, Silves, Santa María de Algarve during his reign.[4]
His son, Muhammad al-Mu'tamid (1069–1091), turned Seville into a major centre of Ibero-Muslim culture. He seized Córdoba in 1071,[5] and maintained a precarious hold on the city until 1091 (with a brief interlude in 1075–1078). While his vizier and fellow poet Ibn Ammar, conquered Murcia.[4]
Nevertheless, the Abbad dynasty felt insecure from Castile's military successes in Aragon, Valencia, and especially from the fall of Toledo in 1085 under the leadership of King Alfonso VI. Al-Mu'tamid requested assistance from the Almoravids, a dynasty from present-day Morocco, to fight against the Castilians. The Almoravids established themselves at Algeciras, and after defeating the Christians at the Battle of Sagrajas in 1086, occupied the other Muslim taifas, including Seville itself in 1091. Following this, the Almoravids would go on to occupy and control vast swathes of present-day Spain.[4] After they ravaged the city, al-Mu'tamid ordered his sons to surrender the royal fortress (the location of the present-day Alcázar of Seville)[6] in order to save their lives. He was taken prisoner to Aghmat, where he was executed in 1095.[citation needed]
Besides the intrigues and the eagerness for conquests of the kings, many artists of the time moved to the court of Seville, as the Almería poet Ibn al-Abbâr and Abû 'Âmir ibn Maslama had done. Abû'l-Walîd al-Himyarî made a compilation of literary works of both of them.[citation needed]
The city used to produce a variety of lusterware from the latter half of the 11th century. Several pieces of lusterware was found from the Ebro valley which indicated decorations found similar to ceramics made in the Taifa of Seville. These ceramics bear inscriptions to two Abbadid princes of Seville, who are identified by their proper names and titles. These production centers were operated under the authority of the Abbadid princes over several decades during the late 11th century.[7]
Chronicles mention of a time where the Almoravids fought under a white flag, while Andalusian soldiers like Emir Al-Mu'tamid fought under different green flags with Islamic texts written on them. This is supposedly the origin of the current Andalusian flag, currently used as the autonomous region flag, called Arbonaida.[citation needed]
- The New Cambridge Medieval History; pts. 1-2. c. 1024-c. 1198. Rosamond McKitterick. 25-07-2016.
- A Concise History of Spain. William D. Phillips, Jr, Carla Rahn Phillips. 25-07-2016.
- World Monarchies and Dynasties. John Middleton. 24-07-2016.
- "ʿAbbādid dynasty | Muslim dynasty | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- "Medieval Spains: Seville". 2003-08-15. Archived from the original on 15 August 2003. Retrieved 2022-04-27.
- Urquízar Herrera, Antonio (2017). Admiration and Awe : Morisco Buildings and Identity Negotiations in Early Modern Spanish Historiography. Oxford: OUP Oxford. p. 17. ISBN 978-0-19-251800-2. OCLC 986032907.
- BARCELÓ, CARMEN; HEIDENREICH, ANJA (2014). "Lusterware Made in the Abbadid Taifa of Seville (Eleventh Century) and ITS Early Production in the Mediterranean Region". Muqarnas. 31: 245–276. doi:10.1163/22118993-00311P10. ISSN 0732-2992. JSTOR 44657304.
