Taifa of Badajoz
Encyclopedia
The Taifa of Badajoz was a medieval Muslim
kingdom in what is now parts of Portugal
and Spain and centred on the city of Badajoz
which exists today as the first city of Extremadura
, in Spain
.
It rose, like the other Taifa
kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula
, after the fragmentation of Al-Andalus
(the Caliphate of Cordoba
) in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, and ruled by the Aftasid dynasty. It was created by Sabur, a former slave of perhaps Slavic origin. The taifa's control extended over most of the ancient Lusitania
, including Mérida
and Lisbon
. Sabur was succeeded in 1022 by his vizier, Abdallah ib al-Aftas, who founded at Aftasid
dynasty. Sabur's sons fled to Lisbon, where they created the short-lived taifa of Lisbon
, which was soon reconquered by Badajoz. In 1055 Badajoz became a tributary of the Kingdom of León-Castile, losing significant parts of its territory, south of the Mondego river (south of Coimbra). The Abbadids of Seville
also conquered parts of their territory.
After the death of Abdallah's son, Abu Bakr, a civil war broke out between the latter's sons, Yahya and Abu, the former being victorious. His troops fought alongside the Almoravids
against the Christian army in the battle of Sagrajas (1086), which occurred not far from Badajoz. However, after the Almoravid victory, Yahya, who feared their increasing power, allied with Alfonso VI of Castile
. In 1094 the Almoravids occupied Badajoz and Yahya was killed together with two of his sons. A surviving son fled first to Montánchez
and then to Alfonso's court.
After the taifa's original territory had been ruled by various kingdoms (Almoravids, Almohad
s, Portugal
), a second independent taifa was shortly recreated in Badajoz, existing from 1144 to 1151, when it fell again under Almohad control.
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
kingdom in what is now parts of Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Spain and centred on the city of Badajoz
Badajoz
Badajoz is the capital of the Province of Badajoz in the autonomous community of Extremadura, Spain, situated close to the Portuguese border, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid–Lisbon railway. The population in 2007 was 145,257....
which exists today as the first city of Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
, in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
It rose, like the other Taifa
Taifa
In the history of the Iberian Peninsula, a taifa was an independent Muslim-ruled principality, usually an emirate or petty kingdom, though there was one oligarchy, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031.-Rise:The origins of...
kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
, after the fragmentation of Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
(the Caliphate of Cordoba
Caliphate of Córdoba
The Caliphate of Córdoba ruled the Iberian peninsula and part of North Africa, from the city of Córdoba, from 929 to 1031. This period was characterized by remarkable success in trade and culture; many of the masterpieces of Islamic Iberia were constructed in this period, including the famous...
) in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, and ruled by the Aftasid dynasty. It was created by Sabur, a former slave of perhaps Slavic origin. The taifa's control extended over most of the ancient Lusitania
Lusitania
Lusitania or Hispania Lusitania was an ancient Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river and part of modern Spain . It was named after the Lusitani or Lusitanian people...
, including Mérida
Merida
Places of the world named Mérida or Merida include:*Mérida, Spain, capital city of the Spanish Community of Extremadura*Mérida, Yucatán, capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatán*Merida, Leyte, a municipality in Leyte province in the Philippines...
and Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
. Sabur was succeeded in 1022 by his vizier, Abdallah ib al-Aftas, who founded at Aftasid
Aftasid
The Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty. Sabur's sons fled to Lisbon, where they created the short-lived taifa of Lisbon
Taifa of Lisbon
The Taifa of Lisbon was a medieval taifa kingdom that existed in what is now Portugal from around 1022 to 1093.-Banu Sabur dynasty:*Abd al-Aziz bin Sabur: 1022– ?*Abd al-Malik bin Sabur: ? –c. 1065 ?**Seized briefly by León: 1093–5...
, which was soon reconquered by Badajoz. In 1055 Badajoz became a tributary of the Kingdom of León-Castile, losing significant parts of its territory, south of the Mondego river (south of Coimbra). The Abbadids of Seville
Taifa of Seville
The Taifa of Seville was a short lived medieval kingdom, in what is now southern Spain and Portugal. It originated in 1023 and lasted until 1091, and was under the rule of the Arab Abbadid family.-History:...
also conquered parts of their territory.
After the death of Abdallah's son, Abu Bakr, a civil war broke out between the latter's sons, Yahya and Abu, the former being victorious. His troops fought alongside the Almoravids
Almoravids
The Almoravids were a Berber dynasty of Morocco, who formed an empire in the 11th-century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Their capital was Marrakesh, a city which they founded in 1062 C.E...
against the Christian army in the battle of Sagrajas (1086), which occurred not far from Badajoz. However, after the Almoravid victory, Yahya, who feared their increasing power, allied with Alfonso VI of Castile
Alfonso VI of Castile
Alfonso VI , nicknamed the Brave or the Valiant, was King of León from 1065, King of Castile and de facto King of Galicia from 1072, and self-proclaimed "Emperor of all Spain". After the conquest of Toledo he was also self-proclaimed victoriosissimo rege in Toleto, et in Hispania et Gallecia...
. In 1094 the Almoravids occupied Badajoz and Yahya was killed together with two of his sons. A surviving son fled first to Montánchez
Montánchez
Montánchez is a town in Spain, in the province of Caceres, Extremadura.It is situated at , some 702 metres above sea level. The municipality has an approximate population of just over 2,000.....
and then to Alfonso's court.
After the taifa's original territory had been ruled by various kingdoms (Almoravids, Almohad
Almohad
The Almohad Dynasty , was a Moroccan Berber-Muslim dynasty founded in the 12th century that established a Berber state in Tinmel in the Atlas Mountains in roughly 1120.The movement was started by Ibn Tumart in the Masmuda tribe, followed by Abd al-Mu'min al-Gumi between 1130 and his...
s, Portugal
Kingdom of Portugal
The Kingdom of Portugal was Portugal's general designation under the monarchy. The kingdom was located in the west of the Iberian Peninsula, Europe and existed from 1139 to 1910...
), a second independent taifa was shortly recreated in Badajoz, existing from 1144 to 1151, when it fell again under Almohad control.
Emirs of Badajoz
- Abu Muhammad Abdallah ben Muhammad el Sabur al-Saqlabi: 1013-1022 (SlavicSlavic peoplesThe Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
ruler). - Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Maslamah ibn al-Aftas: 1022-1027 (AftasidAftasidThe Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty) (Al-Mansur I of Badajoz). - Emirate of Sevilla control: 1027-1034.
- Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Maslamah ibn al-Aftas: 1034-1045 (AftasidAftasidThe Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty) (Al-Mansur I of Badajoz) (second time). - Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Abdallah al-Muzzaffar: 1045-1067 (AftasidAftasidThe Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty) (Modafar I of Badajoz). - Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Mansur: 1067-1073/1079 (AftasidAftasidThe Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty) (Al-Mansur II of Badajoz). - 'Umar ibn Muhammad al-Mutawakkil: 1073/1079-1094 (AftasidAftasidThe Aftasids were a Berber Miknasa dynasty in Badajoz in the Al Andalus ....
dynasty).- AlmoravidsAlmoravidsThe Almoravids were a Berber dynasty of Morocco, who formed an empire in the 11th-century that stretched over the western Maghreb and Al-Andalus. Their capital was Marrakesh, a city which they founded in 1062 C.E...
rule: 1094-1144.
- Almoravids
- Aben Hacham: 1144-1145.
- To the Emir of Al'Garb Al'AndalusAl'Garb Al'AndalusThe Al-Gharb Al-Andalus , or just Al-Gharb , was the name given by the Moors of Iberia to the modern region of Algarve and, by extension, to most of Portugal.-See also:*Timeline of Portuguese history...
(Silves, in the Algarve) 1145-1146. - Sidrey 1146-1151.
- Almohads control: 1151-1169.
- PortuguesePortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
control: 1169-1170. - Almohads control: 1170-1227.
- Kingdom of LeónKingdom of LeónThe Kingdom of León was an independent kingdom situated in the northwest region of the Iberian Peninsula. It was founded in AD 910 when the Christian princes of Asturias along the northern coast of the peninsula shifted their capital from Oviedo to the city of León...
-CastileKingdom of CastileKingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
control: 1227–present, except for the western part, under Portuguese control.