The Historians' History of the World 08

Since the death of Almansor, Mohammedan Spain has been splitting up into a number of independent emirates or principalities. The fall of the Omayyad dynasty breaks the last link of unity, and we have now the separate and distinct emirates of Saragossa, Toledo, Valencia, Badajoz, Cordova, Seville, and Granada. The Christian states seize the opportunity to reconquer Spain. The Spanish national hero, “the Cid,” takes part in these conquests. Without following each of these states in detail, we note the most important events of the period.

1032 Civil war breaks out in the emirates.

1038 Ramiro I of Aragon drives the Moors from Sobrarbe, and annexes it to his possessions. Assassination of Al-Mundar of Saragossa, at Granada.

1043 Death of Gehwar of Cordova. His son Muhammed succeeds.

1046 Ferdinand I of Castile besieges Toledo. The emir pays tribute.

1060 Muhammed Al-Muatedid seizes Cordova, and then becomes the most powerful leader of the Moorish rulers in Spain. Muhammed Gehwar dies of grief.

1064 Last victories of Ferdinand I in Catalonia and Valencia. Al-Mamun of Toledo captures Valencia, deposing his brother-in-law, Al-Mudafar.

1070 Rise of the Almoravids in Africa due to Yusuf b. Tashufin.

1078 Ibn Abed of Seville takes Murcia.

1079 Conquest of Malaga by Ibn Omar, the vizir of Ibn Abed. Alliance between Ibn Abed and Alfonso VI of Castile.

1081 Alfonso VI invades Toledo. Al-Aftas, emir of Badajoz, drives him back.

1085 Capture of Toledo by Alfonso VI.

1086 Al-Mutamid, emir of Seville, asks Yusuf, the Almoravid chief in Africa, for assistance. He comes, and defeats Alfonso at Zallaka.

1087 Yusuf returns to Africa. The Cid defeats the Moors at Al-Coraza, and captures Huesca.

1088 Yusuf recalled to Spain, but is able to accomplish nothing, owing to discord and dissension among the emirs.

1089 The Moors besiege Alid, but are driven off by Alfonso. Yusuf returns to Africa.

1090 Yusuf returns to Spain with a large army, and conquers Granada.

1091 Conquest of Seville and Almeria by Yusuf. Al-Mutamin sent to Africa a prisoner. Yusuf is now supreme in the Mohammedan regions of Spain.

THE ALMORAVID DYNASTY (1091-1146 A.D.)

The Almoravids are a confederation of Berber sectaries who have established a vast kingdom in Africa. The king, Yusuf b. Tashufin, establishes his capital at Morocco, in 1069, and his intrusion into the affairs of Spain is explained above.

1092 Valencia betrayed to the Almoravids. Al-Kadir, the emir, slain.

1093 Yusuf captures Badajoz and puts the emir Al-Mutawakkil to death.

1094 The Cid takes Valencia from the Moors.

1095 The Balearic Isles submit to Yusuf.

1099 Death of the Cid. Valencia comes under Moorish rule the following year.

1103 Yusuf turns government over to his son Ali, and returns to Africa, where he dies, 1106, at age of one hundred. (Ninety-seven Christian years.)

1108 Victory of Ali over Alfonso VI of Castile, at Urcesia (Ucles).

1109 Alfonso defeats the emir of Saragossa. Ali returns to Africa after unsuccessful siege of Toledo. The centre of government is at Morocco.

1114 The Pisans take the Balearic Isles from the Moors.

1117 Alfonso allies himself with the emir of Saragossa against Ali. They take Lerida, and defeat the Almoravids.

1121 Rebellion of Cordova. Revolt of Muhammed b. Abdallah (Al-Mahdi) in Africa. Rise of the Almohads (Unitarians).

1123 Siege of Morocco by the Almohads. Ali drives them off.

1130 Ali, son of Tashufin, defeated by Alfonso. Abdul-Mumin, successor of Al-Mahdi, defeats Ali in Morocco.

1134 The Moors defeat and slay Alfonso I of Aragon at Fraga.

1138 Tashufin summoned to Spain by Ali to help him against the Almohads.

1139 Alfonso, duke of Portugal, defeats the Moors at Ourique.

1143 Death of Ali. His son Tashufin succeeds. General insurrection against the Almoravids.

1144 Abdul-Mumin totally defeats Tashufin in Africa. Death of Tashufin in flight to Spain. His son Ibrahim raised to the throne over such of his dominions as are left.

1145 Abdul-Mumin crosses into Spain.

1146 The Almohads take Seville. Castile and Aragon come to assistance of the Almoravids. Ibrahim put to death.

THE ALMOHAD DYNASTY (1146-1232 A.D.)

1146 Abdul-Mumin recognised as supreme over the Moors in Spain.

1147 Capture of Almeria by the Christian allies.

1148 Capture of Cordova by the Almohads.

1151 Abdul-Mumin continues conquests in Africa.

1156 Capture of Granada by the Almohads.

1157 The Almohads reconquer Almeria.

1158 Capture of Tunis by Abdul-Mumin.

1160 Abdul-Mumin returns to Spain.

1161 Badajoz, Beja, and Beira taken by the Almohads.

1163 Death of Abdul-Mumin. His son Yusuf Abu Yakub succeeds. The war between the Christians and Moors continues.

1176 Yusuf invades Portugal.

1184 Death of Yusuf at siege of Santarem. His son Yakub Almansor (Al-Mansur) succeeds.

1189 Sancho of Portugal captures Silves and Beja, but the Moors recover them three years later.