The Historians' History of the World 08

1193 The Christian princes of Spain unite against the Moors.

1195 The Moors administer a crushing defeat to Alfonso VIII of Castile at Alarcon.

1197 Capture of Madrid by the Moors.

1198 The Moors capture Calatrava and threaten Toledo.

1199 Death of Yakub. Muhammed An-Nasir succeeds. Rising of the Almoravids which takes five years to suppress. Muhammed makes preparations for a great conquest of Christian Spain.

1211 Muhammed besieges Salvatierra.

1212 Surrender of Salvatierra, followed by decisive defeat of Muhammed at Las Navas de Tolosa. The fate of the Almohads is sealed.

1213 Death of Muhammed. His infant son Yusuf Al-Mustansir succeeds.

1223 Death of Yusuf. Civil war breaks out among the Almohads.

1224 Abul-Malik, successor of Yusuf, deposed at Murcia by Abdallah Abu Muhammed, who succeeds. The Christian allies take Huejada in Valencia.

1227 Al-Mamun succeeds Abdallah. Discontent with the Almohads increases.

1232 Revolt of Al-Mutawakkil b. Hud, who drives Al-Mamun to Africa. End of the Almohad dynasty. Al-Mutawakkil takes Granada. Capture of the Balearic Isles by James I of Aragon.

1233 Great victory over the Moors by the Castilians.

1236 Capture of Cordova and part of Andalusia by Ferdinand III of Castile. James of Aragon attacks Valencia.

1237 Murder of Al-Mutawakkil by his generals.

THE KINGDOM OF GRANADA (1238-1492 A.D.)

With Al-Mutawakkil perishes the last semblance of Moorish unity. The emirs again become independent princes, but the Christian encroachment has been such that none of them has any considerable power, or territory, except Muhammed (I) Ben Al-Akhmar, who in 1238 founds the kingdom of Granada.

1238 Reduction of Valencia by James I.

1245 Muhammed cedes the town of Jaen to Ferdinand III of Castile, and becomes a tributary of Castile.

1248 Surrender of Seville to Ferdinand. Other cities follow.

1253 Muhammed founds the Alhambra at Granada.

1254 Alfonso X of Castile conquers many Moorish cities in southern Spain.

1261 Muhammed attempts to cast off the yoke of Castile, and encourages Andalusia and Murcia to rebel.

1264 Peace made with Castile. Granada is again tributary.

1266 Capture of Murcia by James I. All Spain is now Christian, except Granada.

1273 The Merinids arrive in Spain, from Africa, to assist the Moors. Death of Muhammed. His son Muhammed II succeeds. He makes a treaty with Alfonso X of Castile.

1275 Abu Yusuf, king of the Merinids, brings a large army to Spain. The Castilians and Aragonese are defeated, but Alfonso checks the conqueror.

1278 The Merinids drive the remaining Almohads from Spain.

1281 Alfonso allies himself with the Merinids to suppress a revolt in Castile.

1285 Death of Abu Yusuf.

1292 The Castilians take Tarifa, after defeating the Moorish fleet at Tangiers.

1294 Unsuccessful attempt of the Moors to recapture Tarifa. The Merinids finally withdraw from Spain.

1302 Death of Muhammed. His son Muhammed (III) Abu Abdallah succeeds.

1308 Capture of Gibraltar by Ferdinand IV of Castile. Treaty with the Granadans, who renounce some of their territory.

1309 Revolt in Granada. Muhammed is compelled to resign the throne to his brother Nasir Abu Abdallah. The rebellion continues, and

1313 Nasir is deposed by his nephew Ismail Feraj. He has constant wars with the Christians.

1319 Great defeat of the Castilians in Granada.

1325 Assassination of Ismail by one of his officers. His son Muhammed IV succeeds.

1328 Reduction of Baena by Muhammed.

1333 Muhammed obtains an army of Merinids from Africa, who retake Gibraltar. Alfonso XI attempts to retake. Muhammed comes to relieve the Merinids, but they assassinate him. His brother Yusuf Abul-Hagiag succeeds.

1340 Yusuf besieges Tarifa, with the assistance of Merinid auxiliaries. Alfonso IV of Portugal, and Alfonso XI of Castile, relieve the town and administer a crushing defeat to the Moors, on the river Guadacelito (Salado).

1343 Surrender of Algeciras to Alfonso of Castile, who makes ten years’ treaty of peace with Yusuf.

1354 Assassination of Yusuf by a madman, while at prayer. His son Muhammed V succeeds.

1359 Muhammed deposed by his brother Ismail, and retires to Africa.

1360 Abu Said, Ismail’s prime minister, murders him, and usurps the throne.

1361 Muhammed returns to Spain, and applies to Peter the Cruel of Castile for support.

1362 Murder of Abu Said while on an appealing visit to Peter. Muhammed regains the throne.

1370 Muhammed attacks Henry IV of Castile.

1376 Muhammed builds the great public hospital, and many other buildings, at Granada.

1391 Death of Muhammed. His son Yusuf (II) Abu Abdallah succeeds.

1392 His son attempts to dethrone him.

1396 Death of Yusuf. His younger son Muhammed VI succeeds, and exiles his rebellious elder brother. Muhammed wars his entire reign with the Christians.