Mohammad Abu Abdallah Ben Hudzail al Sahuir
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Abu Abdallah Ben Hudzäil al Sähuir (1208 in Vall de Alcalá
, Alicante
– 1276 Alcoy
), popularly known as Al-Azraq الأزرق ("the blue" - referring to his eyes), was an Arab
Moorish commander in the Iberian Peninsula
in the south of the Kingdom of Valencia
.
He was son of a Muslim
father, Hudzäil al Sähuir and of a Christian
mother. As a vassal
in the Christian kingdom he spent long seasons in the courts of Aragon
, Valencia and Granada
, on friendly terms with the kings of Aragon and of Castile
.
After the conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia
by Jaime I of Aragon, Al-Azraq signed the Al-Azraq Treaty of 1245
, a pact with the Aragonese king by which the Muslim commander could keep control of a series of fortifications including Polop (later the lordship of the Barons of Polop) in the valleys of Alcalá
and Gallinera
. Despite the treaty, Al-Azraq led uprisings in 1248 and 1258, when he made an attempt on the life of Jaime I but was defeated.
In 1276 he met his death while besieging Alcoy
, at the hands of a Christian native from Játiva.
Vall de Alcalá
La Vall d'Alcalà is a valley in the Marina Alta region of Alicante, Spain.An area of natural beauty, it contains two villages: Alcalà de la Jovada and Beniaia...
, Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
– 1276 Alcoy
Alcoy
Alcoy may stand for:* Alcoy, Spain , a municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain* Alcoy, Cebu, province of Cebu, Philippines....
), popularly known as Al-Azraq الأزرق ("the blue" - referring to his eyes), was an Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
Moorish commander in 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...
in the south of the Kingdom of Valencia
Kingdom of Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
.
He was son of a Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
father, Hudzäil al Sähuir and of a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
mother. As a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
in the Christian kingdom he spent long seasons in the courts of Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Valencia and Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
, on friendly terms with the kings of Aragon and of Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom 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...
.
After the conquest of the Kingdom of Valencia
Kingdom of Valencia
The Kingdom of Valencia , located in the eastern shore of the Iberian Peninsula, was one of the component realms of the Crown of Aragon. When the Crown of Aragon merged by dynastic union with the Crown of Castile to form the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Valencia became a component realm of the...
by Jaime I of Aragon, Al-Azraq signed the Al-Azraq Treaty of 1245
Al-Azraq Treaty of 1245
The Al-Azraq Treaty of 1245 was a treaty between the Christian King James I of Aragon and the Muslim commander Mohammad Abu Abdallah Ben Hudzail al Sahuir popularly known as Al-Azraq in 1245 in the Iberian Peninsula.-Arabic version:...
, a pact with the Aragonese king by which the Muslim commander could keep control of a series of fortifications including Polop (later the lordship of the Barons of Polop) in the valleys of Alcalá
Vall de Alcalá
La Vall d'Alcalà is a valley in the Marina Alta region of Alicante, Spain.An area of natural beauty, it contains two villages: Alcalà de la Jovada and Beniaia...
and Gallinera
Gallinera
La Vall de Gallinera is a valley and a municipality in north-east Alicante, included in the Marina Alta comarca. It is formed by the nuclei of Benirrama, Benialí, Benissivà, Benitaia, Carroja, Alpatró, Llombai and Benissili. All these towns constitute a single municipality...
. Despite the treaty, Al-Azraq led uprisings in 1248 and 1258, when he made an attempt on the life of Jaime I but was defeated.
In 1276 he met his death while besieging Alcoy
Alcoy
Alcoy may stand for:* Alcoy, Spain , a municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain* Alcoy, Cebu, province of Cebu, Philippines....
, at the hands of a Christian native from Játiva.