Mohammed ibn Alhamar
Encyclopedia
Mohammed I ibn Nasr was a Nasrid
ruler of the Moorish
Emirate of Granada
in Al-Andalus
on the Iberian Peninsula
, and founder of the last Muslim dynasty in Spain in 1238.
The Nasrid dynasty lasted until Muhammad XII of Granada—Boabdil surrendered the to the 'Catholic Monarchs
' after the 1492 Reconquista
of Granada. The Nasrids constructed the Alhambra
palaces in Granada.
Mohammed ibn Nasr was born in the Arjona region of the Andalusian province of Jaén in 1191.
In 1212 a united army of Spanish and European soldiers defeated the Almohad
army at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
.
In 1231, Mohammed ibn Nasr seized the governorship of Arjona
and, one year later, began a quest for control of other Spanish territories. He captured Guadix
in 1232, Granada (soon to be his capital) in 1237, Almería
in 1238 and Málaga
in 1239. He had at least three brothers, Yusuf and Faraj and Isma`il, the latter of whom became the governor of Málaga during Mohammed's reign (until 1257). He also enjoyed the support of a powerful Andalusian family who later became political rivals, the Ashqilula. Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali ibn Ashqilula al-Tujibi assisted Mohammed's rise to power in Arjona in 1232. Mohammed forged this alliance through marriage, by becoming either the father in law or brother in law of the Ashqilula chieftain. The alliance continued with other marriages: Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali's daughter Fatima married Yusuf ibn Nasr, a brother of Mohammed, while Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali's son Abu Ishaq Ibrahim married the Nasrid princess Mu'mina, one of Mohammed's daughters.
When Isma'il died, Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar raised his nephews Mohammed and Abu Said Faraj, the latter of whom would become governor of Málaga in his father's place.
Ferdinand III of Castile
captured Córdoba
in 1236. The ruler of Granada, Mohammed ibn Nasr, approached Ferdinand to propose that in return for cooperating in the conquest of Muslim Seville, Granada would be granted independence. Ferdinand agreed and took Seville. As agreed, Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar continued to pay the required tribute to Ferdinand III of Castile in exchange for the independence of Granada. Other losses to Castile occurred; Murcia
in 1243, Arjona in 1244 and the entire Jaén
province in 1245.
The last eight years of his reign saw Granada plunged into civil war, pitting Mohammed against one of the powerful clans that had supported him, the Ashqilula. In 1257, Mohammed declared his sons Muhammad al-Faqih and Yusuf his heirs. Mohammed ibn Nasr had at least four sons: Nasr, Yusuf, Faraj and Muhammed II al-Faqih. The latter would succeed him at his death on January 22, 1273.
When Castile invaded Granada, Mohammed rode out to meet his adversaries. At noon, he suddenly fell ill. He was placed on a litter, and taken back towards Granada but his illness increased to such a degree that his men pitched his tent in the Vega. In a few hours he died, vomiting blood and in violent convulsions. His body was embalmed, enclosed in a silver coffin, and buried in a cemetery on the southern hillside of the Alhambra. Struggles with the Ashqilula clan continued into the reign of his son Muhammed II al-Faqih.
Nasrid dynasty
The Nasrid dynasty was the last Moorish and Muslim dynasty in Spain. The Nasrid dynasty rose to power after the defeat of the Almohad Caliphate in 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa...
ruler of the Moorish
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...
Emirate of Granada
Emirate of Granada
The Emirate of Granada , also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada , was an emirate established in 1238 following the defeat of Muhammad an-Nasir of the Almohad dynasty by an alliance of Christian kingdoms at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212...
in 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...
on 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...
, and founder of the last Muslim dynasty in Spain in 1238.
The Nasrid dynasty lasted until Muhammad XII of Granada—Boabdil surrendered the to the 'Catholic Monarchs
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
' after the 1492 Reconquista
Reconquista
The Reconquista was a period of almost 800 years in the Middle Ages during which several Christian kingdoms succeeded in retaking the Muslim-controlled areas of the Iberian Peninsula broadly known as Al-Andalus...
of Granada. The Nasrids constructed the Alhambra
Alhambra
The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain...
palaces in Granada.
Mohammed ibn Nasr was born in the Arjona region of the Andalusian province of Jaén in 1191.
In 1212 a united army of Spanish and European soldiers defeated the 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...
army at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa
The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, known in Arab history as the Battle of Al-Uqab , took place on 16 July 1212 and was an important turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain...
.
In 1231, Mohammed ibn Nasr seized the governorship of Arjona
Arjona, Spain
Arjona is a municipality in the province of Jaén, Spain....
and, one year later, began a quest for control of other Spanish territories. He captured Guadix
Guadix
Guadix, a city of southern Spain, in the province of Granada; on the left bank of the river Guadix, a sub-tributary of the Guadiana Menor, and on the Madrid-Valdepeñas-Almería railway...
in 1232, Granada (soon to be his capital) in 1237, Almería
Almería
Almería is a city in Andalusia, Spain, on the Mediterranean Sea. It is the capital of the province of the same name.-Toponym:Tradition says that the name Almería stems from the Arabic المرية Al-Mariyya: "The Mirror", comparing it to "The Mirror of the Sea"...
in 1238 and Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
in 1239. He had at least three brothers, Yusuf and Faraj and Isma`il, the latter of whom became the governor of Málaga during Mohammed's reign (until 1257). He also enjoyed the support of a powerful Andalusian family who later became political rivals, the Ashqilula. Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali ibn Ashqilula al-Tujibi assisted Mohammed's rise to power in Arjona in 1232. Mohammed forged this alliance through marriage, by becoming either the father in law or brother in law of the Ashqilula chieftain. The alliance continued with other marriages: Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali's daughter Fatima married Yusuf ibn Nasr, a brother of Mohammed, while Abu'l-Hasan 'Ali's son Abu Ishaq Ibrahim married the Nasrid princess Mu'mina, one of Mohammed's daughters.
When Isma'il died, Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar raised his nephews Mohammed and Abu Said Faraj, the latter of whom would become governor of Málaga in his father's place.
Ferdinand III of Castile
Ferdinand III of Castile
Saint Ferdinand III, T.O.S.F., was the King of Castile from 1217 and León from 1230. He was the son of Alfonso IX of León and Berenguela of Castile. Through his second marriage he was also Count of Aumale. He finished the work done by his maternal grandfather Alfonso VIII and consolidated the...
captured Córdoba
Córdoba, Spain
-History:The first trace of human presence in the area are remains of a Neanderthal Man, dating to c. 32,000 BC. In the 8th century BC, during the ancient Tartessos period, a pre-urban settlement existed. The population gradually learned copper and silver metallurgy...
in 1236. The ruler of Granada, Mohammed ibn Nasr, approached Ferdinand to propose that in return for cooperating in the conquest of Muslim Seville, Granada would be granted independence. Ferdinand agreed and took Seville. As agreed, Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar continued to pay the required tribute to Ferdinand III of Castile in exchange for the independence of Granada. Other losses to Castile occurred; Murcia
Murcia
-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
in 1243, Arjona in 1244 and the entire Jaén
Jaén, Spain
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain, the name is derived from the Arabic word Jayyan, . It is the capital of the province of Jaén. It is located in the autonomous community of Andalusia....
province in 1245.
The last eight years of his reign saw Granada plunged into civil war, pitting Mohammed against one of the powerful clans that had supported him, the Ashqilula. In 1257, Mohammed declared his sons Muhammad al-Faqih and Yusuf his heirs. Mohammed ibn Nasr had at least four sons: Nasr, Yusuf, Faraj and Muhammed II al-Faqih. The latter would succeed him at his death on January 22, 1273.
When Castile invaded Granada, Mohammed rode out to meet his adversaries. At noon, he suddenly fell ill. He was placed on a litter, and taken back towards Granada but his illness increased to such a degree that his men pitched his tent in the Vega. In a few hours he died, vomiting blood and in violent convulsions. His body was embalmed, enclosed in a silver coffin, and buried in a cemetery on the southern hillside of the Alhambra. Struggles with the Ashqilula clan continued into the reign of his son Muhammed II al-Faqih.
Further reading
- This article incorporates text from The University of Adelaide Library Electronic Texts Collection.