Nasr, Sultan of Granada
Encyclopedia
Nasr full name Abu'l-Juyush Nasr, was a son of Muhammed II al-Faqih and the fourth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish
Emirate of Granada
in Al-Andalus
on the Iberian Peninsula
. Nasr was a child of a Christian
concubine.
Like his half-brother and predecessor Muhammed III, he had a refined upbringing and education. He also studied astronomy. On March 14, 1309 he ascended the Granadine throne after he dethroned his brother Muhammed III. Nasr I continued the policy begun by his ancestors and paid tribute to the kingdom of Castile. He is credited with having constructed the Alhambra tower known as the Peinador de la Reina. A hidden staircase descending from the city walls leads to the foot of this tower and to an underground passage out of the Alhambra. During his reign, the Nasrids temporarily lost control of Algeciras, Ronda and Gibraltar. For his losses and troubles, the Moorish aristocracy did not support Nasr I. In 1310 his cousin and brother in-law Abu Said Faraj, the governor of Malaga, rebelled against Nasr I. Almost a year later, the men signed a truce. His nephew by his half-sister Fatima, Abu l-Walid Isma’il
, deposed Nasr on February 8, 1314.
He withdrew to Guadix
, where he helped the Castilians in their losing battle against Abu l-Walid Isma’il
, in 1319. He later suffered a stroke and died on November 16, 1322. He was buried on the southern slope of the Alhambra palace's hillside. The death of Nasr brought the male line of the Nasrid Dynasty to an end and the collateral female line, through his half-sister Fatima, took over.
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...
. Nasr was a child 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...
concubine.
Like his half-brother and predecessor Muhammed III, he had a refined upbringing and education. He also studied astronomy. On March 14, 1309 he ascended the Granadine throne after he dethroned his brother Muhammed III. Nasr I continued the policy begun by his ancestors and paid tribute to the kingdom of Castile. He is credited with having constructed the Alhambra tower known as the Peinador de la Reina. A hidden staircase descending from the city walls leads to the foot of this tower and to an underground passage out of the Alhambra. During his reign, the Nasrids temporarily lost control of Algeciras, Ronda and Gibraltar. For his losses and troubles, the Moorish aristocracy did not support Nasr I. In 1310 his cousin and brother in-law Abu Said Faraj, the governor of Malaga, rebelled against Nasr I. Almost a year later, the men signed a truce. His nephew by his half-sister Fatima, Abu l-Walid Isma’il
Ismail I, Sultan of Granada
Ismail I was the grandson of Muhammed II al-Faqih and the fifth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula in 1314–1325....
, deposed Nasr on February 8, 1314.
He withdrew to 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...
, where he helped the Castilians in their losing battle against Abu l-Walid Isma’il
Ismail I, Sultan of Granada
Ismail I was the grandson of Muhammed II al-Faqih and the fifth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula in 1314–1325....
, in 1319. He later suffered a stroke and died on November 16, 1322. He was buried on the southern slope of the Alhambra palace's hillside. The death of Nasr brought the male line of the Nasrid Dynasty to an end and the collateral female line, through his half-sister Fatima, took over.