Yusuf III, Sultan of Granada
Encyclopedia
Yusuf III (1374– 1417) was the thirteenth Nasrid Nasrid ruler of the Moorish
Emirate of Granada
in Al-Andalus
on the Iberian Peninsula
from 1408 to 1417. He inherited the throne from his brother, Muhammed VII
, and was a noted builder and poet.
Yusuf had constructed the northernmost of the Nasrid dynasty
palaces on the hill of the Alhambra
. His palace
was allowed to fall into ruin after the Christian
takeover, leaving only a lovely arcade and tower. Terraced gardens were reconstructed in the 20th century.
The following is a section of one of Yusuf's poems from Hispano-Arabic Poetry: A Student Anthology, published by James Monroe
. It is typical of the romantic, yearning poetry of al-Andalus
, which inspired the later romantic poetry of European chivalry
. However, later Christian poems were strictly limited to male-female yearning, unlike this example.
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...
from 1408 to 1417. He inherited the throne from his brother, Muhammed VII
Muhammed VII, Sultan of Granada
Muhammed VII was the twelfth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula..- References :*Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 by Leonard Patrick Harvey; University of Chicago Press, 1992...
, and was a noted builder and poet.
Yusuf had constructed the northernmost of the Nasrid dynasty
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...
palaces on the hill of 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...
. His palace
Palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
was allowed to fall into ruin after the 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...
takeover, leaving only a lovely arcade and tower. Terraced gardens were reconstructed in the 20th century.
The following is a section of one of Yusuf's poems from Hispano-Arabic Poetry: A Student Anthology, published by James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
. It is typical of the romantic, yearning poetry of 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...
, which inspired the later romantic poetry of European chivalry
Chivalry
Chivalry is a term related to the medieval institution of knighthood which has an aristocratic military origin of individual training and service to others. Chivalry was also the term used to refer to a group of mounted men-at-arms as well as to martial valour...
. However, later Christian poems were strictly limited to male-female yearning, unlike this example.