Taifa of Granada: Map & History
The Taifa of Granada or Zirid Kingdom of Granada was a Muslim kingdom that was formed in al-Andalus in 1013 following the deposition of Umayyad Caliph Hisham II in 1009.
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The Taifa of Granada or Zirid Kingdom of Granada was a Muslim kingdom that was formed in al-Andalus in 1013 following the deposition of Umayyad Caliph Hisham II in 1009. The kingdom was centered on Granada, its capital, and it also extended its control to Málaga for a period. Four kings succeeded each other during its nearly 80 years of existence, all of them belonging to an offshoot of the Zirid dynasty of North Africa, a Sanhaja Berber clan. The Taifa of Granada was considered to be the wealthiest out of all of the taifa kingdoms. It was eventually conquered by the Almoravids in 1090, putting an end to Zirid rule in Granada.
Modern Countries Once Part of Taifa of Granada
At its mapped extent, Taifa of Granada covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Taifa of Granada's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Taifa of Granada in Depth
History
The Zirids were a Sanhaja Berber clan from the central Maghreb (present-day Algeria), who served the Fatimid Caliphate and created a dynasty that thereafter ruled parts of North Africa on their behalf. The dynasty was founded by Ziri ibn Manad, who was succeeded by his son Buluggin after 971, ruling from Kairouan in Ifriqiya (present-day Tunisia). In 999, many of Buluggin's brothers, including Zawi ibn Ziri, rebelled against his grandson, Badis ibn al-Mansur, due to their exclusion from power by Buluggin and his descendants. The rebels, based in 'Ashir, were defeated in battle and most of the brothers were killed except for Zawi.
Society and government
Under Zirid rule the population of Granada was diverse. Political tensions arose between three main groups: the Andalusi Arabs, the Jewish community, and the Sanhaja Berbers. People of various other backgrounds were also present, including muwalladūn (Muslims of Iberian descent), those descended from other tribes in North Africa, and slaves of both black and white ethnicities. Many people likely moved from Cordoba to Granada during the fitna, seeking to escape the conflict. Historical evidence suggests that a Christian population still existed in the city, though it eventually disappeared in the 12th century.
The Arabs had largely settled in the region of Granada during Umayyad rule, mostly originating from the jund (soldiers) of Damascus in the early days of al-Andalus.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Taifa of Granada (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Taifa of Granada: Key Facts
| Founded | 1013 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 1090 |
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q205708 (CC0).
Taifa of Granada Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 24,629 km² in 1068 CE.
Taifa of Granada: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Taifa of Granada exist?
Taifa of Granada is dated to 1015 CE – 1093 CE, in the High & Late Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of Taifa of Granada?
The capital of Taifa of Granada was Granada.
How large was Taifa of Granada at its peak?
At its peak in 1068 AD Taifa of Granada covered about 24,629 km².
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