The Nasrid dynasty was the last Muslim dynasty in Spain, ruling the Emirate of
Granada from 1238 until 1492. The Nasrid dynasty rose to power after the defeat
of the Almohad Caliphate in 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa.
Twenty-three emirs ruled Granada from the founding of the dynasty in 1232 by
Mohammed I ibn Nasr until January 2, 1492, when Muhammad XII surrendered to
the Christian Spanish kingdoms of Aragon and Castile. Today, the most visible
evidence of the Nasrids is the Alhambra palace complex built under their rule.
List of Nasrid Sultans of Granada Muhammed I ibn Nasr
Muhammed II al-Faqih Muhammed III
Nasr Ismail I
Muhammed IV Yusuf I
Muhammed V Ismail II
Muhammed VI Yusuf II
Muhammed VII Yusuf III
Muhammed VIII Muhammed IX
Yusuf IV Yusuf V
Muhammed X Muhammed XI
Said Abu l-Hasan Ali, known as Muley Hacén
Abu 'abd Allah Muhammed XII, known as Boabdil
Abū `Abd Allāh Muhammed XIII, known as El Zagal
Nasab The Nasrid dynasty claimed direct
male-line descent from Sa'd ibn Ubadah the chief of the Banu Khazraj tribe and
one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. The nasab of Yusuf
(nicknamed "al-Ahmar", meaning "the Red. Conflicts of Succession and Civil War
During the time the Christians were launching a campaign against the Emirate
of Granada that would effectively end the Nasrid dynasty, the Nasrids were
engaged in a civil war over the throne of Granada. When Abu l-Hasan Ali the
reigning amir was ousted by his son Abu 'abd Allah Mumhamed XII. Abu l-Hasan Ali
retreated to Malaga and civil war broke out between the competing factions.
Christians took full advantage of this and continued capturing Muslims
strongholds. Muhammed XII was caught by Christian forces in 1483 at Lucena. He
was freed after he swore an oath of allegiance to Ferdinand and Isabella.
Abu l-Hasan Ali finally abdicated in favor of his brother Sa'd al-Zaghal and
a power struggle with Abu 'abd Allah continued. Sa'd prevailed in the inner
struggle but was forced to surrender to the Christians. Abu 'abd Allah was given
a lordship in the Alpujarras mountains but instead took financial compensation
from the Spanish crown to leave the Iberian Peninsula.
Family tree The family tree below shows the
genealogical relationship between each sultan of the Nasrid dynasty. It starts
with their common ancestor, Yusuf al-Ahmar. Daughters are omitted, as are
sons whose descendants never reigned. During times of rival claims to the
throne, the family tree generally recognizes the sultan who controlled the
city of Granada itself and the Alhambra palace.
See also Al-Andalus
Alhambra Romance of Abenamar
Notes and references Bibliography
Fernández Puertas, Antonio. The Alhambra. Vol 1. From the Ninth Century
to Yusuf I. Saqi Books. ISBN 0-86356-466-6.
Fernández Puertas, Antonio. The Alhambra. Vol. 2.. Saqi Books. ISBN
0-86356-467-4. Harvey, Leonard Patrick. Islamic Spain
1250 to 1500. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-31962-8.
Watt, W. Montgomery. A History of Islamic Spain. Edinburgh University
Press. ISBN 0-7486-0847-8. Arié, Rachel. L’Espagne musulmane au
Temps des Nasrides. De Boccard. ISBN 2-7018-0052-8.
Bueno, Francisco. Los Reyes de la Alhambra. Entre la historia y la
leyenda. Miguel Sánchez. ISBN 84-7169-082-9.
Cortés Peña, Antonio Luis; Vincent, Bernard. Historia de Granada. 4 vols.
Editorial Don Quijote. External links