Taifa of Málaga

Taifa of Málaga
← 1026–1239 →
Taifa Kingdom of Málaga, c. 1037.
Capital		Málaga
Languages		Arabic, Mozarabic , Hebrew
Religion		Islam, Roman Catholicism, Judaism
Government		Monarchy
Historical era		Middle Ages
-	Downfall of Caliphate of Córdoba	1026
-	To Granada	1057-1073
-	To the Almoravids	1090-1145
-	To the Almohads	1153-1229
-	Conquered by Granada	1239
Currency		Dirham and Dinar

The Taifa of Málaga was a Muslim taifa kingdom in what is now southern Spain, which existed for four distinct time-periods: from 1026 to 1057, from 1073 to 1090, from 1145 to 1153 and from 1229 to 1239 when it was finally conquered by Granada.

History

First taifa

The taifa was created in 1026 when Yahya I al-Mu'tali, a Berber of the Hammudid dynasty who had been invited to assume the title of caliph of Córdoba, returned to his secure stronghold of Málaga and subsequently was banished definitively by the Córdobans. After his expulsion he united under his rule the coras of Málaga and Algeciras, initially with the support of the Zirids of Granada, and thereupon declared the independent Taifa of Málaga. He regained the title of caliph, which thenceforth was exclusive to the Málagan rulers. His rule, which lasted until his death in 1035, was characterized by struggle with the Abbasid kings of Seville. Yahya conquered the taifa of Carmona, of strategic importance in the area; it was, however, soon recaptured by the Sevillans.

At his death in 1035, the kingdom was divided into two independent entities: the taifa of Málaga proper, under his brother Idris I al-Muta'ayyad, and the taifa of Algeciras, under his nephew Muhammad ben al-Qasim. Struggle against Seville continued, reaching its climax in the Malagan victory in the 1039 Battle of Écija, thanks also to the support of the taifas of Almería, Granada and Carmona. Idris I was succeeded in Málaga by Yahya II al-Qa'im, who lasted only one year, being ousted in 1040 by his uncle Hasan al-Mustansir, in turn overthrown in 1042 by the slave Naya al-Siqlabi.

In the same year Naya was assassinated, and the Hammudids regained the throne with Idris II al-Ali, brother of Hassan, who reigned until being deposed in 1047 by his cousin Muhammad I al-Mahdi. In 1053 or 1053 the latter was replaced by his cousin Idris III al Sami, who was also assassinated after just one year, after which Idris II held the throne until his death in 1054 or 1055. His son and successor Muhammad II al-Musta'li was deposed by his brother, Yahya III al-Mahdi, under which the taifa was conquered (1057) by Badis ben Habús, Zirid ruler of Granada.

After Badis' death in 1073 and the division of the Granadan taifa between his successors, Málaga went to Tamim ben Buluggin ben Badis while Abd Allah ben Buluggin ben Badis gained the taifa of Granada. In 1090 the taifa was conquered by the Almooravid Islamic dynasty from Morocco.

Second taifa

During the so-called second taifa age, Málaga was self-ruled for eight years starting from 1145, under the Banu Hassun Abu'l-Hakam al-Husayn, who exploited a popular revolt against the Almoravids. His unpopular policies, however, as well as his alliance with the Christians, caused his fall by the hands of the Almohads and his suicide in 1153.

Third taifa

In 1229, in the course of the third taifa period, Málaga became shortly independent in 1229 under Ibn Zannun, from the Banu Zanum dynasty. His fall in 1238 marked the end of the taifa of Málaga, which was incorporated into the emirate of Granada.

List of Emirs

Hammudid dynasty

• Yahya I al-Mu'tali: 1026 or 1027–1035
• Idris I al-Muta'ayyad: 1035-1039
• Yahya II al-Qa'im: 1039-1040
• Hasan al-Mustansir: 1040-1042
• Naya the Usurper: 1042
• Idris II al-Ali: 1042-1047 d. 1054/5
• Muhammad I ben al-Qasim: 1047-1053
• Idris III al Sami: 1053
• Idris II (restored): 1053-1054/5
• Muhammad II al-Musta'li: 1054/5
• Yahya III al-Mahdi (in Melilla 1063-1064): 1054/5-1057/8 d. 1064
  • To Taifa of Granada: 1057/8-1073

Zirid dynasty

• Tamim: 1073-1090
  • To Almoravids: 1090-1145

Hassunid dynasty

• Abu'l-Hakam al-Husayn: 1145-1153
  • To Almohads: 1153-1229

Zannunid dynasty

• Ibn Zannun: 1229 ?-1239
  • To Granada: 1239-1487

See also

• Ibn Gairol, poet and Jewish philosopher.
• List of Sunni Muslim dynasties

Sources

• http://web.raex.com/~obsidian/taifa.html