THE KINGDOM OF GRANADA (1238-1492 A.D.)

W1ith Al-Mutawakkil perishes the last semblance of Moorish unity. The emirs again become independent princes, but the Christian encroachment has been such that none of them has any considerable power, or territory, except =Muhammed (I) Ben Al-Akhmar=, who in 1238 founds the kingdom of Granada.

21238 Reduction of Valencia by James I.

31245 Muhammed cedes the town of Jaen to Ferdinand III of Castile, and becomes a tributary of Castile.

41248 Surrender of Seville to Ferdinand. Other cities follow.

51253 Muhammed founds the Alhambra at Granada.

61254 Alfonso X of Castile conquers many Moorish cities in southern Spain.

71261 Muhammed attempts to cast off the yoke of Castile, and encourages Andalusia and Murcia to rebel.

81264 Peace made with Castile. Granada is again tributary.

91266 Capture of Murcia by James I. All Spain is now Christian, except Granada.

101273 The Merinids arrive in Spain, from Africa, to assist the Moors. Death of Muhammed. His son =Muhammed II= succeeds. He makes a treaty with Alfonso X of Castile.

111275 Abu Yusuf, king of the Merinids, brings a large army to Spain. The Castilians and Aragonese are defeated, but Alfonso checks the conqueror.

121278 The Merinids drive the remaining Almohads from Spain.

131281 Alfonso allies himself with the Merinids to suppress a revolt in Castile.

141285 Death of Abu Yusuf.

151292 The Castilians take Tarifa, after defeating the Moorish fleet at Tangiers.

161294 Unsuccessful attempt of the Moors to recapture Tarifa. The Merinids finally withdraw from Spain.

171302 Death of Muhammed. His son =Muhammed (III) Abu Abdallah= succeeds.

181308 Capture of Gibraltar by Ferdinand IV of Castile. Treaty with the Granadans, who renounce some of their territory.

191309 Revolt in Granada. Muhammed is compelled to resign the throne to his brother =Nasir Abu Abdallah=. The rebellion continues, and

201313 Nasir is deposed by his nephew =Ismail Feraj=. He has constant wars with the Christians.

211319 Great defeat of the Castilians in Granada.

221325 Assassination of Ismail by one of his officers. His son =Muhammed IV= succeeds.

231328 Reduction of Baena by Muhammed.

241333 Muhammed obtains an army of Merinids from Africa, who retake Gibraltar. Alfonso XI attempts to retake. Muhammed comes to relieve the Merinids, but they assassinate him. His brother =Yusuf Abul-Hagiag= succeeds.

251340 Yusuf besieges Tarifa, with the assistance of Merinid auxiliaries. Alfonso IV of Portugal, and Alfonso XI of Castile, relieve the town and administer a crushing defeat to the Moors, on the river Guadacelito (Salado).

261343 Surrender of Algeciras to Alfonso of Castile, who makes ten years’ treaty of peace with Yusuf.

271354 Assassination of Yusuf by a madman, while at prayer. His son =Muhammed V= succeeds.

281359 Muhammed deposed by his brother =Ismail=, and retires to Africa.

291360 =Abu Said=, Ismail’s prime minister, murders him, and usurps the throne.

301361 Muhammed returns to Spain, and applies to Peter the Cruel of Castile for support.

311362 Murder of Abu Said while on an appealing visit to Peter. Muhammed regains the throne.

321370 Muhammed attacks Henry IV of Castile.

331376 Muhammed builds the great public hospital, and many other buildings, at Granada.

341391 Death of Muhammed. His son =Yusuf (II) Abu Abdallah= succeeds.

351392 His son attempts to dethrone him.

361396 Death of Yusuf. His younger son =Muhammed VI= succeeds, and exiles his rebellious elder brother. Muhammed wars his entire reign with the Christians.

371408 Death of Muhammed. His exiled brother =Yusuf III= obtains the throne. This event marks the end of internal tranquillity in the kingdom, and the beginning of its downfall.

381423 Death of Yusuf. His son =Muhammed (VII) Al-Haizar= succeeds. Many revolts follow.

391426 Muhammed’s cousin =Muhammed (VIII) Az-Zaguir= deposes him and seizes the throne.

401428 Muhammed VIII put to death by the Christians and Africans. Muhammed VII is restored.

411431 Invasion of Granada by the Castilians. The Moors are defeated, whereat they depose Muhammed, and declare =Yusuf Al-Hamar= king. He dies in six months, and Muhammed is again restored.

421435 The Castilians again invade Granada, and take Huesca.

431445 Deposition of Muhammed by his nephew =Muhammed Osmin=. His entire reign is troubled by a rival claimant, his cousin, Muhammed b. Ismail, who has support of Juan II of Castile.

441454 =Muhammed (X) Ismail= finally gets the throne from his cousin. He quarrels with the Castilians, who defeat him, and take the Ximena from him.

451466 Death of Muhammed. His son =Mulei Ali Abul-Hassan= succeeds.

461478 War with Castile renewed when Abul-Hassan refuses to pay tribute.

471482 Disastrous defeats of the Moors. Alhama taken. Abul-Hassan’s son Abu Abdallah (Boabdil) revolts against him.

481483 Slight gain of Abul-Hassan over the Christians. =Abu Abdallah=, encouraged by Ferdinand of Castile and Aragon in his rebellion, is proclaimed king by one faction.

491484 Abul-Hassan compelled to resign his crown, and his brother =Abdallah Az-Zagal= is made king, as rival to Abu Abdallah. Ferdinand, taking advantage of this internal discord, makes great progress with his arms.

501487 Surrender of Malaga to Ferdinand, after long siege and several defeats of Abdallah. Ferdinand takes other towns.

511488 New Malaga surrenders to Ferdinand.

521489 Surrender of Guadix, Almeria, and Baza.

531490 Abdallah surrenders all his territories to Ferdinand. Abdallah still holds Granada.

541491 Ferdinand begins siege of Granada.

551492 Surrender of Granada. Abu Abdallah is pensioned, and returns to Africa. End of Mohammedan dominion in Spain.