Mohammed ibn Alhamar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mohammed ibn Alhamar (Arabic: محمد ابن الحمار) (also ibn Nasr) was a Nasrid ruler of Granada in Iberia and founder of the last Muslim dynasty in Spain in 1238. The Nasrid dynasty was the last Muslim dynasty in Spain, founded by Muhammed I ibn Alhamar and lasting until Boabdil surrendered to the Christian Spanish Kingdom in 1492. The Nasrids constructed the Alhambra palaces.
In 1212 a united army of Spanish and European soldiers defeated the Almohad army at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, an event which marked the beginning of the end of the Muslim presence of Spain.
Ferdinand III of Castile captured Cordoba in 1236. The ruler of Granada, Mohammed ibn Alhamar, saw what was happening and approached Fernando to propose that in return for cooperating in the conquest of Muslim Seville, Granada would be granted independence. Fernando agreed and took Seville. On returning to Granada, ibn-Alhamar announced "there is no victor but Allah" which can be seen inscribed all over the Alhambra palace. As agreed Mohammed ibn Alhamar continued to pay the required tribute to Ferdinand III of Castile in exchange for the independence of Granada.
[edit] References
- A History of Islamic Spain by W. Montgomery Watt; Edinburgh University Press, 1965 (Chapter 10 THE LAST OF ISLAMIC SPAIN 1. The Nasrids of Granada)
