Taifa of Badajoz

Taifa of Badajoz
Ta'ifa al-Batalyaws
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1009–1151  
→
Taifa Kingdom of Badajoz, c. 1037.
Capital Badajoz, currently in the Badajoz province, Extremadura, Spain
Languages Andalusi Arabic, Mozarabic , Ladino
Religion Islam, Roman Catholicism, Judaism
Government Monarchy
Historical era Middle Ages
 -  Downfall of Caliphate of Córdoba 1009
 - To the Almoravids 1094–1144
 -  Disestablished 1151
Currency Dirham and Dinar
Today part of  Portugal
 Spain

The Taifa of Badajoz (from Arabic: Ta'waif al-Batalyaws‎) was a medieval Muslim kingdom in what is now parts of Portugal and Spain and centred on the city of Badajoz which exists today as the first city of Extremadura, in Spain.[1]

It rose, like the other Taifa kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, after the fragmentation of Al-Andalus (the Caliphate of Cordoba) in the late 10th and early 11th centuries, and was ruled by the Aftasid dynasty. It was created by Sabur, a former slave of perhaps Slavic origin. The taifa's control extended over most of ancient Lusitania, including Mérida and Lisbon. Sabur was succeeded in 1022 by his vizier, Abdallah ibn al-Aftas, who founded the Aftasid dynasty. Sabur's sons fled to Lisbon, where they created the short-lived taifa of Lisbon, which was soon reconquered by Badajoz. In 1055 Badajoz became a tributary of the Kingdom of León-Castile, losing significant parts of its territory south of the Mondego river (south of Coimbra). The Abbadids of Seville also conquered parts of their territory.

After the death of Abdallah's son, Abu Bakr, a civil war broke out between the latter's sons, Yahya and Abu, the former being victorious. His troops fought alongside the Almoravids against the Christian army in the battle of Sagrajas (1086), which occurred not far from Badajoz. However, after the Almoravid victory, Yahya, who feared their increasing power, allied with Alfonso VI of Castile. In 1094 the Almoravids occupied Badajoz and Yahya was killed together with two of his sons. A surviving son fled first to Montánchez and then to Alfonso's court.

After the taifa's original territory had been controlled by various kingdoms (Almoravids, Almohads, Portugal) in succession, a second independent taifa was shortly recreated in Badajoz, existing from 1144 to 1151, when it fell again under Almohad dominion.

Emirs of Badajoz

1st Taifa period

2nd Taifa period

See also

References

  1. ↑ Taifa - Encyclopaedia Britannica


Coordinates: 38°52′38″N 6°58′18″W / 38.8772°N 6.9717°W