We explain what the taifa kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula were. Also, its story and its ending.
What were the taifa kingdoms?
The taifas or kingdoms of taifas were small states into which the Iberian Peninsula was divided under Muslim domination. (Al-Andalus) after the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba at the beginning of the 11th century. The term “taifas” means “flags”, and some of the most important taifas were Almería, Murcia, Granada, Seville, Toledo and Zaragoza.
The expansion of the Almoravid Empire at the end of the 11th century temporarily ended the taifas of the Iberian Peninsula, but in the mid-12th century a new political fragmentation occurred that gave rise to the second taifa kingdoms. Shortly after, the Almohad Empire absorbed the taifas, but its defeat in the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212) determined a new stage known as the third kingdoms of taifas, which ended in the same 13th century due to the growing Christian conquests.
Taifa kingdoms used to pay tributes (called outcasts) to the Christian kingsbut sometimes they requested the help of powerful Islamic states (the Almoravid and Almohad empires) to confront the Christian military advance.
Frequently asked questions
What were taifas?
The taifas were small Muslim kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula that existed in the periods of political fragmentation of Al-Andalus and used to pay an annual tribute to the Christian kingdoms.
When did taifas emerge?
The taifa kingdoms emerged when the Caliphate of Córdoba began to disintegrate at the beginning of the 11th century. Soon the taifas began to become independent and, in 1031, the caliphate ceased to exist.
When did taifas cease to exist?
The taifa kingdoms that emerged at the beginning of the 11th century were absorbed by the Almoravid Empire at the end of the 11th century, but re-emerged when this empire disintegrated in the mid-12th century. Later, the Almohad Empire reunified Al-Andalus, but it entered into crisis in the 13th century and the taifas briefly resurfaced. Christian conquests ended the taifas in the 13th century, and the last Muslim state on the peninsula (the Nasrid kingdom of Granada) was conquered in 1492.
The crisis of the 11th century and the rise of the taifa kingdoms
In 1002, the death of Almanzor, ruler of the Caliphate of Córdoba during the reign of Caliph Hisham II, opened a long period of political fragmentation and disputes in Al-Andalus (fitnain Arabic). In less than thirty years, nine caliphs succeeded each other on the throne and, finally, The Caliphate of Córdoba ceased to exist in the year 1031. In their place, small kingdoms, called taifas, emerged. (an expression that means “flags”).
Gradually, the taifas of Almería, Murcia, Alpuente, Arcos, Badajoz, Carmona, Denia, Granada, Huelva, Morón, Silves, Toledo, Tortosa, Valencia and Zaragoza They became independent from the central power of Córdoba.
The caliphate was initially fragmented into twenty-seven taifas, but the more powerful ones annexed the weaker ones.
Once its unity was broken, Al-Andalus was at the mercy of the Christians of the north, who proceeded to gradually occupy the territories that had been under Muslim power. The taifa kingdoms were forced to pay annual tributes, called outcaststo the Christian rulers, while the Christian advance led to the conquest of Toledo in the year 1085.
However, this process was not linear, as there were moments in which Andalusian unity could be rebuilt thanks to the impetus of the Muslim empires of North Africa.
North African empires
The Almoravid Empire and the second taifa kingdoms
The weakness of the Taifa kingdoms allowed the Christian kingdoms of the north to take control. military initiative on the peninsula. This Christian advantage was interrupted twice by the irruption in Al-Andalus of two North African invasions that They managed to briefly recover the unity of Muslim Spain.
When the Muslims lost Toledo in 1085, they requested help from the power that had become strong on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar: the Almoravid Empire.
The Almoravids They were a group of Berber tribes dedicated to livestock and characterized by the religious rigor that They had created an empire in North Africa.
The Almoravids They arrived in the Iberian Peninsula in 1086, They ended the taifas and unified political power from Al-Andalus. In this way, they managed to contain the advance of the Christians towards the south. His most important military successes were the battles of Sagrajas (1086) and Uclés (1108).
Almoravid power was ephemeral. In the middle of the 12th centurythe unity of Al-Andalus collapsed and political fragmentation gave way to the second kingdoms of taifas.
The Almohad Empire and the third taifa kingdoms
In 1146, after a request for help from the taifa of Mértola, they began to arrive in the Iberian Peninsula. the almohads, that They had formed a new empire in the Maghreb a few years before.also formed by Berbers.
The Almohads not only They unified Al-Andalus againbut they faced the Christians with some notable military successes, such as the one obtained in Alarcos (1195) against Alfonso VIII of Castile. Some important constructions also correspond to this period, such as the Giralda in Seville.
However, the Almohad reunification of Al-Andalus did not last long. The key moment was the defeat suffered by the Christians at Las Navas de Tolosa (1212). He decline of the Almohad Empire caused again the fitna (or fragmentation) and the period of the third kingdoms of taifas. The Christian advance proved practically unstoppable and, soon, Muslim Spain was reduced to Nasrid kingdom of Granada. In 1492, the fall of this kingdom to the Christian troops of the Catholic Monarchs marked the end of the history of Al-Andalus.
References
- Álvarez Palenzuela, VA (coord.) (2011). History of Spain in the Middle Ages. Ariel.
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2019). Al-Andalus. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
- Britannica, Encyclopaedia (2016). taifa. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/
- González Ferrín, E. (2016). General history of Al Andalus. Lunch
- Guichard, P. & Soravia, B. (2006). The kingdoms of taifas. Political fragmentation and cultural splendor. Sarriá.
