© Mark Wade
| Granada © Mark Wade |
Moorish kingdom, the last territory surrendered by the Muslims in Spain. Ruled from 1014 to 1090 by the Banu Ziri, Berbers of the Sanhaja tribal confederation.
These rulers included: Zawi ibn Ziri (from 1014 until he returned to Africa in 1019); Habbus ibn Maksan ibn Ziri al-Muzaffar, nephew of Zawi (1019-1038); Badis ibn Habbus (1038-1077); Abd Allah ibn Buluggin ibn Badis (1077-1090); then conquered by the Almoravides, 1090.
Granada is the site of the Alhambra, at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, one of the archtiectural wonders of the world. Much of the existing complex existed already in the CId's time, although not in the final state of adornment and elaboration known to the world today. Latitude: 37.17. Longitude: -3.59.
Now there was at this time war between Almocanis, King of Seville, and Almundafar, King of Granada, and with Almundafar were these men of Castille, the Count Don Garcia Ordonez, and Fortun Sanchez, the son-in-law of King Don Garcia of Navarre, and Lope Sanchez his brother, and Diego Perez, one of the best men of Castille; and they aided him all that they could, and went against the King of Seville, and when my Cid knew this it troubled him, and he sent unto them requiring them not to go against the King of Seville, nor to destroy his country, because he was King Don Alfonso's vassal; otherwise the King must defend him.
And the King of Granada and the Ricos-omes who were with him cared nothing for his letters, but entered boldly into the land of Seville, and advanced as far as Cabra, burning and laying waste before them.
And the King of Granada and the Christians who were with him, sent to tell him that they would not go out of the country for him.
And the wrath of the Cid was kindled, and he went against them, and fought with them in the field, and the battle lasted from the hour of tierce even until the hour of sexts; and many died upon the part of the King of Granada, and at length my Cid overcame them and made them take to flight.