Emirate of Granada facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emirate of Granada
إمارة غرﻧﺎﻃﺔ
Imarat Gharnāṭah |
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| 1230–1492 | |||||||||
.svg) Coat of arms
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Motto: Wa lā ghāliba illā-llāh
(There is no victor but God) |
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Territory of the Nasrid Kingdom
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| Status | Tributary state of the Crown of Castile | ||||||||
| Capital | Granada | ||||||||
| Common languages | Official language: Classical Arabic Other languages: Andalusi Arabic, Mozarabic, Berber, Ladino |
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| Religion | Majority religion: Islam Minority religions: Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism |
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| Government | Hereditary monarchy | ||||||||
| Sultan | |||||||||
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• 1238–1273
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Mohammed I ibn Nasr | ||||||||
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• 1487–1492
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Muhammad XII | ||||||||
| Historical era | Late Middle Ages | ||||||||
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• Established
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1230 | ||||||||
| 1492 | |||||||||
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| Today part of |  Spain
 Morocco |
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The Emirate of Granada was the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. It was located in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. This kingdom lasted for over 250 years. It was known for its rich culture and beautiful buildings.
The Emirate of Granada was established in 1238. It became a tributary state to the Christian Crown of Castile. This meant Granada had to pay money to Castile. The rulers of Granada were called the Nasrids. They were responsible for building many parts of the famous Alhambra palace.
Contents
A Brief History of the Emirate
How the Emirate Began
The Emirate of Granada was formed during a time called the Reconquista. This was when Christian kingdoms in Spain were taking back land from Muslim rule. After the city of Cordoba was captured in 1236, many Muslim areas became weaker.
In 1238, Muhammad I ibn Nasr founded the Emirate of Granada. To survive, he made a deal with the Christian kingdom of Castile. Granada became a "vassal state." This meant it was loyal to Castile and paid them tribute.
Life in the Emirate
The Nasrid rulers of Granada were very important. They built many amazing structures. The most famous is the Alhambra palace. It is a large fortress and palace complex. It shows the incredible art and architecture of the time.
The Nasrid sultans also worked with the Christian kings. They sometimes helped Castile fight against other rebellious Muslim groups. This helped Granada stay independent for a long time.
The End of the Emirate
The Final Years
By the late 1400s, the Christian kingdoms were very powerful. They wanted to unite all of Spain under Christian rule. The Granada War began in 1482. This was a long fight between Granada and Castile.
The Surrender of Granada
The last Muslim leader of Granada was Muhammad XII. He was also known as Boabdil. The city of Granada was surrounded by the Christian armies. On January 2, 1492, Muhammad XII surrendered. He gave control of Granada to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Castile. This event marked the end of Muslim rule in Spain.
Images for kids
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Gold coin minted by Muhammad V.
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Detail of the coat of arms of the Emirate of Granada carved into the walls of the Alhambra palace.
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Muhammad I of Granada leading his troops during the Mudéjar revolt of 1264–1266, illustrated in the contemporary Cantigas de Santa Maria.
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Find Out More
- R.H. Shamsuddín Elía, Historia de Al-Andalus, Boletín N° 53 -08/2006 Al-Ándalus III: El Sultanato De Granada (1232-1492)
- Nicolás Homar Vives, Genealogy of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada
See also
In Spanish: Reino nazarí de Granada para niños
