Taifa of Arjona facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taifa of Arjona
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| 1232–1244 | |||||||
| Capital | Arjona, Spain | ||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholic), Judaism | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||
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• Established
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1232 | ||||||
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• Nasrid capital moved to Granada
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1238 | ||||||
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• Conquered by the Kingdom of Castile
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1244 | ||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||
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The Taifa of Arjona was a small Muslim kingdom in what is now southern Spain. It existed during the Middle Ages, from 1232 to 1244. A "taifa" was a small independent Muslim state that formed after the larger Almohad Caliphate empire broke apart.
This kingdom was located in Al-Andalus, which was the name for the parts of Spain ruled by Muslims. Its capital city was Arjona. Today, Arjona is in the Province of Jaén, in the Andalusia region of Spain.
What Was the Taifa of Arjona?
The Taifa of Arjona was one of many small kingdoms that appeared in Al-Andalus. This happened when the powerful Almohad Caliphate started to lose control. These taifa kingdoms were often in conflict with each other. They also fought against the growing Christian kingdoms to the north.
The Taifa of Arjona was ruled by the Arab tribe called Banu Khazraj. This tribe originally came from a region in Arabia called Hejaz. They governed Arjona for a short period.
The End of the Kingdom
The Taifa of Arjona did not last very long. It was conquered by the Kingdom of Castile in 1244. The Kingdom of Castile was a powerful Christian kingdom from northern Spain. This conquest was part of the Reconquista, a long period when Christian kingdoms took back land from Muslim rule.
Who Ruled Arjona?
The only known ruler of the Taifa of Arjona was Muhammad I ibn al-Ahmar. He ruled Arjona from 1232 until 1244. Muhammad I later became a very important leader. In 1238, he moved his capital to Granada. There, he founded the Nasrid dynasty. This dynasty created the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, which was the last Muslim kingdom in Spain. It lasted for over 250 years after Arjona fell.
