Taifa of Ceuta facts for kids
The Taifa of Ceuta was like a small, independent kingdom that formed in the city of Ceuta (in North Africa) after a bigger empire, the Caliphate of Córdoba, broke apart in the early 11th century. These small kingdoms were called taifa states.
What Was the Taifa of Ceuta?
The city of Ceuta, along with Tangiers, was first part of another taifa kingdom called the Taifa of Málaga. This was around the year 1026. The rulers of Málaga belonged to a family known as the Ḥammūdid dynasty.
Who Ruled Ceuta?
From 1036, a group called the Barghawāṭa started governing Ceuta for the Ḥammūdids. The Barghawāṭa were a Berber tribe. They had their own unique beliefs, which were different from the main Islamic religion of the time.
Around 1061, a leader named Saqqūt, who was part of the Barghawāṭa, took full control from the Ḥammūdids. His tribe was quite powerful and could gather a large army of about 12,000 horse riders!
The End of the Taifa
Even with such a big army, the Barghawāṭa couldn't hold on to power for long. A new and very strong empire, the Almoravids, was growing quickly. The Almoravids defeated the Barghawāṭa and took over Ceuta between 1078 and 1079. This marked the end of the Taifa of Ceuta as an independent state.
See also
In Spanish: Taifa de Ceuta para niños
