Taifa of Dénia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taifa of Dénia
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| 1010–1227 | |||||||||||||||||
Taifa Kingdom of Dénia, c. 1037.
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| Capital | Dénia | ||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism | ||||||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||||||||
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• Downfall of Caliphate of Córdoba
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1010 | ||||||||||||||||
| 1076–1081 / 1081–1092 / 1092–1224 | |||||||||||||||||
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• Remnants conquered by Aragon
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1227 | ||||||||||||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of | Spain | ||||||||||||||||
The Taifa of Dénia (Arabic: طائفة دانية) was a small Islamic kingdom in medieval Spain. It ruled over parts of the coast near Valencia and the island of Ibiza. Its capital city was Dénia. This kingdom also included the Balearic Islands and some areas on the Spanish mainland. A leader named Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī, who was of Slavic origin, founded it in the year 1010.
Contents
History of the Taifa of Dénia
How Dénia Became a Kingdom
The Taifa of Dénia started in 1010. This happened after the big Caliphate of Córdoba empire broke apart. A man named Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī created it. He was once a high-ranking official in the Caliphate. He was also a freed slave, likely from a Slavic background. In 1011, Dénia was the first taifa to make its own coins.
The kingdom of Dénia had a strong navy. In 1015, this navy helped them take control of the Balearic Islands. From there, they tried to invade Sardinia. Dénia set up a military camp in northern Sardinia for a year. This was meant to be a base for another attack. But the navies from Pisa and Genoa fought back.
During this fight, Mujahid's son, Ali Iqbal al-Dawla, was captured. He was only freed in 1032 after a payment was made. Dénia's ships also launched several attacks on the coasts of Liguria and Tuscany. The army of Dénia used many fighters from the Arab Banu Khazraj tribe.
Important Contributions to Dénia
The Taifa of Dénia was known for its active attacks on Christian coasts. It also tried to conquer Sardinia, but failed. Dénia had an important Sephardic Jewish community. This community helped the taifa grow and develop a lot. Jewish people held important jobs in the government of Dénia.
Expanding the Kingdom
In the 1020s, Mujahid took advantage of a situation in the taifa of Valencia. He captured the southern part of that kingdom and held it for two years. Later, he supported a rebellion against the ruler of Murcia.
Mujahid often fought against Abd al-Aziz al-Mansur, who ruled Valencia. Mujahid conquered Murcia, Lorca, Orihuela, and Elche. This stretched his power all the way to the Segura River. In 1041, he signed a peace treaty with Valencia. This happened with the help of Sulaymán ibn Hud from Zaragoza.
A Patron of Knowledge
Mujahid was educated as a slave in the court of Al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir. He supported many smart people, especially writers and religious scholars (called ulemas). These scholars were escaping the chaos after the Caliphate of Córdoba fell apart. Mujahid also protected Dénia's Christian community. In return, they had to promise to be loyal. He also worked well with the Jewish business community.
The End of Dénia's Power
When Mujahid al-Muwaffaq died in 1045, his son Ali Iqbal al-Dawla took over. His mother was Christian. He managed to keep his father's conquered lands for about 30 years. This was a time of peace and wealth for Dénia. It was helped by a large trading fleet based in Dénia.
In 1050, the governor of the Balearic Islands gained independence for the islands. Dénia's power stayed limited to its mainland areas. In 1076, the taifa of Zaragoza conquered Dénia. The Balearic taifa of Mallorca remained independent until 1116.
Who Ruled Dénia?
Amirid Family Leaders
- Mujahid al-Muwaffaq: Ruled from 1010/12 to 1045. He also ruled Valencia from 1017 to 1021.
- 'Ali Iqbal ad-Dawla: Ruled from 1045 to 1076.
- Abu Zayd 'Abd ar-Rahman: Ruled from 1224 to 1227 in places like Alzira and Xàtiva.
- After 1227, the remaining parts of Dénia were conquered by the Kingdom of Aragon.
See also
In Spanish: Taifa de Denia para niños
- List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
