Taifa of Orihuela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taifa of Orihuela
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| 1239–1249 | |||||||||
| Capital | Orihuela | ||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
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• Established
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1239 | ||||||||
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• Conquered by Castile
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1249 | ||||||||
| Currency | Dirham, Dinar | ||||||||
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The Taifa of Orihuela (Arabic: طائفة أريولة) was a small, independent kingdom. It was ruled by Moors, who were people from North Africa. This kingdom existed in what is now Spain. It lasted for about ten years, from around 1239 to 1249.
What Was a Taifa?
During the Middle Ages, parts of Spain were ruled by Muslim leaders. These areas were called Al-Andalus. When a large Muslim empire, the Almohad Caliphate, started to break apart, many small kingdoms formed. These small kingdoms were called taifas. Each taifa was like its own mini-country.
The Taifa of Orihuela was one of these small kingdoms. It was located in the city of Orihuela. This city is in the southeastern part of Spain today.
Rulers of Orihuela
The Taifa of Orihuela had a few rulers during its short history. These rulers were called Emirs. An Emir was like a king or a prince. They led the kingdom and made important decisions.
The known Emirs of Orihuela were:
- Abu Dja'far: He was a ruler in the 13th century.
- Abu'l-Hasam: He ruled until 1249 or 1250.
The End of the Kingdom
The Taifa of Orihuela did not last very long. In 1249, it was conquered by the Crown of Castile. The Crown of Castile was a powerful Christian kingdom in Spain. This event was part of the Reconquista. The Reconquista was a long period when Christian kingdoms took back land from Muslim rule in Spain.
After being conquered, Orihuela became part of the larger Christian kingdom. This marked the end of the Taifa of Orihuela.
See also
In Spanish: Taifa de Orihuela para niños
