Taifa of Santarém facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taifa of Santarém
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| 1144–1145 | |||||||||
| Capital | Santarém | ||||||||
| 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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1144 | ||||||||
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• Conquered by Badajoz
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1145 | ||||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Portugal | ||||||||
The Taifa of Santarém (Arabic: طائفة شنترين) was a small Islamic kingdom that existed for a very short time in what is now central Portugal. It was one of many small kingdoms, called taifas, that appeared in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. This kingdom was centered around the city of Santarém and covered much of the area known today as the Santarém District.
Contents
What Was a Taifa Kingdom?
A taifa was a small, independent Islamic kingdom. These kingdoms appeared in the Iberian Peninsula (modern-day Spain and Portugal) during the Middle Ages. They formed when larger Muslim empires, like the Almoravid dynasty, started to break apart.
- Many Small Kingdoms: Instead of one big empire, there were many smaller taifa kingdoms.
- Short-Lived: Many taifas, like Santarém, did not last very long. They often fought each other or were taken over by stronger neighbors.
- Cultural Centers: Despite their short lives, some taifas were important centers for art, science, and learning.
The Rise and Fall of Santarém
The Taifa of Santarém was established in 1144. It was ruled by an Arab tribe called the Banu Khazraj. This tribe originally came from the Hejaz region in Arabia.
Who Ruled Santarém?
The only known ruler of the Taifa of Santarém was an emir named Labid. He was part of the Labidid dynasty.
- Labid's Rule: Labid ruled the Taifa of Santarém from 1144 to 1145.
- End of the Kingdom: The kingdom was very short-lived. In 1145, it was conquered by the larger Taifa of Badajoz. This meant Santarém became part of the Badajoz kingdom.
Life in the Taifa of Santarém
Even though it was a small kingdom, Santarém was a place where different cultures lived together.
- Languages Spoken: People spoke Arabic, Mozarabic (a language similar to Latin and Arabic), and Hebrew.
- Religions: The main religion was Islam, but there were also communities of Christianity (Roman Catholicism) and Judaism.
- Currency: People used Dirham and Dinar coins for trade.
Today, the area where the Taifa of Santarém once stood is part of modern-day Portugal.
See also
- In Spanish: Taifa de Santarém para niños
