Taifa of Valencia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taifa of Valencia
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| 1010–1238 | |||||||||||||
Taifa Kingdom of Valencia, c. 1037
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| Capital | Valencia | ||||||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Berber | ||||||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism | ||||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||||
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• Established
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1010 | ||||||||||||
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• To Toledo
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1065–1075 | ||||||||||||
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• To Castile/Almoravids
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1099–1102 / 1102–1145 | ||||||||||||
| 1147–1172 / 1172–1229 | |||||||||||||
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• Conquered by Aragon
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1238 | ||||||||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||||||||
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The Taifa of Valencia was a small Muslim kingdom in medieval Spain. It was located in and around the city of Valencia, Spain. A "taifa" (say: TIE-fah) was a small independent state. These states formed after the big Caliphate of Cordoba broke apart.
The Taifa of Valencia existed during different times. It was around from 1010 to 1065, then from 1075 to 1099. Later, it appeared again from 1145 to 1147, and finally from 1229 to 1238. In 1238, the Crown of Aragon took control of it. For a short time, from 1094 to 1099, the famous military leader El Cid ruled this kingdom.
Contents
What Was a Taifa?
A "taifa" was a small Muslim kingdom in Al-Andalus. Al-Andalus was the name for the parts of Spain and Portugal ruled by Muslims. These kingdoms appeared in the 11th century. This happened when the powerful Caliphate of Cordoba broke into many smaller states. Each taifa had its own ruler. They often fought with each other or with Christian kingdoms nearby.
Rulers of Valencia
The Taifa of Valencia had different rulers over its history. These rulers came from various families or were powerful leaders.
Early Rulers
The first rulers were not from a single family. They were often freed slaves who became powerful.
- Mubarak and Muzaffar: They ruled together from 1010 or 1011 to 1017.
- Labib al-Fata al-Saqlabi: He ruled from 1017 to 1019.
- Mujāhid al-ʿĀmirī: He was a co-ruler with Labib for a short time, from 1017 to 1021.
Amirid Dynasty
This family ruled Valencia for a long time.
- Abd al-Aziz al-Mansur: He ruled from 1021 to 1061. He was a very important ruler.
- Abd al-Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Muẓaffar: He ruled from 1061 to 1065. After him, Valencia was taken by the Taifa of Toledo.
Other Dynasties and Leaders
Valencia was often taken over by other kingdoms or leaders.
- After being part of Toledo (1065–1075), Valencia became independent again.
- Abu-Bakr ibn Abd-al-Aziz: He ruled from 1075 to 1085.
- Yahya al-Qadir: He was a ruler from Toledo who also ruled Valencia from 1086 to 1092.
- Ibn Jahhaf: He ruled briefly from 1092 to 1094.
- El Cid: This famous Christian military leader conquered Valencia in 1094. He ruled until 1099.
- Jimena Díaz: El Cid's wife, she ruled Valencia from 1099 to 1102 after his death.
- After Jimena, Valencia was ruled by the Kingdom of Castile and then the Almoravids.
Later Rulers
Valencia had more periods of independence and different rulers before its final conquest.
- Abu 'Abd al-Malik Marwan: He ruled in 1145.
- Abu Muhammad: He ruled from 1145 to 1146, and again from 1146 to 1147.
- Abu Dja'far Ahmad "Zafadola": He ruled in 1146.
- Valencia was then ruled by the Taifa of Murcia and later the Almohads.
- Zayyan: He was the last independent ruler of Valencia, from 1229 to 1238.
The End of the Taifa
In 1238, the Christian Crown of Aragon conquered the Taifa of Valencia. This ended its time as an independent Muslim kingdom. The area became part of the Christian Kingdom of Valencia.
See also
In Spanish: Taifa de Valencia para niños
- List of Sunni Muslim dynasties
