The Iberian Crusades VIII: End of the Caliphate! the Taifa Kingdoms are born!

With the civil war in Al-Andalus, since the caliph Hisham II was forced to abdicate in 1009 until the formal abolition of the Córdoba Caliphate in 1031 see chapter VI, nine caliphs of the Umayyad dynasty and Umayyad dynasty fought in the middle of an anarchy which is reflected in the gradual destruction of the Córdoba Caliphate and the independence of the Taifas of Almeria, Murcia, Alpuente, Arcos, Badajoz, Carmona, Denia, Granada, Huelva, Morón, Silves, Toledo, Tortosa, Valencia and Zaragoza.

When the last Caliph Hisham III is overthrown and the republic is proclaimed in Cordova in 1031, all cora (or provinces) of Al-Andalus that have not yet become self-proclaimed independent do so and are ruled by Arab, Berber or muladis clans. (the muladis are Iberian converted to Islam).

On the one hand, the struggles for the throne of the Caliphate did nothing but reproduce the internal struggles that always afflicted the emirate and the caliphate during its existence for racial reasons (Arabs, Berbers, Muladis or Slavs, free slaves of central European origin). There was also the desire for independence in areas with greater economic resources, as well as the fiscal pressure needed to finance the cost of the war effort against internal enemies and Christians in the North.

Each Taifa was first identified with a family, clan or dynasty. Over 30 Taifas were born like that of the Amirida (descendants of Almançor) in Valencia; the one of the Tuibidas in Saragossa; the Aphasids in Badajoz; the one of the birzalidas in Carmona; the one of ziridas in Granada; the Hamadidas in Algeciras and Malaga; and the Abadida in Seville. Over the years, the taifas of Seville (which had conquered all western and part of eastern Andalusia), Badajoz, Toledo and Zaragoza, became the mainland Islamic powers.

Taifa Kingdoms around 1031

During the greatest moment of the Taifa kingdoms (11th century and later in the middle of the 12th century), the Taifa kings competed with each other not only militarily, but also in prestige. For this, they aimed to sponsor the most prestigious poets and artisans to come work for them.
However, the disaggregation of the caliphate into multiple Taifas, which became more concentrated over time, could not resist the advance of the Christian kingdoms of the north.

Lacking the necessary troops, the Taifas hired mercenaries to fight their neighbors or to oppose the Christian kingdoms of the north. Even Christian warriors served the Muslim kings, fighting even against other Christian kings. However, this was not enough and the Christian kingdoms would take advantage of the Muslim division and the weakness of each individual Taifa to subjugate them.

At first, the submission was solely economic, forcing Taifas to pay tribute to the Christian Kings. Then in 1085 Toledo falls to the hands of Afonso VI see chapter VII for his story and the Taifas kingdoms are forced to ask for help from North Africa, the Almoravid sultan of North Africa Yusuf ibne Taxufine!

Silver dinnar minted by Sultan Yusuf ibne Taxufine

The North African sultan defeats the Christian king in 1086 in the battle of Zalaca stopping their advance, but will progressively absorb all Taifas kingdoms under is control marking the end of the first Taifas kingdoms in Iberian Peninsula!

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Check out past chapters:

The Iberian Crusade: Prologue
The Iberian Crusades: I
The Iberian Crusades: II
The Iberian Crusades: III
The Iberian Crusades: IV
The Iberian Crusades: V
[The Iberian Crusades: VI]
(https://steemit.com/history/@carlosdaniel/the-iberian-crusade-vi-the-cordoba-caliphate)
The Iberian Crusade: VII