2020 - Once upon a time in Islamic Gibraltar
Also known as Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Al-Maqqarí (c1578 - 1632).
He wrote - The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain. This chapter deals with Volume 2
The quotes below are from Pascual de Gayangos translation of both volumes:
The Almohads InvadeIn . . . (1145 AD), an army of the Almohades (Almohads) commanded by Abu Imran Musa ibn Sa’id, landed at Jezirah Tarif (Tarifa), of which place they took possession, as well as of Algeciras and the surrounding country. Early in the ensuing year Malaga and Seville shared the same fate. p310
Notes: Presumably Gibraltar became theirs as well – although no mention is made of the place.
An image of medieval warfare in Iberia (13th century - Las Huelgas Beatus)
Abd al-Mu’min
In . . . (1151 AD), Abd al-Mu’min announced his intention of crossing over to Andalus. Having made every ostensible preparation to that effect, he left his capital, Morocco, and proceeded to Kasr Abd-I-kerim, where he passed his troops in review; but the news which he there received from Eastern Africa induced him to relinquish his purpose and repair to that country. . . P310/311
Abd l-Mumin visits Gibraltar and orders the building of Madinat al-FathIn the year 1160 AD the Commander of the Faithful, Abd al-Mu’min After making a short stay in that city, Abd- l-Mu’min marched to Ceuta, where he embarked for Andalus. He landed at Jebal-Tarik (Yabal Tariq -Gibraltar), which from that day was called Jebalu-l-Fatah (the mountain of the entrance or victory) (Yabal al-Fath), and ordered that a strong fortress should be erected on the top of it. He traced out the building with his own hands, and when, after remaining for two months there, and providing for the government of Andalus, ’Abd-l-Mu’min returned to his African dominions, he appointed his son Abu Sa’id, then governor of Granada, to superintend the building and report its progress to him. . . p314/315
One of the architects employed was Haji Ya’ysh, the geometrician. This Ya’ysh, who was an excellent engineer, is said to have constructed some wonderful machines during his residence at Jebal-Tariq (Gibraltar), and among others a large windmill, which stood on the very top of the mountain. During Abd-l-Mu’min’s residence at Gibraltar, the Almohades made several incursions into the enemy’s territory by his express command.
Notes: "Haji Ya’ysh" spelt elsewhere as Al-Hajj Ya’ish
Gibraltar falls to Ferdinand IVIn the year . . . 1309 AD), the King of Castile, Herando (Fernando IV), laid siege to Algeciras. He remained before that city from the 21st day of Safar till the end of Sha’ban, when, despairing of reducing the place, he raised the siege, though not without making himself master of Gibraltar. p348
King Ferdinand IV of Castile and Leon (Compendio de_crónicas de reyes)
Pedro of Castile attacks GranadaIn the year . . .1319 AD the Christian kings collected their forces against Granada, and the tyrant Don Betroh (Pedro, Infante of Castile) appeared before that city with innumerable forces, bringing with him no less than twenty-five Christian princes. p350
Outcome of the battle1319 AD . . . They say that the number of infidels slain on this occasion amounted to upwards of fifty thousand, besides as many more who perished in the river, owing to their not being well acquainted with the fords. As to those who died in the mountains and ravines of that district, their number was beyond computation. The whole of the twenty-five princes who had accompanied Don Pedro, as well as himself fell in the action. . . p351/352
Among the prisoners were the wife and children of the king and although she offered for her ransom the city of Tarifa and the fortress of Gibraltar and eighteen more castles in that area the Muslims would not accept it and she remained in captivity.
Notes: Around 1315, Ismail I of Granada decided to try and retake the Rock - an attempt that became known as the 2nd Siege of Gibraltar. It was the Infante don Pedro who was responsible for foiling Ismael's attempt and Gibraltar remained in Christian hands - hence the reason why the King's wife was able to offer the place as ransom.
Mohamed murders Isma’il (Ismail)In . . .1325 AD Isma’il (of Granada) marched to Martosh (Martos), which he invested and took . . . Shortly after his return . . . Isma’il was assassinated by a cousin of his named Mohammed, who was the son of Isma’il, better known by the surname of Sahibu-l-jezirah (the governor of Algeciras). Mohammed had been present at the siege of Martos: having whilst there been guilty of some misdemeanour, he was summoned before his sovereign, who, in the presence of the assembled courtiers, reproved him for his conduct and spoke very severely to him. Mohammed resented the insult and swore to avenge it. On his return to Granada he . . attacked and murdered Isma’il. p352
Mohammed IV, Nasrid ruler of Granada – The Third Siege of GibraltarIn the days of this Sultan (Mohammed IV) the fortress of Yabal-Tariq (the mountain of Tariq), or, as it is otherwise called, Yabal al-Fath (mountain of the entrance or victory), was wrested from the Christians, after having been in their possession upwards of twenty years.
We have stated elsewhere (p345) that, owing to the intimate alliance existing between the Kings of Granada (the Nasrids) and the Sultans of the race of ’Abdu-l-hakk or Beni Merin, (the Marinids) as well as to the frequent expeditions which the latter sent to Andalus infidels, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Tarifa, and other ports of that coast, had been entrusted to their keeping by one of the Sultans of Granada. p354/355
A reminder of Ferdinand IV and the success of the First SiegeIn (1309 AD) however, the Castilians, profiting by the absence of a portion of the African garrison, which had been summoned to Africa, invested Gibraltar and made themselves masters of it without much difficulty. p354
Abu al-hasan Marinid Sultan of Fez – The Third SiegeWhen the news of this disaster reached Africa, Abu al-hasan Ali Ibn Othman Al-merini, Sultan of Fez, who knew the importance of that fortress, and had spent his treasures in repairing and increasing the fortifications, resolved upon wresting the valuable prize from the enemy. p254/255
Accordingly, taking with him one of his sons, Abu al-hasan sailed thither with his fleet, and, being soon after his landing joined by the troops of Granada under the command of Mohammed himself, he closely invested the place, and made himself master of it.
Notes: As a trophy of the conquest Abu Malik removed a great bell weighing ten hundredweight and sent it to Fez. It was reshaped as a lamp and was hung in front of the gate called Bab al-Kutubiyin in the Mosque of al-Quarawiyin. (See my essay on Ibn Battuta.)
The bell from Gibraltar hanging as a lamp in the Mosque of al-Quarawiyin
Notes: A note by Gayangos states:
According to Marmol (Historia. de Africa), the name of this son was 'Abu-l-Malik. Mariana calls him Abomilique. He crossed over to Spain before his father, and took Gibraltar. Having subsequently made an incursion into Andalusia, he was killed in battle with the Christians. See Villasan, Crónica de Alfonso el Onceno, and Mariana. p5
The buildings erected by order of Abu al-hasan at Gibraltar are very minutely described by Ibn Battuta in his original travels. That author, who visited Spain in A.N. 750, under the reign of Abu Inan Faris, the son of Abu al-hasan, enters into many interesting details upon the campaigns of the Merinite (Marinid) Sultans against the Christians of Spain. p537
“Marmol” is Luis de Mármol y Carvajal (1520-1600) (See my chapter on him)
“Abomelique/Abu-l-Malic” is Abu Malik Abd al-Wahid (d1339)
Al-Makkarí continues:
No sooner had Abu l-hasan reduced Gibraltar under his sway than he began to give his attention to repairing its buildings and increasing its fortifications, spending immense sums of money in building houses and magazines, as well as a jami or principal mosque, and erecting new walls, towers, and even a citadel.
Alfonso XI and the Fourth Siege
Before, these improvements were fully completed, the Christians invested Gibraltar by sea and land; but their attempt was frustrated by the gallant defence of the Moslems, commanded by the King of Granada, and they were compelled to raise the siege. After this the Sultan Abu-I-hasan again applied himself further to strengthen Gibraltar, by causing a thick wall to be built at the foot of the rock, surrounding it on all sides, as the halo surrounds the crescent moon; so that the enemy could discover no prospect of success in attacking it, nor did there appear any way through which he could force an entrance. p35
Battle of Tarifa – Battle of Rio Salado 1340In the course of time, however, Algeciras became the prey of the infidels in consequence of the defeat which Abu al-hasan, together with . . . Abu-l-hejaj Yusuf (Yusuf I of Granada) suffered at Tarifa; and Gibraltar was afterwards taken from the Beni Merin (the Marinids) by Mohammed, (V) surnamed Al-ghani-billah, Sultan of Granada, to whom . . . Ibnu-l-khattib was Wizir. (See my essay on him (Ibn al Khatib) in this series. p355
Battle of the Rio Salado (17th century – Unknown)
Murder of Mohammed IV of Granada p355. . . Soon after the Christians had raised the siege of Gibraltar, the Sultan Mohammed was assassinated by some African officers to whom he had rendered himself obnoxious. As he was one day about to embark [for his dominions] he was assailed by a party of horsemen who lay concealed behind a projecting rock, and put to death. His mangled body, stripped of every thing, remained exposed on the ground, but was afterwards carried to Malaga and interred in the public cemetery . . . p355
Yusuf becomes Sultan of Granada
On the same day on which Mohammed was assassinated, that is to say (1333 AD), his brother Yusuf, who was then at Wada Sefayin (the river of the ships), close to Algeciras, was proclaimed (by the army): he was then nearly sixteen years old. It was he who, in (1349 AD), appointed . . . Ibnu-l-khattib to the office of Wizir. p355
Notes: Hard to say from the above who exactly appointed Ibn al Khatib as Wizir.
In his notes, Gayangos identifies "Wada Sefayin" as the Rio de la Miel – which I suspect is a mistake. Elsewhere he writes that the Rio de la Miel is known in Arabic as "Wada-l-asel" which is I think is the right name for it. Could the Sefayin be the nearby Guadarranque?
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