Taifa of Silves

Taifa of Silves
1027–1150
Taifa Kingdom of Silves, c. 1037.
Taifa Kingdom of Silves, c. 1037.
CapitalSilves (Shilb)
Common languagesArabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew
Religion
Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism
GovernmentMonarchy
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
1027
1063–1091 / 1091–1145
• Conquered by the Almohads
1150
CurrencyDirham and Dinar
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Taifa of Badajoz
Taifa of Seville
Almohad dynasty
Today part ofPortugal

The Taifa of Silves (Arabic: طائفة شلب, Ṭā'ifa Šilb) was an Arab[1] taifa kingdom that existed in what is now southern Portugal for two distinct periods:[2] from 1027 to 1063, and again from 1145 to 1150,[3] when it was finally conquered by the Almohad Caliphate.

The taifa occupied the westernmost part of the presently Portuguese region of Algarve, near Cape St. Vincent, with its capital in Silves. The Taifa of Silves was constituted in the early 11th century and starting from 1048, the power was held by the family of the Banu Muzayn,[4] including three emirs: Isa II al-Muzaffar (1048–1053), Muhammad II al-Nasir (1053–1058), and Isa III al-Muzaffar (1058–1063).[5] Under the latter the kingdom was conquered by the more powerful taifa of Seville,[6][7] led by Abbad II al-Mu'tadid.[4]

During the so-called second taifa period, which followed the fall of the Almoravid dynasty, Silves was the seat of a second, ephemeral taifa, which lasted from 1145 to 1150, when it was conquered by the Almohads.

View of Silves with its moorish castle.
  1. ^ Kennedy, Hugh (2014). Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of al-Andalus. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-87040-1.
  2. ^ Ferreira, L.F. Vieira; Gomes, R. Varela; Pereira, M.F.C.; Santos, L.F.; Machado, I. Ferreira (2016). "Islamic ceramics in Portugal found at Silves Castle (8th to 13th c.): An archaeometric characterization". Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 8: 434–443. Bibcode:2016JArSR...8..434F. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.06.051.
  3. ^ Portugal-Info website, 7th Period - First Dynasty of Portugal
  4. ^ a b Rota Literária do Algarve website, Silves Literary Walk (2020), page 9
  5. ^ "Taifa | Muslim dynasty, Iberian Peninsula, Al-Andalus | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  6. ^ Syed, Muzaffar Husain; Akhtar, Syed Saud; Usmani, B. D. (14 September 2011). Concise History of Islam. Vij Books India Pvt. p. 113. ISBN 978-93-82573-47-0.
  7. ^ Portugal-Info website, 5th Period - First County of Portugal