Ismail I, Sultan of Granada
Ismail I (1279 – 6 June[1] or 7 July[2] 1325) was the grandson of Muhammed II al-Faqih and the fifth Nasrid ruler of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula in 1314–1325.
Background
Ismail I was the son of Abu Sa'id Faraj and the princess Fatima, daughter of Muhammed II al-Faqih. Abu Sa'id Faraj was a nephew of Muhammed I ibn Nasr, and was thus cousin to his father-in-law Muhammed II. He was brother-in-law to the sultans Muhammed III and Nasr, the two immediate successors and sons of Muhammed II.[1]
Sultanate
In 1314, Ismail, influenced by unrest in Granada, marched with his army from Malaga. By the time he had arrived at Granada, his army had swelled, and the populace opened the gates to him. Besieging his uncle Nasr in the Alhambra, Ismail agreed to a pact which allowed Nasr to live out his days in exile in Gaudix, whilst Ismail became sultan of the Nasrid dynasty.[3]
A cultured and refined man, Ismail I significantly added to the Alhambra complex and the palace of Generalife.[4] He also built the Alcazar Genil after 1319,[4] which functioned as a residence for the elderly women of the sultan’s household, and a new palace complex that later developed into the Palacio de Comares.
Ismail would begin consolidating his emirate starting with the victory over the forces of Castile at the battle of La Vega.[5] After the former sultan Nasr's death in 1322,[3] Ismail retook Gaudix and instituted a campaign of conquering regional fortresses.[5]
Returning from his successful campaign, which included taking Martos, Ismail quarreled with his cousin Muhammad ibn Ismail over a slave girl.[4] Ismail was later assassinated by Muhammad while giving a public address on 6 June 1325.[4]
Ismail I fathered at least four sons: Muhammed, Ismail, Faraj and Yusef.[1] Ismail was succeeded by his son Muhammed IV, a boy of ten.[4] Another son of Ismail would succeed Muhammed IV as Yusef I.[1]
Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Fernández-Puertas 1997, p. 2.
- ↑ Kennedy 1996, p. 287.
- 1 2 Fernández-Puertas 1997, p. 5.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Fernández-Puertas 1997, p. 7.
- 1 2 Fernández-Puertas 1997, p. 6.
References
- Fernández-Puertas, Antonio (April 1997). "The Three Great Sultans of al-Dawla al-Ismā'īliyya al-Naṣriyya Who Built the Fourteenth-Century Alhambra: Ismā'īl I, Yūsuf I, Muḥammad V (713-793/1314-1391)". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. Third Series. Vol. 7 (No. 1).
- Kennedy, Hugh (1996). Muslim Spain and Portugal: A Political History of Al-Andalus. Routledge.
Ismail I, Sultan of Granada Cadet branch of the Banu Khazraj Born: 1279 Died: 6 June 1325 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Nasr |
Sultan of Granada 1314–1325 |
Succeeded by Muhammed IV |