Muhammad I of Granada

Mohammed I ibn Nasr (Arabic: محمد ابن الأحمر) was a Nasrid ruler of Granada in Iberia and founder of the last Muslim dynasty in Spain in 1238. The Nasrid dynasty was the last Muslim dynasty in Spain, founded by Muhammed I ibn Al-Ahamar and lasting until Boabdil surrendered to the Christian Spanish Kingdom in 1492. The Nasrids constructed the Alhambra palaces.

Mohammed ibn Nasr was born in the Arjona region of the Andalusian province of Jaen in 1191, during the death throes of the tai'fa states.

In 1212 a united army of Spanish and European soldiers defeated the Almohad army at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, an event which marked the beginning of the end of the Muslim presence of Spain.

In 1231, Mohammed ibn Nasr seized the governship of Arjuno and one year later, began a quest for control of other Spanish territories. He captured Guadix in 1232, Granada (soon to be his capital) in 1237, Almeria in 1238 and Malaga in 1239. He had at least three brothers, Yusuf and Faraj and Isma`il, the latter of whom became the governor of Malaga during Mohammed's reign (until 1257). He also enjoyed the support of a powerful Andalusian family who later became political rivals. When Isma'il died, Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar raised his nephews Mohammed and Abu Said Faraj, the latter of whom would become governor of Malaga in his father's place.

Ferdinand III of Castile captured Cordoba in 1236. The ruler of Granada, Mohammed ibn Nasr, saw what was happening and approached Fernando to propose that in return for cooperating in the conquest of Muslim Seville, Granada would be granted independence. Fernando agreed and took Seville. On returning to Granada, ibn Nasr announced "there is no victor but Allah" which can be seen inscribed all over the Alhambra palace. As agreed Mohammed ibn Al-Ahamar continued to pay the required tribute to Ferdinand III of Castile in exchange for the independence of Granada. Other losses to Castile occurred; Murcia in 1243, Arjuno in 1244 and the entire Jaen province in 1245.

The last eight years of his reign saw Granada plunged into civil war, pitting Mohammed against one of the powerful clans that had supported him. Mohammed ibn Nasr had at least four sons: Nasr, Yusuf, Faraj and Muhammed II al-Faqih. The latter would succeed him at his death on January 22, 1273.

References

• A History of Islamic Spain by W. Montgomery Watt; Edinburgh University Press, 1965 (Chapter 10 THE LAST OF ISLAMIC SPAIN 1. The Nasrids of Granada)

• Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 by Leonard Patrick Harvey; University of Chicago Press, 1992 (Chapter 2 THE RISE OF THE BANU'L-AHMAR)