Definition of Taifa Kingdoms

In the language Castilian we will refer to “reinos de taifas” when we are talking about a structure composed of multiple parts (generally a human structure), but separated from each other by borders of some kind, so that, not being able to cooperate, they weaken. But where does this come from expression?

The taifa kingdoms were the small Muslim kingdoms product of the disintegration of the Caliphate of Córdoba into a constellation of independent states that owed more to the particular interests of their leaders than to a concrete political-social reality.

The disintegration took place from the year 1.009 d. C. with the deposition of the caliph Hisham II, after which several caliphs followed, until it culminated in 1031 with the deposition, by a popular revolt, of Hisham III, the last caliph. So the caliphate is formally abolished.

From then on, a process similar to that which was also taking place in the Christian field takes place, a centrifugation of power that leads it to decentralize first to fragment territorially later.

This means that the local representatives of the local power, at some point cut the bond of vassalage / fidelity that united them, and declared their independence.

Among the first and most famous taifa that we can cite are those of Zaragoza, Valencia, Toledo, Denia or Granada.

The causes of training of the Taifa kingdoms were mainly the power struggles of noble Muslim families, but also We find deeper problems, such as a social fraction of a racial type among the different Muslim settlers of the peninsula.

Descendants of the first invasion waves, we had Arabs and Berbers, who had to be added the autochthonous settlers converted and / or culturally assimilated at some level, although in general not totally.

The fragmentation of the old caliphate resulted in a series of states that, taken together, were weaker. This favored the "reconquest"

This is due to the competence established in all senses between the different kingdoms of taifa, both in the economic and cultural, as in the military field.

This coincided with a time when, after stabilizing the borders with the Christian world in the Iberian Peninsula, the Christian kingdoms They began a path of economic and cultural prosperity, and of demographic expansion, which together also led to a period of growth military.

The disintegration of a great kingdom into various parts was thus one of the causes responsible for the success of the process of reconquest, by allowing the Christian kingdoms to separately attack each of these more little ones.

They were not stable over time, since when fighting among themselves and against the Christian kingdoms, they conquests and mergers among themselves, as well as disappearances of the taifa as the reconquest progressed going forward.

An example of the weakening of the taifa were the pariahs, the taxes that the Christian kingdoms imposed on them, thus converting them into tributaries.

The evolution The different reigns led to three distinctive phases within this stage, until the kingdom of Granada, the last taifa, fell.

As during all these periods, the taifa kingdoms stood out for their progressive weakening, the expression "taifa kingdoms" remained in the Spanish language as an indicator of the weakness caused by division.

Photos: Fotolia - dudlajzov

Themes in Taifa Kingdoms