Taifa of Almería
Taifa Kingdom of Almería طائفة المرية Ṭa'ifa al-Mariyah | |||||||||||
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| 1010–1147 | |||||||||||
Taifa Kingdom of Almería, c. 1037. | |||||||||||
| Capital | Almería 36°50′00″N 2°27′00″W / 36.83333°N 2.45°W | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||
• Downfall of Caliphate of Cordoba | 1010 | ||||||||||
• To Valencia | 1038–1042 | ||||||||||
• To the Almoravid dynasty | 1091–1140 | ||||||||||
• Annexed by Castile | 1147 | ||||||||||
| Currency | Dirham, Dinar | ||||||||||
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The Taifa of Almería (Arabic: طائفة المرية, Ta'ifa al-Mariyah) was a Muslim medieval Arab kingdom located in what is now the province of Almería in Spain. The taifa originated in 1012 and lasted until 1091.
In this period the city of Almería reached its historical splendour under powerful local emirs like Khayran, the first fully independent Emir of Almería and Cartagena, and Abu Yahyà Muhammad ben Ma'n. Almería declared independence of its province from Caliphate of Cordoba around 1012. It remained as an independent kingdom, although several campaigns of the Taifa of Seville diminished its territory in the north.
The kingdom was important due to its strategic location, its harbour, and a developed and very important textile industry, with around five thousand looms, being also a center of silk industry, which originated a very strong commerce with other parts of Europe and which remained until the Muslims were expelled in early 17th century. The emirs of Granada, Seville and Valencia tried to conquer the little Almería kingdom many times. However, it remained independent until the arrival of the Almoravid dynasty, except for a short period of Valencian occupation. The governor sent by the Valencian King, Ma'n, thereafter declared again the independence of Almería.
The kingdom finally was annexed to the Almoravid empire, as were all of the other taifas.