Taifa of Silves
The Taifa of Silves (Arabic: طائفة شلب) was an Arab taifa kingdom that existed in what is now southern Portugal for two distinct periods: from 1027 to 1063, and again from 1145 to 1150, when it was finally conquered by the Almohad Caliphate.
Taifa of Silves | |||||||||||
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| 1027–1150 | |||||||||||
Taifa Kingdom of Silves, c. 1037. | |||||||||||
| Capital | Şilb | ||||||||||
| Common languages | Arabic, Mozarabic, Hebrew | ||||||||||
| Religion | Islam, Christianity (Roman Catholicism), Judaism | ||||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||||
• Established | 1027 | ||||||||||
| 1063–1091 / 1091–1145 | |||||||||||
• Conquered by the Almohads | 1150 | ||||||||||
| Currency | Dirham and Dinar | ||||||||||
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| Today part of | Portugal | ||||||||||
The taifa occupied the westernmost part of the presently Portuguese region of Algarve, near Cape St. Vincent, with its capital in Silves. Starting from 1048, the power was held by the family of the Banu Muzayn, including three emirs: Isa II al-Muzaffar (1048–1053), Muhammad II al-Nasir (1053–1058), and Isa III al-Muzaffar (1058–1063). Under the latter the kingdom was conquered by the more powerful taifa of Seville, led by Abbad II al-Mu'tadid.
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.