Caliphal Parade in Cordoba
A quick history lesson for those of you unenlightened by Arab history...Ahem
The mutilated elderly Caliph Al-Hakam II, son of the great Abdul Rahman III reigns over a powerful and prosperous Kingdom spanning all of Iberia with the exception of Galicia and Asturias. He appoints Abi Amar, the ambitious and michavellian son of Tarifa as minister of the 'Mint' and eventually as a Minor Vizier(Hes one of the most devious characters in Arabic history, a rags to richers story, manipulating rivalries and gaining more power from the death of his enemies). Abi Amar court's the confidance of the 'Umm Al-Walad' or 'Mother of the Son' - the Wife of the Caliph and mother to Hisham II. Abi Amar then isolates his enemies, namely the Saqaliba(European Enunchs) by organizing a riot in Cordoba and humiliating the heads of the Major Noble Houses in the city. He also gains the support of the Royal Army during Al-Hakam's reign against the Saqaliba when he goes to Morocco to aid Abu Ghalib, the Grand Marshal of the Caiphate. When Al-Hakam II dies, the 30 year old Minister assumes the regency of the country with the support of Umm Al-Walad(There was a conspiracy to install Mughira, the brother of Al-Hakam rather than his 12 year old son - the Saqaliba[Under the Master of the Wardrobe and Master Falconer] were the instigators - it was the chance Abi Amar siezed to eliminate them completely). He then turns to other adversaries, namely Mushafi and Ibn Ghalib. He accuses Mushafi of nepotism and squandering state funds(Abi Amar was appointed Sahib al-Medina or Mayor of Cordoba through Umm Al-Walad by the recommendation of Ibn Ghalib). A council is made to investigate matters(A farce) and the Prime Minister is thrown in Jail - he dies five years later. Though he used the aid of Abu Ghalib against Mushafi(Both were at bad terms with each other over who was the rightful ruler of the Mawlas), Abi Amar moved against his ally. The Regent prepares an army of Berber and Christian mercenaries and goes off to end Abi Ghalib. They first meet in Medinceli(Abi Amar must have wanted to assasinate him) but a brawl broke out between the two, and the armies clashed. Abu Ghalib dies in a freak accident as the sharper part of his saddle kills him - fate huh?The greatest Marshal of the Middle Ages in Spain dies from an accident...His Mawla commanders then surrender to Abi Amar in exchange for amnesty as without Abu Ghalib there was no point in continuing the battle(There were some Mawla Sheiks and Lords who wanted to elect a new leader to resist Abi Amar, but they failed - all were hanged in the Medina Al-Zahra as traitors to the Caliph Hisham). With his adversaries eredicated, Abi Amar returns to Cordoba in victory and assumes total control of the Caliphate(Well, he was still called Prime Minister, but he was the real power in the state). Muhammad Abi Ammar 'Al-Mansur' locks the vegetated Caliph Hisham II in the Palace(Not that Hisham was concerned anyway) and takes the Kingdom to new heights in culture, wealth and military might. He is famously known for leading his army in many campaigns(52 in all) against the Christians, capturing all the northern cities, and sacking Santiago de Compostella(He destroyed the Cathedral, took it's Bell, and melted it to be used as a chandelier for Cordoba's Grand Mosque!) though he never maintained an enduring occupation. When he passed away, his son Abdul Malik 'Al-Dhafir' took over the mantle of Grand Vizier and continued to undermine Caliph Hisham, and upon his unexpected death (he died at 33) Sanjool(Arabic for Sancho) 'Abdul Rahman', the youngest offspring of Abi Amar took control after the death of his brother Abdul Malik. Since Abdul Rahman lacked the guile and intelligence of both his father and brother, the Ummayed Princes, the European Enunchs, and the Nobility in Cordoba rose up in rebellion against him in a bid to 'truly' restore the Caliph. Rioters and Sympathetic citizens gathered outside the Medina Al-Zahra appealing to the Caliph to save the Kingdom - but Hisham II was more intrested in his prayers, his antique collection, and going over his father Al-Hakam's extensive library - he had no time for the affairs of the 'Rayias'.Sanjool was captured outside of the city with his lover Count Bertolemeo trying to escape - both were executed. Then, confused fighting started between the factions in Cordoba, with the Nobility ripping itself apart and the Caliph Hisham II, who for so long was detached from the realities of his post (A vegetable as Id like to call him) doing nothing to end the bloodshed! In the midst of this fighting the Caliph disappears - supposedly either killed or kidnapped, and the fighting grew worse between the Ummayeds as each Claiment to the throne was quickly culled by others who coveted it(Around 30 ascended the throne - all of whom were killed). To make matters worse, the Berber mercenary soldiers revolted under Zingid bin Ziri, the Captain of the Guard, and sacked the Medina al-Zahra as well as the Zahir(built by Abi Amar al-Mansur) - some of the greatest palaces in Muslim Spain and took control of the districts and colonies beyond the Guadlaquivar (Wad al-Kabir). The Banu Angelino and Tartagosa families, the most respected Muslim Gothic houses at the time organized their supporters and servents to engage the Berbers and suppress them with the help of the remnants of the Hazar Army(Most of the army melted away due to Sanjool's bad budgeting - he didnt pay the soldiers a full pay). By 1031, the time of the Caliph's mysterious 'disappearance' the Caliphate basicaly ended - Cordoba, the greatest city in Western Europe was engulfed in flames. In response to this chaos and the lack of a central authority, the country fragmented into 35 small Taifa princedoms - with the Banu Abbad(The strongest of the princlings) taking over Seville and her environs, the Banu Al-Aftas in Badajoz and Lisbon, the Banu Hud in Zaragozza(In the second and 3rd Taifa periods they would remerge in Valencia and Murcia), the Dil Nun in Toledo, the Ziri(Relatives of the Berber Captain) in Granada, and the Banu Jahwar in Cordoba(the city would eventually be absorbed by the Bani Abbad). Whilst the Taifa period is a time of political disunity for the Muslims, it is also a time of cultural brilliance and splendor. Some of the greatest poets, artists and thinkers of Al-Andalus emerge at this hectic epoch, circulating around the many 'golden' courts of Seville, Toledo, Zaragossa and others. The Christians at this time make headway and capture Toledo in 1085, Valencia in 1094(By El-Cid! But it is recaptured in 1102 I think by the Almoravids..) and Zaragossa in 1118. The Christians grow bold and demand tribute from the Muslim princlings. Mutamid bin Abbad, the poet King of Seville, after having exhausted every option, turns to the Almoravids of Northern Africa for help - he is attributed for saying "I would rather be a camel rider in Africa than a pig herder in Castile". Yusuf bin Tashfin, the puritan warrior, comes to Al-Andalus and defeats the Christians in Zallaca. He wanted to continue persuing the Christians to the North and ending their threat once and for all, but business in Africa forces him to go back. He returns five years later and, finding that the Andalusi princlings have done nothing to stem the tide or make headway, decides to annex the Muslim emirates and absorb them into his empire. He is succesful in his endeavor and for the first time since the arrival of the Muslims in Iberia, Al-Andalus was rendered into nothing but a province in a North African Empire. Anyway, to make things short, the Almohads come afterwards - they defeat the Almoravids in Africa and then move against them in Spain. They rule up to 1212 when the battle of Navas de Tolosa breaks them. The third Taifa(the second one was a short era following the fall of the Almoravids in Spain) period emerges with Mohammed al-Ahmar of Arjona taking over Granada(and thus forming the future Nasrid state), Ibn Hud ruling Murcia, and Abu Mahfouz in Hulieca & Niebla(Cordoba and Seville circulating around these three guys). Oh and Valencia was also a free Moorish state for a while as well until Aragon ended that...
The Kingdom of Granada emerges somewhere around 1237 and falls in 1492. 255 years, which is quite impressive considering it's somewhat tiny size in comparison to her neighbours - there were of course many reasons that permitted her to survive for so long...though they were also the same factors that impeded the Kingdom from expanding and recapturing Muslim territory.
So as anyone can see, the current setup makes very little sense and even my own attempt to explain how the Nasrids came to power is very weak. The Banu Ahmar, if the Caliphate had survived, would have continued to be rich farmers in Arjona and Baeza with no intrest in the affairs of Cordoba. Muhammed al-Ahmer was a man thrusted into the drama of the reconquesta by the circumstances of the era...and not by some divine will. He would have prefered to be a "Sayid A'mazra'ah"(Lord of a Farmland) than a King. Also, the reunification of the Caliphate after the Taifa period or after the Almoravid/Almohad occupation is somewhat unplausible - no native Andalusi would have been able to conquer all the Muslim Emirdoms AND deal with the Christians at the same time - only an outside power could accomplish this...unfortunitly, North Africa had been in decline from the 13th century due to demographic, political and economic stagnation. Also, all North African regimes had been overly orthodox which complicated their rule of the relaxed society in Al-Andalus and thus couldnt endure for long.
Ive expanded upon the late Ummayed era and the first Taifa in hopes of finding a possible turning point in Moorish history in Iberia. One has to remember that the Ummayed dynasty was greatly respected by all the denziens of Al-Andalus, an emotion that has endured up to the last Moorish expulsion in 1609. They were the equivilant of the Abbasids, the 'Holy'dynasty. They were viewed as the saviors of Muslim Iberia (Abdul Rahman I 'Al-Dhakil' founded the Ummayed Emirate after fleeing from Syria during the great purging of the Ummayeds by the Abbasids in the east. Spain was in chaos and the Viceroys were ineffective, Abdul Rahman changed all that so he was seen as the savior) and the greatest of her rulers (Al-Hakam I, Abdul Rahman II, Abdul Rahman III, Hisham II).
I would suggest this:
Interegnum History
Abi Amar was killed in the Maghrib by the rebel forces of Abi Kan'oun(Governor of Morocco who constantly shifted sides between the Fatamids and the Ummayeds) outside of Eagle's Fortress(Now in Ceuta) and thus had no influence over the education and upbringing of Caliph Hisham II(Who was quite intelligent). Al-Hakam II passes away, and Hisham II, the child, is crowned ruler with the Prime Minister Mushafi relegated to the regency (He was a close friend to Al-Hakam, and was quite loyal to the Ummayed house - at good terms with Umm Al-Walad as well though he had some strained relations with the Mawlas, even though he was one...long complicated story). The court is heavily influenced by Mawlas, Saqaliba, and Arab Nobles. The Ummayeds continue to reign in Spain and become something like an 'ancient' dynasty with very rigid European/Arab customs(The Caliph never really making any decisions - like the Abbasids under the Baramika or Seljuks). Somewhere around the middle of the 13th century, during the many frequent campaigns against the Christians, Barcelona is captured and the border is pushed a bit upward. As time progresses the Caliphate, regardless of her ups and downs, becomes the only natural feature in Iberia, a sort of 'Muslim State' like say France, England or even Byzantium - an enduring political body. One could say that the Christians would have tried to expand, and I agree, the development of better infrastructure and communication with Europe strengthened them - but the break up of France in Interegnum would have ended any sustained resistance. The Christian Kings would have opted for small scale raiding and maintaining the never serious oath of loyalty to the Caliph.
Another possible alternative, is that the Saqaliba successede in their conspiracy and install Mughira(The conspirators agreed he wouldnt be Caliph, just a 'Regent' until Hisham came of age - it was the will of Caliph Al-Hakam to have his son take the throne after him and the Saqaliba werent ready to disobey their 'dead' Master - they were very loyal to the Ummayeds). The 'Fityan Medinat Al-Zahra' or our blonde haired blue eyed enunchs would then strike a deal with the Master of the Mawla Soldiers Yahya bin Thermidor, who was already at odds with Mushafi .The Prime Minister is executed in his Mansion the Al-Mushafiyya. They dispatch a party of Soldiers from the al-Hazar to execute Abi Amar, but the willy Vizier flees to a safehouse held by his allies(Perhaps his friend the Sahib al-Shurta - The Police Cheif Ibrahim?). He turns to the Rayis and, using his silver tongue, calls for a general insurrection against the Saqaliba, claiming they were going against the will of Al-Hakam and jeapordizing the line of Bani Ummayah.On day break with the morning prayers, the Saqaliba declare their decision (Actually, in more antiquated times, the Saqaliba were the ones who chose the Caliphs, so it wasnt really uncommon - more like a ressurection of old traditions) to the citizens of Cordoba and demand a Bay'ha(Payment of Allegiance) for Mughira as 'Hami Al-Khalif al-Muajal' (Protector of the Postponed Caliph). Rioting flares in the city, and the Uncles of Hisham try to convince Mughira to desist from his upsurption - but he is adament and sends for the Garrison in Ayen Al-Balut(the largest Military installation in the region that was held by the Suqlubis)to suppress the revolt with the aid of Yahya bin Thermidor. By noon, the riot is suppressed and Abi Amar is captured. The Umm Al-Walad, Subh, having been locked in her room, had remained largely in the dark at the events transpiring outside the Medina al-Zahra. Abi Amar is exeucted and a Bay'ha is arranged for Mughira. The Umm Al-Walad of course, is furious, but could do nothing, and accepts the situation, as do the other brothers of Mughira, who wanted to see Hisham on the throne.
The Caliphate continues very much as before, though Mughira is somewhat of a puritan. He dies in 1012(Made up date since he was killed in RL) and Hisham assumes the throne as an acceptable monarch. The next 4 centuries will take some time, but considering the great prosperity and economic development of Andalucia, as well as the soldification of the Central authorities, it's not far fetched. People actually LOVED the Caliphate. There was a saying in the Taifa times actually "Ayna Ayamu Qurtuba Qatiba?Arjihi wa Abghi!"Where are the days of the Uniting Cordoba?Return and Endure!
North Africa
Since the Ummayeds have jumped ship from North Africa ever since the victory of Abi Kanoun(Who in RL was very close to success in declaring independance but was foiled by the interferance of Abi Amar who accompanied Abu Ghalib per the request of the wily Vizier - Abi Kanoun, having lost all his allies by the silver tongue of the Vizier surrendered and accompanied Abu Ghalib to Cordoba, where he was granted amnesty...he later backstabs the Ummayeds and goes back to Morocco but fails yet again to disengage from the influence of Fustat or Cordoba) North Africa should have a completely different dynasty sequence... perhaps the Zenata replacing morocco and tlemscen staying as it is. Something like a backyard for the Spanish Caliphate and Egypt.
