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Historical context of Hispanic-Muslim architecture ( III): Almoravids Empire (1085-1144); Second Kindgoms Taifa (1144-1172); almohade Empire (1172-1212) The historical context of architecture

11th century closes with political imbalance in favor of northern Christian kingdoms. Most obvious change is in 1085, when the city of Toledo, former Visigoth kingdom and  Islamic capital of  d u-l-Nuni Taifa , passes into the hands of Alfonso VI of Castilla  and Leon . Toledo's capitulation marks a decisive turning point in English medieval history, for both Muslims and Christians. 


Aware of their political weakness, Taifa kingdoms sought help from Yusuf ben Tasufin's   Almoravid empire , who came to Spain immediately in 1086, defeated Christians in the battle of Sagrajas and although it was not their original purpose, from 1090 unified al-Andalus under their rule.

Almoravid Empire at its greatest extent c. 1120.

 Almohad  Empire at its greatest extent c.  1200.

Thus began the two Berbers empires period, Almoravids and the Almohads , settled on both sides of the Strait of Gibraltar, in al-Andalus and Maghreb.

Under Almoravid domination Andalusian artistic tradition extended by North African, where it received new Eastern contributions. These crossbred features can be seen in Great Tlemcen Mosque or Fez Kairuan Mosque .

Great Mosque of  Tlemcén , Algeria (1082). Floorplan.

  Great Mosque of  Tlemcén , Algeria (1082).  Exterior.

Great Mosque of  Tlemcén , Algeria (1082). Court as seen from minaret.

Great Mosque of  Tlemcén , Algeria (1082).  Minaret.

Mosque and Madrasa of Al-Qarawiyyin), Fes, Morocco (1135). Floorplan.

  Mosque and Madrasa of Al-Qarawiyyin),  Fes, Morocco (1135).  Court.

Mosque and Madrasa of Al-Qarawiyyin),  Fes, Morocco (1135).Aerial view.

Almohad period left in Seville, Caliph capital from 1171, a Main Mosque, whose main court (patio de los Naranjos) and minaret (now Giralda) have been preserved, with some alterations. From this period we also have important urban palaces that can still be seen in Buhayra and Real Alcázar. 

  Great Mosque of Seville  (1172-1198). Almohad flooplan over current Cathedral.

    Great Mosque of Seville  (1172-1198).  Section through courtyard and mirhab nave.

Great Mosque of Seville  (1172-1198).   Patio de los naranjos .  

Giralda. Seville, Spain (1172-1198).  Evolution from almohad minaret (left). 

Giralda. Seville, Spain (1172-1198). Detail of sebka panels.   

Alcazar of Seville . Almohad rooms konwn as Patio del Yeso  (s. XII) (red). 

Alcazar of Seville. Almohad rooms as konwn Patio del Yeso (s. XII) . Floorplan.

Alcazar of Seville. Almohad rooms as konwn Patio del Yeso (s. XII). Longitudinal Section .

Taught Lecture at Notre Dame School of Architecture in South Bend, Indiana (USA), January 28, 2011.

Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes

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hispanomusulmana (II): Reinos the Nation (1031-1085)

Kingdoms Taifa to 1037

Taifa Kingdoms to 1085

The integrative role that had served the Umayyad dynasty of Cordoba in al- Andalus disappeared after the collapse of the caliphate as a result of civil wars early eleventh century, giving way to a period of political fragmentation known as the Taifa Kingdoms . Then some local dynasties emerged as the Hudi in Zaragoza, the du-l- Nuni in Toledo, the abbeys Sevilla and Granada Zirid . All of them conspired with the political weakness cultural and artistic splendor, one of whose best examples is the Palace Aljaferia Hudi of Zaragoza, who inherits the typological solutions tested during the caliphate of Cordoba Mosque and the palace of Medina Azahara .

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Floor of the palace in time taifal.

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Main elevation.

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Patio de Santa Isabel.

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Golden hall.

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Floor of the palace today.

Aljafería Palace , Zaragoza (1065-1081). Volume.

To learn more about the Palace Aljafería:

Almagro, Antonio. Aljafería of Zaragoza. Proceedings of the First Conference of Islamic Culture. Al-Andalus, eight centuries of history (Toledo 1987). Ed West Institute of Islamic Culture. Madrid, 1989, pp.128-134. ( Digital.CSIC available).

Almagro, Antonio. Aljafería The image over time . morphological evolution. The Aljafería II Zaragoza, 1998, pp. 407-421. ( available Digital.CSIC )

Cabañero Switzerland, Barnabas. The Aljafería of Zaragoza. Artigrama, no. 22 , University of Zaragoza. Department of Art History, 2007. Pp. 103-129. (Available in Digital.CSIC )

Reading offered at the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana (USA) The January 28, 2011.

Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes

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Historical context of Hispanic-Muslim Architecture (II): National kingdoms (1031-1085)

Taifa Kingdoms c. 1037

Taifa Kingdoms c. 1085

The integrative role That Cordoba Umayyad dynasty had served in al-Andalus disappeared after caliphate collapse as a result of early 11th century civil wars , giving way to a political fragmentation period known as Taifa Kingdoms . Then some local dynasties emerged as Hudi in Zaragoza , du-l-Nuni in Toledo , Abbadids in Seville and Zirids in Granada . All of them combined political weakness with cultural and artistic splendor, one of whose best witness is Aljafería Hudi palace in Zaragoza .

Aljafería Palace , Zaragoza (1065-1081). Floorplan of original Taifa Palace. 

Aljafería Palace ,  Zaragoza (1065-1081). Main elevation.

Aljafería Palace ,  Zaragoza (1065-1081). St. Isabel's Court.

  Aljafería Palace ,  Zaragoza (1065-1081).   Northern Rooms.

Aljafería Palace , Zaragoza (1065-1081). Present floorplan.

Aljafería Palace, Zaragoza (1065-1081). Volume.

To know more about Aljafería Palace (in English):

Almagro, Antonio. The Aljafería Zaragoza. Proceedings of the First Conference of Islamic Culture. Al-Andalus, eight centuries of history (Toledo 1987) . Ed West Institute of Islamic Culture. Madrid, 1989, pp.128-134. ( Digital.CSIC available).

Almagro, Antonio. Aljafería The image over time . morphological evolution. The Aljafería II, Zaragoza, 1998, pp. 407-421. ( available Digital.CSIC )

Cabañero Switzerland, Barnabas. The Aljafería of Zaragoza. Artigrama, no. 22 University of Zaragoza. Department of Art History, 2007. Pp. 103-129. (Available in Digital.CSIC )

Taught Lecture at Notre Dame School of Architecture in South Bend, Indiana (USA), January 28, 2011.

Author: Pablo Álvarez Funes