Emir Al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza had broken off…
May 1085 CE
Emir Al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza had broken off relationships with Castile around 1065, and Ferdinand I lead a punitive expedition into Zaragoza—taking Alquezar—and then into Valencia.
Despite being a tributary of Castile, emir Al-Mamun of Toledo led a force in support of his son-in-law Emir Abd al-Malik.
Mamun had subsequently dethroned Abd al-Malik and incorporated Valencia into the Kingdom of Toledo.
Ferdinand fell dangerously ill, retired from the field.
and died in December 1065, dividing his empire between his three sons: Sancho II in Castile, Alfonso VI in León, and Garcia in Galicia.
Alfonso VI, as king of reunited Castile and Leon, had by 1077 assumed the title imperator totius Hispaniae, in which role other Christian kings accept him.
After having skillfully managed to pit the several Muslim kings against each other and after defeating a coalition of the taifas of Seville, Badajoz and Zaragoza, Alfonso VI is able to enter the city of Toledo in May 1085; the latter's taifa is incorporated with Castile and the city is made the capital of León and Castile.
The former taifa lands will remain subject to a long struggle with its Muslim neighbors, at least until the battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212.
Alfonso has thereby advanced his frontier to the Tagus River and the center of the Iberian peninsula.
Christians occupy the center of the city, while Muslims and Jews settle in the suburbs.
The city is thriving and is given the title of Villa, whose administrative district extends from the Jarama in the east to the river Guadarrama in the west.
The "Kingdom of Toledo" is not actually independent of the Castilian kingdom, being just an official denomination for the so-called New Castile, differentiating the recent conquest from the Muslims from the previously held lands of "Old Castile".
It does represent a distinct administrative unit, having its own court officers.
Toledo's cultural and economic preeminence under Muslim rule will continue under the Christians; the city's Arab and Jewish culture will blend with the Christian.
Alfonso's chief counselor is Yoseh ha-Nasí Ferruziel, or Joseph ben Ferrusel, also known as Cidellus (Little Cid).
As his physician and advisor, Joseph, a Jew, will be instrumental in helping protect those refugees fleeing Almoravid persecutions.
The honorific Nasi (Prince)refers to his position as leader of the Jewish community throughout the kingdom of Castile.
He will accumulate a large amount of property in the city of Toledo and its environs, which the crown will confiscate at his death.