Murcia, Muslim statelet, or taifa, of

The city of Valencia, called Balansiyya when Islamic culture settled in the region, has prospered from the tenth century, due to a booming trade in paper, silk, leather, ceramics, glass and silver-work.

After the death of Almanzor in 1002 and the ensuing unrest, Muslim Al-Andalus has disintegrated into numerous small states known as taifas, one of which is the Taifa of Valencia, in and around the town, which experiences a rebirth of sorts.

The town has grown, and during the reign of Abd al-Aziz (1021-1016) a new city wall will be built, remains of which are preserved throughout the Old City (Ciutat Vella) today.

The Hammudid dynasty is named after the ancestor Hammud, a descendant of Idris ibn Abdallah, whose descendants had established themselves among the Berber tribes of northern Morocco.

When Sulayman ibn al-Hakam carves out Andalusian land for his Berber allies, two members of the Hammudid family are given the governership of Algeciras, Ceuta and Tangier.

The Hammudids thus gain control of the traffic across the Straits of Gibraltar, suddenly becoming a powerful force.

The civil war in al-Andalus between the Arab and Berber armies continues.

It is known that Hisham, who had regained the caliphate in 1010, openly kept a male harem.

Sulayman ibn al-Hakam, a candidate of the Hammudid dynasty, had withdrawn to Algeciras, and manages in 1013, to reconquer Cordoba with Berber help, accompanied by much plundering and destruction, and depose Hisham II.

Hisham’s ultimate fate is uncertain—supposedly he was killed on April 19, 1013 by the Berbers.

In any case, Sulayman becomes Caliph.

He expels the Jews from the caliphate of Córdoba.

Ali ibn Hammud al-Nasir, the Hammudi governor of Ceuta, occupies the Iberian port of Algeciras, then moves to …

…Málaga, conquering that city also, then in 1016 marches with his North African army to …

…the capital, Córdoba, to which Sulayman’s policy of concessions to Berbers, Arab and "slave" troops and has effectively reduced the caliphate's authority.

In the meantime, the Zirids of Granada have formed an independent dynasty.

Claiming to act on behalf of the dethroned Hisham II, Ali conquers the city on July 1.

Sulayman is imprisoned and, shortly after news of the death of Hisham II arrives, beheaded.

Ali is elected caliph, adopting the title (laqab) of al-Nasir li-din Allah ("Defender of the Religion of God").

The population of Córdoba had initially welcomed Ali for his impartiality; however, both his severity and the appearance of a pretender from the previous ruling dynasty of the Umayyads, Abd ar-Rahman IV, has caused his popularity to fall, ending in his assassination on March 22, 1018.

Abd ar-Rahman is elected caliph, but he is in turn ousted by Ali's brother, al-Qasim al-Ma'mun, governor of Seville.

Abd-ar-Rahman IV is murdered at Cádiz while fleeing from a battle in which he had been deserted by the very supporters which had brought him into power.

Yahya ibn Ali ibn Hammud al-Mu'tali has been governor of Ceuta from 1016, a title he had received from his father, Ali ibn Hammud.

After the latter's death, he had refused to recognize his uncle al-Qasim al-Ma'mun as caliph.

After reaching Málaga, he moves to Córdoba with a Berber army in 1021.

Al-Qasim abandons the city, taking refuge in Seville.

Yahya reigns until 1023, when al-Qasim takes back the throne.

The latter is in turn ousted by the Umayyad party, which raises Abd ar-Rahman V to the caliphate in December 1023.

In the following month, he will be murdered by a mob of unemployed workmen, headed by one of his own cousins.