Muhammad II al-Faqih

Muhammad II (* 1235 ; † 1302 ), nicknamed al-Faqih ("the legal scholar"), was Emir of Granada from 1273 to 1302 .

Muhammad II succeeded his father Muhammad I ibn Nasr (1232–1273) in Granada. Due to the strengthening of the Merinids in Morocco , he was forced to a policy of rocking between them and Castile , since both powers wanted to rule the Strait of Gibraltar ( Tarifa and Algeciras were owned by the Nasrids ). Muhammad II was supported by Aragon and Genoa , who, as sea powers of the Mediterranean, had a great interest in free access to the Atlantic .

First, however, an alliance had to be concluded with the Merinids, who were left with Algeciras, Tarifa and Gibraltar as bases (1275–1293). But after they expanded their influence in the western part of the Sultanate of Granada and allied themselves with the opposition Banu Ashkilula, there was also fighting between the Nasrid and Merinids. In 1279, Muhammad II succeeded in subjugating Málaga , in which the Banu Ashkilula had entrenched themselves. An alliance of the Merinids with the Banu Ashkilula and Castile against Granada (1280–1281) could be neutralized. After the Banu Ashkilula were defeated at Guadix in 1288 and driven to North Africa, Muhammad II allied himself with Castile and drove the Merinids from Tarifa. In 1295 Castile was attacked again and some border areas were conquered.

After the death of Muhammad II, his son Muhammad III was born. Successor to the throne of Granada (1302–1309).

literature

• Arnold Hottinger : The Moors. Arabic culture in Spain . Wilhelm Fink, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-7705-3075-6

predecessor	Office	successor
Muhammad I. ibn Nasr	Emir of Granada 1273-1302	Muhammad III.