Alpuente. An Independent Islamic Kingdom

Upon the desintegration of the Ommayad Caliphate of Cordoba, at theonset of 11th century, Al-Andalus territories far from its core centerstart to organize their own political solution to the problem assuringlaw and order. Thus, the so called, Taifas Kingdoms (muluklal-tawa?if) were born.

One of the smallest one was Alpuente,located some 100 kms to the northwest of the important islamic city ofValencia (itself another Taifa). Its capital was on top of a mightyrock in the Middle of a rugged territory.

Their founders, the BanuQasim family, were servants under the former caliphate, cameoriginally from the berberians tribe of north Africa. They managed tokee their independence for over 100 years until 1,107, when they weredeposed as amirs of Alpuente by the northafrican Almoravides newislamic rulers of Al-Andalus, strict followers of the most orthodoxIslam.

In year 1,094, 80 years after the start of their rule, amirAbd Allah bin Mamad bin Qasim ?Yahla al-Dawla? had to surrender to thethe christian mercenary warrior Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar ?Al-Sayyid?(called El Cid by the christian historians) during his campaign toconquer Valencia financed by a coalition of other islamicrulers(Zaragoza and Albarracin) and the christian kings of Castilleand Navarre. Yahla al-Dawla recovered full posesi�n of his kingdom 8years later, when he helped the army of Abu Abd Allah bin Muhammad binIbrahim bin Tasfin, nephew of the almoravide sultan to invade Valenciain 1,102.

It is a worthy lesson to learn that those that deposedthem were the same they had helped to victory.

Of the ancientislamic castle many visible ruins are kept all around the rock?s top.Its entrance gate and walls are also web preserved in the citybelow.

Nowadays Alpuente has been forgotten. It lies some 50 km tothe northeast of the main road from Teruel to Valencia (the N-330road). It is mainly visited by some weird freaks like me, in search ofold memories and impressive vistas.

Buena leccion y hermoso cielo.