Aixa
Encyclopedia
Aïcha al-Horra, generally known under her Spanish name Aixa (fl. 1493), was the spouse of Muhammed XI
and of Abu l-Hasan Ali, and the mother of Muhammad XII. She was politically active and excerted influence upon the policy of state during the last years of the Emirate of Granada
. Aixa is one of the best known women of the history of the Emirate of Granada.
Aixa was born a member of the ruling Nasrid dynasty
of Granada, likely the daughter of Muhammed IX
. She personally owned several palaces and properties. Aixa was first married to Muhammed XI
; after his death in 1455, she was married by his successor Said
to his heir, Abu l-Hasan Ali. Her second marriage was likely an attempt to make peace between the rival factions of the dynasty. Aixa was exiled to another palace with her sons after her spouse fell in love with his Christian slave Isabel de Solís
and married her. In 1482, Aixa allied herself with the opposition party Abencerrages
and had her husband deposed in favour of her son. Aixa was politically active dring the reign of her son Muhammed XII, also known as Boabdil. She is said to have prevented harassment of the Christians in Granada. In 1483, she handled the negotiations for the release of her son, who had been taken captive by the Castile
. After the fall of Granada in 1492, she followed her son into exile -- first to Alpujarras
, and in 1493 to Fes
.
A famous lagend says that when her deposed son Muhammad XII left Granada after its fall, he turned around and looked back upon it sadly. Aixa then replied:
Muhammed XI, Sultan of Granada
Muhammed XI was the nineteenth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula. He was married to Aixa.- References :*Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 by Leonard Patrick Harvey; University of Chicago Press, 1992...
and of Abu l-Hasan Ali, and the mother of Muhammad XII. She was politically active and excerted influence upon the policy of state during the last years of the Emirate of Granada
Emirate of Granada
The Emirate of Granada , also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada , was an emirate established in 1238 following the defeat of Muhammad an-Nasir of the Almohad dynasty by an alliance of Christian kingdoms at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa in 1212...
. Aixa is one of the best known women of the history of the Emirate of Granada.
Aixa was born a member of the ruling Nasrid dynasty
Nasrid dynasty
The Nasrid dynasty was the last Moorish and Muslim dynasty in Spain. The Nasrid dynasty rose to power after the defeat of the Almohad Caliphate in 1212 at the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa...
of Granada, likely the daughter of Muhammed IX
Muhammed IX, Sultan of Granada
Muhammed IX was the fifteenth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula. He was likely the father of Aixa.- References :...
. She personally owned several palaces and properties. Aixa was first married to Muhammed XI
Muhammed XI, Sultan of Granada
Muhammed XI was the nineteenth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula. He was married to Aixa.- References :*Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 by Leonard Patrick Harvey; University of Chicago Press, 1992...
; after his death in 1455, she was married by his successor Said
Said, Sultan of Granada
Said, Sultan of Granada was the twentieth Nasrid ruler of the Moorish Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula.- References :*Islamic Spain 1250 to 1500 by Leonard Patrick Harvey; University of Chicago Press, 1992...
to his heir, Abu l-Hasan Ali. Her second marriage was likely an attempt to make peace between the rival factions of the dynasty. Aixa was exiled to another palace with her sons after her spouse fell in love with his Christian slave Isabel de Solís
Isabel de Solís
Isabel de Solís , was the slave concubine and later the consort of Abu l-Hasan Ali, Sultan of Granada. Originally a Christian from Castile, she converted to Islam under the name of Zoraya. She excerted a strong influence over her spouse....
and married her. In 1482, Aixa allied herself with the opposition party Abencerrages
Abencerrages
The Abencerrages , were a family or faction that is said to have held a prominent position in the Moorish kingdom of Granada in the 15th century....
and had her husband deposed in favour of her son. Aixa was politically active dring the reign of her son Muhammed XII, also known as Boabdil. She is said to have prevented harassment of the Christians in Granada. In 1483, she handled the negotiations for the release of her son, who had been taken captive by the Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
. After the fall of Granada in 1492, she followed her son into exile -- first to Alpujarras
Alpujarras
thumb|250px|A typical Alpujarran village, [[Busquístar]].La Alpujarra is a landlocked historical region in Southern Spain, which stretches south from the Sierra Nevada mountains near Granada in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The western part of the region lies in the province of Granada...
, and in 1493 to Fes
Fes
Fes or Fez is the second largest city of Morocco, after Casablanca, with a population of approximately 1 million . It is the capital of the Fès-Boulemane region....
.
A famous lagend says that when her deposed son Muhammad XII left Granada after its fall, he turned around and looked back upon it sadly. Aixa then replied:
- "Thou dost weep like a woman for what thou couldst not defend as a man."
- ابك اليوم بكاء النساء على ملك لم تحفظه حفظ الرجال
- Ibka l-yawma bikā'a n-nisā'i ʿalā mulkin lam taḥfuẓhu ḥifẓa r-rijāl