Isabel de Solís
Encyclopedia
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.
Solis was the daughter of the Castilian noble Sancho Jiménez Solís. She was enslaved during a raid in Castile and taken as a slave to the Alhambra
in Granada
. Abu l-Hasan Ali fell in love with her and married her, exiling his first spouse Aixa
from the palace. Upon her conversion to Islam, she took the name Turai, Soraya or Zoraya. She had two sons with Abu l-Hasan Ali, Nasr and Said. The marriage was unpopular in Granada. In 1482, her spouse was deposed by his first wife Aixa. It is not known what happened to Isabel.
Isabel de Solís has been the inspiration for many authors. Her sons converted to Catholicism after the death of their father and took the names Juan de Granada and Ferdinand de Granada.
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...
, she converted
Religious conversion
Religious conversion is the adoption of a new religion that differs from the convert's previous religion. Changing from one denomination to another within the same religion is usually described as reaffiliation rather than conversion.People convert to a different religion for various reasons,...
to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
under the name of Zoraya. She excerted a strong influence over her spouse.
Solis was the daughter of the Castilian noble Sancho Jiménez Solís. She was enslaved during a raid in Castile and taken as a slave to the Alhambra
Alhambra
The Alhambra , the complete form of which was Calat Alhambra , is a palace and fortress complex located in the Granada, Andalusia, Spain...
in Granada
Granada
Granada is a city and the capital of the province of Granada, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Granada is located at the foot of the Sierra Nevada mountains, at the confluence of three rivers, the Beiro, the Darro and the Genil. It sits at an elevation of 738 metres above sea...
. Abu l-Hasan Ali fell in love with her and married her, exiling his first spouse Aixa
Aixa
Aïcha al-Horra, generally known under her Spanish name Aixa , 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...
from the palace. Upon her conversion to Islam, she took the name Turai, Soraya or Zoraya. She had two sons with Abu l-Hasan Ali, Nasr and Said. The marriage was unpopular in Granada. In 1482, her spouse was deposed by his first wife Aixa. It is not known what happened to Isabel.
Isabel de Solís has been the inspiration for many authors. Her sons converted to Catholicism after the death of their father and took the names Juan de Granada and Ferdinand de Granada.