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info@luznurcapital.com The Al-Andalus was the southern area of the Iberian Peninsula under Islamic rule.
Several wars took place between Islamic and Christian armies and so, the borders of the territory kept changing along the centuries.
For four centuries, Silves, located in today’s southern Portugal (conquered by the Portuguese in 1189) was the capital of the Gharb Al-Andalus, the western part of the Al-Andalus, which extended from little north of what is today, Coimbra, passing by Lisbon, occupying the entirety of the rest of Portugal till its southern limits with the ocean.
The Sharq Al-Andalus was the Eastern part of the Al-Andalus, extending from what is today Northern and Eastern Zaragoza, till Madrid, going south to Valencia, Murcia, and the rest of the south of Spain.
The Castle of Silves represents one of the best examples of Islamic presence in Portugal. The area of the castle, and the castle itself, represent several layers of history, being the Islamic presence the most remarkable.
Behind the walls of the Castle of Silves, there are two distinct remains of the palace, where the governor of Silves, Ibn Mafud, lived. His palace had a private bath complex. In the second palace, lived a high-ranking military officer (supposedly the local army chief), considering the door that gives access to the watchtower, from the palace. The bath complex of this palace is a “Turkish bath”.
Silves was considered the “Baghdad of the West”. It is observed that people in the Al-Andalus, lived a considerable good life. Abd al-Malik ibn Ḥabīb al-Sulami also known as Ibn Habib, a polymath from the Al-Andalus wrote a poem mentioning it.
This city was strategically located, with the river Arade by its side, and less than 20km far from the ocean, which made it a more difficult place to conquer. Proof of the high economic power in the region, can be seen through recovered objects. There were found imports from northern Africa such as perfume bottles from Egypt. Silves was an important city for the construction of war and fishing ships, its wood was taken from the hills surrounding it. In addition, Silves exported figs to the Islamic world. Figs from the Algarve region are still famous for their unique quality nowadays.
After the Reconquista, several objects of the everyday life, were left behind. From ceramic cooking pots, iron knifes, pitchers, plates, and coins can be seen in the photos below. On that note, you can see the square Al Mouhtamid Ibn Abbad in Silves, surrounded by impersonating paintings on a wall across the street.
Born in Beja, 120km north from from Silves, Al Mouhtamid Ibn Abbad, was King of the Taifa of Seville, and Governor of Silves.
The Reconquista of Portugal ended by 1249, very early in comparison with the last bastion of Islamic rule in Iberia, Granada in the 15th century. The Islamic presence in Portugal lasted for centuries, with several Muslim dynasties.
