Mohammed VIII Al-Mutamassik

Abû `Abd Allâh Al-Mutamassik Mohammed VIII Ben Yûsuf called Al-Mutamassik ( devoted the ) is the fourteenth emir nasride of Grenade. He was born in 1411. He is the son of Yûsuf III and he succeeds to him 1417. Mohammed IX Al 'Aysar succeeds to him in 1419. It takes again the capacity with Mohammed IX Al 'Aysar in 1427. It again loses it with the profit of Mohammed Al 'Aysar in 1429. He dies in 1431.

Biography

First reign

The interior situation of the emirate of becomes precarious starting from November 9th 1417, date of the death of Abû Al-Hajjâj Yusuf lII when him his/her oldest son Mohammed Al-Mutamassik eight years old succeeds to him. The chronicles Castilians affirm that the reality of the capacity belongs to the vizier of the late king and regent `Alî Al-Amîn of the clan of Bannigas (Banu Egas or Venegas). An Arab family, Banû Sarraj, that the legend was going to be famous under the name of Abencérages, started to play a central role in the political life of the kingdom nasride.

Interregnum

The civil war starts in 1419. It will disaggregate and ruin the emirate nasride Grenade. A series of conspiracies, intrigues and murders weaken the capacity. The clan of Abencérages must face the double threat represented by the Christians, on the one hand, and by the clan of Bannigas, on the other hand. Abencérages which exerted the military command with Guadix and Illora raise against the authority of the vizier `Alî Al-Amîn and impose like candidate for the throne of Grenade a grandson of Mohammed V Al-Ghanî, Mohammed IX Al 'Aysar. This last is maintained on the throne for eight years.

Mohammed Al 'Aysar, puts the government at the hands of Yûsuf ibn have-Sarraj. The preference which it gives to this family and contempt with which she treats sometimes the remainder of the Grenadian nobility, contributes to the increase in the number of its adversaries. Vis-a-vis Mohammed Al 'Aysar, there are the legitimists who think that the kingdom must be allocated to the young relieved emir. This group of opponents forms a powerful party directed by Ridwan Bannigas. Finally the dissatisfaction due to the shortages and heaviness with the taxes intended to pay the tribe in Castille is growing in the population.

In January 1427, all these dissatisfied leaves Mohammed Al-Mutamassik prison, it has then more than 21 years. As soon as it knew that people of the médina revolted, Mohammed Al 'Aysar east flees and found refuge expensive the sultan hafside Abû Fâris `Abd Al `Azîz Al-Mutawakkil in Tunisia.

Second reign

Mohammed Al-Mutamassik, strongly supported by her partisans finds her throne but for little time.

Mohammed Al-Mutamassik entrusts the government to that which enabled him to find the throne Ridwân Bannigas. Ridwân starts by discreetly drawing aside all the possible opponents as well as the civils servant set up by his predecessor. It replaces the commanders of the frontier fortresses by sure men. Mohammed Al-Mutamassik negotiates in her turn a one year truce with Castille, but fixed did not prevent many border incidents.

In autumn 1428 before the truce negotiated in 1427 does not finish, Mohammed Al-Mutamassik sends an embassy at Jean II to negotiate a truce of several years. Jean II starts to cultivate the idea to attack the kingdom of grenade. He makes await the ambassadors. Finally it makes mine accept the truce but puts unacceptable conditions at it. In fact Jean II only seeks to save time to prepare with the war. During this time with Grenade, the events precipitate.

Since her exile in Tunisia, Mohammed Al 'Aysar obtains from the sultan Abû Fâris `Abd Al `Azîz Al-Mutawakkil a help as resource and men-at-arms. Its Abencérages partisans remained mainly in Grenade and are informed of the assistance brought by Abû Fâris. They suggest asking for the assistance of Jean II. This conspiracy is discovered. Ridwân Bannigas makes imprison the conspirators more in sight, but Abencérages, defendants of these arrests, put themselves in sure place apart from the city. Yûsuf ibn Al-Sarraj passes in Castille to ask for the assistance of Jean II. Jean II receives it and reaches his requests. He sends an ambassador at Abû Fâris. Little time after this ambassador returns accompanied by Mohammed Al 'Aysar and five hundred men.

The news of the unloading of Mohammed Al “Aysar with Vera is spread quickly in all the kingdom of Grenade. The inhabitants of Alméria take the party of Mohammed Al 'Aysar. Mohammed Al-Mutamassik prepares to resist. The two armies meet around Guadix. But the army of Mohammed Al-Mutamassik leaves in rout when she sees the army which faces him, and takes refuge in Grenade. Mohammed Al “Aysar moves towards the capital, the Médina and the Albaicin is delivered to him, it begins the seat of the fortress at once. During this time, Malaga, Ronda, Gibraltar and almost all the cities of the emirate are taken by Mohammed Al 'Aysar. With the end of the year 1429, Mohammed Al-Mutamassik capitulates and called upon the leniency of the winner. Mohammed Al-Mutamassik is imprisoned in the fortress of Salobreña.

Died of Mohammed Al-Mutamassik

Mohammed Al 'Aysar fears a new conspiracy which could give Mohammed Al-Mutamassik on the throne. More generally it fears the claims legitimists. Abencérages return to the capacity and undertake a violent repression against its adversaries and especially against the Bannigas family. Bannigas must flee or hide while waiting for the favorable occasion for a new rebellion. At the end of March 1431, Mohammed Al 'Aysar makes the unhappy decision to make carry out her rival, like her brother thus thinking of removing any reason for rebellion to the legitimists.

Mohammed Al-Mutamassik loses her throne in 1419 with the profit of Mohammed IX Al 'Aysar to find it in 1427, but it again loses it in 1429 with the profit of Mohammed IX Al 'Aysar.

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