The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Abbadides

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2496644The Encyclopedia Americana — Abbadides

ABBADIDES, a-bǎd′idz, a Mohammedan dynasty founded in Spain in 1023 by Abd-al-Kasim Mohammed and maintained by his son, Abbad, El Motaddid (1042–68) and his grandson, El Motamid (1068–91), all three men of remarkable personality. They were recognized as the leaders of the Moslems of Arabic or Spanish descent against the Berbers of Granada. They have been the subjects of many romances and even to-day they are the heroes of many legendary tales told among the Spanish peasants. After the capture of Toledo by Alphonso VI of Castile in 1085 El Motamid found himself in so desperate a position that he was obliged to call the Almoravides to his assistance. His duplicity soon caused a breach between himself and his allies, in 1901 Seville was captured and El Motamid was made a prisoner by the Spaniards, thus bringing the Abbadides dynasty to an end. In 1095 he died in prison.