Name Ismail Sultan Role Ruler | Royal line Nasrid dynasty | |
Died July 6, 1325, Granada, Spain Children Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada, Muhammed IV, Sultan of Granada Grandchildren Ismail II, Sultan of Granada, Muhammed V of Granada Great grandchildren Yusuf II, Sultan of Granada People also search for Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada | ||
Ismail I (1279 – 6 June or 7 July 1325) was the grandson of Muhammed II al-Faqih and the fifth Nasrid ruler of the Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula in 1314–1325.
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Biography
Ismail I was the son of Abu Sa'id Faraj and the princess Fatima, daughter of Muhammed II al-Faqih. His father, Abu Sa'id Faraj, was a nephew of Muhammed I ibn Nasr, as well as brother in-law to the sultans Muhammed III and Nasr.
A cultured and refined man, he significantly added to the Alhambra complex and the palace of Generalife. He also built the Alcazar Genil after 1319, which functioned as a residence for the elderly women of the sultan’s household, and a new palace complex that later developed into the Palacio de Comares. Ismail I fathered at least four sons: Muhammed, Ismail, Faraj and Yusef; two of whom would succeed him respectively as Muhammed IV and Yusuf I.
Sultanate
In 1314, Ismail, influenced by unrest in Granada, marched with his army from Malaga. By the time he had arrived at Granada, his army had swelled, and the populace opened the gates to him. Besieging Sultan Nasr in the Alhambra, Ismail agreed to a pact which allowed Nasr to live out his days in exile in Gaudix, whilst Ismail became sultan of the Nasrid dynasty.
Ismail would begin consolidating his emirate starting with the victory over the forces of Castile at the battle of La Vega. After Nasr's death in 1322, Ismail retook Gaudix and instituted a campaign of conquering regional fortresses.
Returning from his successful campaign, which included taking Martos, Ismail quarreled with his cousin Muhammad ibn Ismail over a slave girl. Ismail was later assassinated by Muhammad while giving a public address on 6 June 1325.
Ismail was succeeded by his son Muhammad, a boy of ten.