'Abbadids

The 'Abbadids were a dynasty of kings (in Spanish the "reyes de taifas") of Seville. The Banu 'Abbad was a Hispano-Arab dynasty tracing their descent from the ancient Arab Lakhmids.   The 'Abbadids were noted for the cultural brilliance of their court. 

In power from 1023 to 1091 (an age known in Arabic as the "Muluk al-Tawa’if"), the dynasty included three succeeding rulers, the first of whom was 'Abbad ibn Muhammad (r.1023-1042), a qadi (magistrate) who governed behind the screen of a puppet caliph.  Following the downfall of the caliphate of Cordoba, the qadi of Seville, 'Abbad ibn Muhammad, seized power in Seville, initially in the name of the Hammudids.  Such pretense was dropped by his son, 'Abbad al-Mutadid (r.1042-1068), who reigned openly and conquered several adjacent petty kingdoms. 

A poet, 'Abbad al-Mutadid was also a patron of the arts and kept a lavish court.  In matters of extravagance, however, 'Abbad al-Mutadid (Abu Amri al-Mutadid/al-Mu'tadid bi'llah) was eclipsed by his son, 'Abbad al-Mutamid (Muhammad al-Mutamid/al-Mu'tamid ibn 'Abbad) (r.1068-1091), who made Seville the outstanding center of Muslim culture.  Major patrons of the arts and science, Seville grew under al-Mutadid and al-Mutamid to be the center of the refined culture of the taifa kingdom and the most powerful state.  Large parts of al-Andalus (Spain) came under their authority:  Huelva in 1052, Algeciras in 1058, and Cordoba from 1069 to 1078.

Having added Cordoba to his realm early in his reign, al-Mutamid later sought help from the Almoravids against Alfonso I of Castile, who was spearheading the Christian reconquest of Spain.  Al-Mutamid was the driving force behind the appeal for help that was made to the Almoravids following the Christian capture of Toledo in 1085.

Reinforced by the Almoravids, al-Mutamid defeated Alfonso I in 1086.  However, his vacillation between 1089 and 1090 led to the conquest of al-Andalus by the Almoravids, al-Mutamid's former allies.   In 1091, the Almoravids returned to Seville uninvited and deposed al-Mutamid.  Al-Mutamid died destitute in Morocco four years later. 

Alternative names include:

'Abbadids
Banu 'Abbad
Reyes de Taifas