09 May Yusuf I of Granada

Yusuf I of Granada, Abu al-Hachchach Yusuf Ibn Ismail is our main character in this third post.

Yusuf I was born in The Alhambra Palace on 28th June 1328. He was given his mother’s name, Bahara, who was a concubine originally from Castellano in his father’s,  Abu l-Walid Ismail, harem.

The poet and writer, Ibn al Jatib, whose poems decorated the walls of The Alhambra described Yusuf like this…

‘He was of dark complexion, strong, a good figure and a better character. His teeth were white, his eyes large, his hair black and straight, his beard thick, his face handsome and his voice clear. He overshadowed other people with his noble figure and his handsomeness. God granted him great intelligence and repectable judgement because he was ingenious, a thinker, and a problem solver. He was naturally calm, a hard worker and a great lover of architecture. He was able to keep in the good books of all the monarchs of his time.’

Early on tragedy hit his family when his father Ismail I died when Yusuf was only seven years old. His paternal grandmother, the famous Fatima, daughter of Sultan Abu Abd Allah Muhammad III immediately took over his education. Fatima was  a woman of great experience. She was often compared to ‘ the precious stone in the middle of the family necklace.’  Her grandson learnt from her as well as from all the learned men of the time.

Yusuf I

Yusuf I of Granada was the seventh sultan of Granada between 1333 and 1354, his reign instigated a long, successful and prosperous period for the dynasty.

His passion for architecture is still evident today.  You can see contructions like the Puerta de la Explanada or la Justicia and the Torre de la Cautiva.

Although the most outstanding was the “Palacio de la Madraza“; Madraza Yusufiya, Koranic University. It was the most important cultural focus in Western Muslim world.

However, the most beautiful building is the spectacular Comares Tower with its Ambassadors Salon in the Comares Palace

Yusuf I of Granada was assassinated  by someone demented when he was found praying in the Mezquita Mayor in The Alhambra after the fast of Ramadan on 19th October 1354. However, his legacy it still is available for our enjoyment. Come and visit the Nasrid Palaces.