Coins of the Emirate of Bani Abbad (Taifa of Seville) in Andalusia

History of the Abbadids (1042-1069)

The state was founded in Seville on the ruins of the Umayyad Caliphate in Andalusia by the Seville judge (qadi) Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Ismail ibn Abbad in 464 AH (1023). To avoid danger and strengthen the foundations of his rule, he showed the people a man similar to Hisham II (Caliph of Cordoba from the Umayyad dynasty) and called for loyalty to him.

Abbad I, after his death (1042), was succeeded by the son of Abbad II al-Muhtadid. At first, he, like his father, was content with formal submission to Hisham II, but later announced that Hisham Al-Muayed had died and became the sole ruler. Abbad II significantly expanded the territory of the emirate by conquering several neighboring taifas (independent Arab principalities). In 1063 he was forced to recognize the suzerainty of King Leon and Count Ferdinand I of Castile.

In 1069, his son Al-Mutamid ascended the throne, who continued the policy of conquering small surrounding taifas. In 1070, Al-Mutamid succeeded in capturing part of the emirate of Toledo, including its capital, Cordoba. However, he was still considered a vassal of Alfonso VI of Castile and León. In 1085, Al-Mu'tamid refused to pay tribute and turned for help to the Almoravid leader in Morocco, Yusuf ibn Tashfin. Yusuf sent his army and defeated Alfonso in the battle of Al-Zalak, but did not stop there and captured all the Seville taifas including Seville city in 1091. Al-Mu'tamid was sent to Morocco (Agmat), where he died in captivity (1095), putting an end to the state of Bani Abbad.

 

Abbadid dynasty

 

Dinars Bani Abad

Banu Abbad dinars are in fact completely imitators of al-Andalus Umayyad dinars - with central inscriptions, and marginal inscriptions around. At first, the name of the Umayyad caliph was written on the coins of Banu Abbad; they can easily be confused with the Andalusian coins of the Umayyads, if the place and date of minting were not indicated.

Then the name of the caliph was adjacent to the name of the ruler of the taifa of Sevelly with the title of hajib. Al-Mu'tamid removed the name of the supposed Umayyad caliph from his coins. Banu Abbad coins were minted in Seville, as the capital of the state, as well as in Murcia and other cities subject to the Abbadids.

 

Abbad I Dinar

Dinar Abbad I

In the center:
There is no god but Allah / He has no partner / Muhammad Al-Hamish - لمركز : لا إله إلا / الله وحده / لا شريك له / محمد

On the fields:
In the name of God, this dinar was minted in Andalusia in the year 438 - لهامش : بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينر بالأندلس سنة ثمان و ثلثين و أربع ما

 

 

Dinar Abbad I

In the center:
Al-Hajib / Imam Hisham / Commander of the Faithful / Al-Mu'ayyad servant of Allah - المركز : الحاجب / الإمام هشام / أمير المؤمنين / المؤيد بالله / عباد

On the fields:
Muhammad - Messenger of God - للهامش : محمد رسول الله أرسله

 

 

Abbad II Dinar

Dinar Abbad II

In the center:
Al-Hajeb / There is no god but / One God / He has no partner / Muhammad Al-Hamish - لمركز : الحاجب / لا إله إلا / الله وحده / لا شريك له / محمد

On the fields:
In the name of God, this dinar was minted in Andalusia in the year 455 - للهامش : بسم الله ضرب هذا الدينر بالأندلس سنة تخمس و خمسين و أربع مائة.

 

 

Dinar Abbad II

In the center:
Al-Mu'tadid / Imam Hisham / Commander of the Faithful / Al-Mu'ayyad Billah / Billah - المركز : المعتضد / الإمام هشام / أمير المؤمنين / المؤيد بالله / بالله.

On the fields:
Muhammad - Messenger of God - لهامش : محمد رسول الله أرسله