Emirate of Granada

The Emirate of Granada, also known as the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, was an Islamic polity in the southern Iberian Peninsula during the Late Middle Ages, founded in 1238 CE. Ruled by the Nasrid dynasty, it was the last independent Muslim state in Western Europe. The emirate generally existed as a tributary state of the Crown of Castile, though it frequently engaged in warfare. Despite its precarious position, Granada enjoyed considerable cultural and economic prosperity for over two centuries, and the famed Alhambra palace complex was built during this period. The emirate dissolved on January 2, 1492, after being forced to capitulate to a united Castile and Aragon.