Alfonso X became king in 1252 and adopted the policy of encouraging Muslim scholars to stay in conquered formerly Muslim territories and offering rewards for those who converted to Christianity. Meanwhile, Muslims in Murcia rebelled in 1264, and after it was defeated by the royal forces in 1266 the region lost its autonomy. Many Muslim intellectuals lost their privileges; al-Riquti felt anxious about the situation and about Alfonso's encouragement to convert to Christianity. Meanwhile, in 1273 Muhammad II became the Sultan of Granada, the last Muslim state of Spain. He was known as al-Faqih ("the canon lawyer") and competed with Alfonso in attracting learned men to his emirate. Al-Riquti migrated to Granada at the Sultan's instigation. In Granada he was involved in a number of debates, and he held a respectable position until he died.