Muhammad I (1195–1273) was the first ruler of the Emirate of Granada, the last independent Muslim state on the Iberian Peninsula. In the 1230s he took power in his native Arjona and gained control over Spain's southern cities, including Granada, Almería and Málaga. Settling in Granada, he became the most powerful Muslim leader in the peninsula. Under attack from Castile, he was forced to become a vassal of Ferdinand III in 1246. A peace with Castile followed until 1264 when Muhammad participated in an unsuccessful rebellion of their newly conquered Muslim subjects. In 1266 his former allies, the Banu Ashqilula, rebelled against him with help from Castile. This conflict was still unresolved in 1273 when he died after falling off his horse. The emirate was finally annexed by Castile in 1492. The Alhambra, a well-preserved palace and fortress complex that Muhammad initiated, is a World Heritage site. (Full article...)