Yahya ibn Ghaniya
Almoravid military commander
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Yahya ibn Ali ibn Ghaniya (Arabic: يحيى بن علي بن غانية), more commonly known as Ibn Ghaniya,[1] was governor of Valencia and Murcia (1133–1145) and of al-Andalus (1146–1148).[2] He was the son of Ali ibn Yusuf, the head of a family allied with the Almoravid dynasty, and of an Almoravid princess named Ghaniya.[3] His brother was Muhammad ibn Ali ibn Ganiya, the Almoravid wali (governor) of Mallorca.[4] He is the first known person of the Banu Ghaniya.[2][clarification needed]
Tashfin ibn Ali
Tashfin ibn Ali
Ishaq ibn Ali
Yahya ibn Ali ibn Ghaniya | |
|---|---|
| Governor of Valencia | |
| In office 1133–1145 | |
| Monarchs | Ali ibn Yusuf Tashfin ibn Ali |
| Governor of Murcia | |
| In office 1133–1145 | |
| Monarchs | Ali ibn Yusuf Tashfin ibn Ali |
| Governor of al-Andalus | |
| In office 1146–1148 | |
| Monarchs | Ibrahim ibn Tashfin Ishaq ibn Ali |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 1148 |
| Parent | Ali ibn Yusuf |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Almoravid Empire |
| Rank | Military commander |
Biography
In 1133 he participated in the siege of Fraga, bringing troops from Valencia and breaking the siege. It seems that he had a single combat with the Aragonese king Alfonso the Battler, whom he mortally wounded.[5] When the Taifa revolts against the Almoravids broke out, Yahya ibn Ali ibn Ghaniya commanded the Almoravid troops[6] and faced the revolt but ended up fleeing to Almería.[7] In 1146 he unsuccessfully defended Córdoba against Alfonso VII of León and Castile, of whom he eventually declared himself a vassal.[6] After the Almohad landing on Cádiz in 1146, he was one of the last defenders of the Almoravids and he died in Granada in 1148.[1]