TheTaifa of Silves (Arabic:طائفة شلب,Ṭā'ifa Šilb) was anArab[1]taifa kingdom that existed in what is now southernPortugal for two distinct periods:[2] from 1027 to 1063, and again from 1145 to 1150,[3] when it was finally conquered by theAlmohad Caliphate.
Thetaifa occupied the westernmost part of the presently Portuguese region ofAlgarve, nearCape St. Vincent, with its capital inSilves. The Taifa of Silves was constituted in the early 11th century and starting from 1048, the power was held by the family of the Banu Muzayn,[4] including three emirs: Isa II al-Muzaffar (1048–1053), Muhammad II al-Nasir (1053–1058), and Isa III al-Muzaffar (1058–1063).[5] Under the latter the kingdom was conquered by the more powerfultaifa of Seville,[6][7] led byAbbad II al-Mu'tadid.[4]
During the so-called second taifa period, which followed the fall of theAlmoravid dynasty, Silves was the seat of a second, ephemeral taifa, which lasted from 1145 to 1150, when it was conquered by theAlmohads.
