Muhammad VII of Granada
Muhammad VII (Arabic: محمد السابع; c. 1377 – 13 May 1408), reigned 3 October 1392 – 13 May 1408, was the twelfth Nasrid ruler of the Muslim Emirate of Granada in Al-Andalus on the Iberian Peninsula.
His older brother succeeded him as Yusuf III and extended the truce until April 1410, after which hostilities resumed between Granada and Castile.
[5][6] Muhammad VII came to the throne after the death of his father Yusuf II on 3 October 1392 (16 Dhu al-Qidah 794 AH).
[9] Despite attempts by Henry III and some Castilian nobles to stop him, Martín proceeded and his forces were enlarged by the people of Córdoba who supported the crusade.
[13] Martín was killed in the fighting and as a sign of displeasure Henry III nominated a member of the rival Order of Calatrava to be the new master of Alcántara.
[14] Despite the mutual desire for peace between Muhammad VII and Henry III, conflict continued along the border thanks to rogue forces on both sides.
On the eastern front, Muslim attacks against Vera and Lorca were repulsed, but the invaders captured Ayamonte, a Castilian castle on Granada's western border.
[17] Meanwhile, Granada, Aragon, Castile, and Navarre (a small Christian kingdom in the north of the peninsula) were engaged in diplomatic communications.
[17] Charles III wrote to "my brother" Muhammad VII telling him of the upcoming Logroño summit against Granada and promising to keep him informed of the outcome.
[18] Granada-Navarre communications were impeded by their geographical separation—Navarre was in the north of the peninsula while Granada was in the south, and Castilian territories lay between them.
[17] A Navarrese ambassador, travelling to Granada via Castile disguised as a merchant, was intercepted by Alfonso Fernández of Aguilar in Alcala de Real.
[20][17] Each side agreed to not to allow their territories to be used to attack the other, and not to give asylum to rebels or corrupt officials attempting to flee the other's jurisdiction.
[19] As the truce concluded, some Muslim forces conducted large-scale attacks in the area around Jaén, including raids on Quesada and Baeza.
[20][17] Historian L. P. Harvey opined that due to both sides' inability to control all of their forces, the raids were likely conducted by rogue elements.
[17] However, with heavy Castilian losses, the truce was no longer tenable and Henry III prepared for a war against Granada.
[5][20] Henry III blamed Muhammad VII for the breakdown of the truce and summoned his Cortes to Toledo in December 1406.
[26] Muhammad VII struck first, in late August, besieging Jaén on the north-eastern frontier and plundering nearby Bedmar.
[31] With food dwindling, troops deserting and winter approaching, Ferdinand abandoned the siege on 25 October and returned to Seville.
[33] According to this story, he managed the make the game last so long that before it finished Muhammad VII died and Yusuf's supporters rescued him from prison and put him on the throne.
[6][5] Granada could no longer rely on organized support from North African Muslims, even though a small number of religiously-motivated fighters did cross the strait.
[6][26] Muhammad VII's rule also saw the start of a border conflict between frontiersmen from each side, which the central authorities found difficult to control.
[6][36] The conflict often took the form of raids for little benefit except heroism; these were the subject of the famous Castilian border ballads (romances fronterizos).
