Seville, a Cultured and Influential Court: The Palace of Ibn ‘Abbād

Abstract

The palace of Ibn ‘Abbād has long been the subject of study by numerous specialists, amongst whom its possible location has been considered to be the current site of the Reales Alcázares of Seville (Royal Palace and Fortress of Seville). The results derived from the archaeological interventions carried out in several sectors of this palatine complex have led us to undertake a review of all those studies that have dealt with this issue, to which we must add the rigorous analysis of the documentary sources to which we have access. In this sense, we intend to show the importance that this palace had between the 11th and 13th centuries, as well as its relationship with the rest of the official and residential spaces that make up the Alcazar of Seville. This made it necessary to return to the initial discussion regarding its location and to answer some questions that remain open to this day.

Keywords

• Seville
• Taifa
• 11th century
• alcazar (palace or fortress)
• palace of Ibn ‘Abbād
• <i>Qaṣr al-Mubārak</i>