History Characters / ElCid2020TaifaOfZaragoza

The ''Taifa'' of Zaragoza (''Saraqusta'' in Arabic) has been one of León’s most important vassals since they were subjugated through force of arms in 1060 by Fernando I. Thanks to the careful rule of its Emir, Ahmad al-Muqtadir, Zaragoza has enjoyed a golden age of economic and cultural prosperity. However, the ''Taifa'''s wealth makes it a tempting target for other Christian kingdoms at the start of Season 1. In Season 2, it must navigate the complicated political landscape created by Fernando’s children [[{{Realpolitik}} by whatever means necessary]].

!! Emir Ahmad ibn Sulayman al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza

Ruler of the ''Taifa'' of Zaragoza and Fernando’s vassal, al-Muqtadir is an urbane, cultured man and a patron of the arts. His careful rule has led to a golden age for Zaragoza not seen since the time of the Caliphate of Cordoba. Yet behind his courtly manners is a quietly shrewd and driven man willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure the continuing survival and prosperity of his state.

* JerkassHasAPoint: When advising his father [[spoiler: to sit out the war between Sancho and Alfonso]], he makes valid points about how not intervening in the conflict is a safer bet for the ''Taifa''. His offer to help Castile on the condition that Zaragoza not pay ''Paria'' tributes for a full year also makes sense when one considers how exorbitant said tributes are.

* HiddenDepths: [[spoiler: In Season 2, while her language is as poetic and flowery as ever, she’s also achingly sincere when expressing the depth of her feelings to Ruy. When she realizes he’ll never reciprocate and won’t stop loving another, she becomes a WomanScorned]].

* RebelliousPrincess: While a member of the royal family of Zaragoza, she’s fiery and passionate and makes clear in Season 1 that her will is her own, and no-one else’s. [[spoiler: Season 2 [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this by showing what the consequences of such an attitude bring her.

* TheTease: Plays this role with Ruy in Season 1, flirting with him almost from the first moment they meet. This continues in Season 2, [[spoiler: even when they have a brief relationship]].

* Turncoat: [[spoiler: In Season 2, her [[WomanScorned anger at Ruy]] causes her to flee Castile and defect to León, and thereafter aiding Alfonso and Urraca against Sancho and Ruy. Considering, however, that Sancho’s BigBadSlippage gets worse after conquering León…]]

* ScrewThisImOuttaHere: [[spoiler: ‘’Twice’’ in Season 2. First, she flees Castile out of a combination of [[WomanScorned anger at Ruy]] and fear that Mundir will kill her once she’s returned to Zaragoza and defects to León. Then, after Sancho’s victory, she helps Alfonso flee León and guides him to Toledo, where they both take refuge]].

* [[TheGoodKing The Good Emir]]: An effective ruler who has thus far managed the complicated balancing act of maintaining his kingdom intact relatively independent of the Christian kingdoms (payment of ''Paria'' tributes notwithstanding), while also bringing about a small golden age to his people.

* {{Jerkass}}: Compared to his brother, [[TheWisePrince Yusuf]], Mundir comes across as a bellicose {{Jerkass}}. [[spoiler: Particularly since he thinks Ruy and Amina sleeping together merits one or ‘’both’’ of them being killed to preserve his family’s honor]].

* ProfessionalKiller: The personal assassin to the royal family of Zaragoza, and ‘’very’’ deadly.

* TheBard
* BettyAndVeronica
* BornInTheWrongCentury
* DaddysGirl
* DidntThinkThisThrough
* TheExile
* HonorRelatedAbuse
* HiddenDepths
* MsFanservice
* OddFriendship
* RebelliousPrincess
* ScrewThisImOuttaHere
* TheTease
* WomanScorned
* YouCantGoHomeAgain

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: His first scene has him observing from horseback the Castilian allies entering Zaragoza’s lands and commenting disparigingly on their smell before angrily reprimanding both Sancho and Abu Bakr for not bringing enough men, establishing him right off the bat as a {{Jerkass}} whose main preoccupation is war.

!! Emir Ahmad al-Muqtadir of Zaragoza

* TheStrategist: One of the straightest examples of the series, as he appears to focus more on overall political and military strategy than fighting on the front lines, which he leaves to his son, Mundir. Tellingly, while Fernando is presented as having been a [[WarriorPrince Warrior King]] , al-Muqtadir at Graus stays far from the fighting, opting to remain on a hill and observe the battle before ordering a critical strike against the Aragonese.

[[Characters/ElCid2020RodrigoDiaz Rodrigo "Ruy" Díaz]] | [[Characters/ElCid2020KingdomOfLeon The Kingdom Of León]] | '''The ''Taifa'' of Zaragoza''' | [[Characters/ElCid2020ChristianKingdoms The Christian Kingdoms]] | [[Characters/ElCid2020MoorishTaifas The Moorish]] ''[[Characters/ElCid2020MoorishTaifas Taifas]]'' ]]]]-]

[[Characters/ElCid2020RodrigoDiaz Rodrigo "Ruy" Díaz]] | [[Characters/ElCid2020ChristianKingdoms The Christian Kingdoms]] | [[Characters/ElCid2020KingdomOfLeon The Kingdom Of León]] | [[Characters/ElCid2020MoorishTaifas The Moorish Taifas]] | '''The ''Taifa'' of Zaragoza''']]]]-]

* DeadpanSnarker: As befits his more cultured nature, he the verbal jabs he delivers are dry and understated.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: [[spoiler: When Abu Bakr is unable to convince Mundir to call off the hit on Ruy, he goes to inform Yusuf of the situation. Despite Ruy having had an affair with Amina – something even [[ReasonableAuthorityFigure al-Muqtadir]] [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness is unhappy about]] – Yusuf still informs his father of Mundir’s ploy at the same time and his mother intercede on Amina’s behalf, saving Ruy from further assassination attempts]].
* SiblingYinYang: To his brother, Mundir, who is a HotBlooded WarriorPrince who, aside from some PetTheDog moments, is usually a {{Jerkass}}. Yusuf, on the other hand, is a GentlemanAndAScholar who (for now) has not fought in battle, yet appears to have more smarts and a calmer nature.
* WiseBeyondHisYears: Gives off his vibe, as despite his youth he’s able to make sharp observations to others in conversation, and appears to have a keen understanding of whatever situation he’s presented with, despite his otherwise quiet nature.

* CombatPragmatist: [[spoiler: When the army of León ambushes the combined Zaragozan-Castilian army at Golpejera, he leads a feigned retreat with his men, only to reappear at charge at the engaged Leonese, disordering them enough that the Castilians are able to withdraw]].
* CulturalPosturing His EstablishingCharacterMoment has him commenting derisively on how the "Franks" stink a mile away, alluding to the differences in personal hygiene between the Islamic and Christian cultures of medieval Spain.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: His first scene has him observing from horseback the Castilian allies entering Zaragoza’s lands and derisively commenting on their smell before angrily reprimanding both Sancho and Abu Bakr for not bringing enough men, establishing him right off the bat as a {{Jerkass}} whose main preoccupation is war.

* JerkassHasAPoint: When advising his father [[spoiler: to side with León during the war between Sancho and Alfonso]], he makes several valid points about how siding with the stronger side is a safer bet for the ‘’Taifa’’. His offer to help Castile on the condition that Zaragoza not pay ‘’Paria’’ tributes for a full year also makes sense when one considers how exorbitant said tributes are.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny
* {{Jerkass}}
* JerkassHasAPoint
* NumberTwo
* SleazyPolitician
* SmugSmiler
* TheSkeptic
* TokenMinority

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[[folder:In General]]

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Ruler of the ''Taifa'' of Zaragoza and Fernando’s vassal, al-Muqtadir is nn urbane, cultured man and a patron of the arts. His careful rule has led to a golden age for Zaragoza not seen since the time of the Caliphate of Cordoba. Yet behind his courtly manners is a quietly shrewd and driven man willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure the continuing survival and prosperity of his state.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: He’s courteous and well-spoken, and can be generous in his rewards, but he didn’t become Emir of Zaragoza by being nice all the time. See AmbiguouslyEvil. [[spoiler: By the end of the Season 2, he’s responsible for the death of Ramiro of Aragon, had Amina briefly locked up for her fling with Ruy, and deliberately push Sancho, García and Alfonso into war with one another]].

* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: As much of a CoolOldGuy he is, it’s demonstrated in Season 2 that he’s not above dirtying his hands to further Zaragoza’s {{Realpolitik}}. He tells Sancha that Fernando was poisoned, knowing that it would aggravate the already-visible tensions within the Leonese royal family, and with the intention of provoking a war between Fernando’s sons]].

* {{Realpolitik}}: They engage with this in ''both'' seasons, making them a force to not be underestimated despite their comparably weak military power.

* BadassBoast
* BaldOfAwesome
* BewareTheQuietOnes
* ConsummateProfessional
* DualWielding
* GeniusBruiser
* HiddenDepths
* HistoricalBadassUpgrade
* ImprobableAimingSkills
* TheKingslayer
* LightningBruiser
* MyMasterRightOrWrong
* ProfessionalKiller
* TheQuietOne
* ScaryBlackMan
* TheStoic
* WorthyOpponent

* {{Realpolitik}}: They engage with this in ''both'' seasons, making them a force not to be underestimated despite their comparably weak military power.

* BadassBeard: A well-maintained beard helps lend him an extra touch of authority and sophistication.

* BadassMoustache: Complemented by a neat BadassBeard.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: His first scene has him observing from horseback the Castilian allies entering Zaragoza’s lands and derisively commenting on their smell before angrily reprimanding both Sancho and Abu Bakr for not bringing enough men, establishing him right off the bat as a {{Jerkass}} whose main preoccupation is war.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: He’s introduced reading in the inner courtyard of the palace of Zaragoza before engaging in a brief battle of words with Ruy, establishing him as a more scholarly, calm, and thoughtful individual than his brother Mundir, who is more of a HotBlooded man of action brother.

* BadassMoustache
* CainAndAbel
* TheCavalry
* CulturalPosturing
* DeadpanSnarker
* HonorBeforeReason
* EstablishingCharacterMoment
* HotBlooded
* IGaveMyWord
* {{Jerkass}}
* JerkassHasAPoint
* MySisterIsOffLimits
* PetTheDog
* RealMenWearPink
* RoyalBrat
* SiblingYinYang
* WarriorPrince
* WorthyOpponent

* {{Badass}}

!!!'''Played by:''' Samy Khalil

!! Prince Al-Mundir ibn Ahmad of Zaragoza