The epistolary genre al-sulṭāniyyāt: A historical document of important events in Al Andalus

Abstract

This study aims to shed light on the significance of the epistolary subgenre known as al-sulṭāniyyāt in Andalusian literature. The purpose of this article is to reveal, through epistolary texts, the historical reality of the challenging times experienced by Muslims during the period of the Taifa Kingdoms and the early Almoravid domination in the Iberian Peninsula. We present the political dimensions of these official letters while also exploring their significance, themes, artistic characteristics, and prominent figures. Through an analytical study of select epistles authored by prose writers and their sovereigns, we demonstrate that the objectives and themes of this epistolary subgenre were directly linked to the political circumstances of Al-Andalus. These epistles, distinguished by their narrative and descriptive style, serve as some of the most valuable testimonies to historical events and true occurrences that Andalusians experienced during this era of decline.