Yusuf V (c. 1440/1410âÂÂ1447), also known as known as "The Lame One" (al-Ahnaf / el Cojo), was the seventeenth Nasrid ruler of the Emirate of Granada.
Traditionally, historians have identified this emir as Abu 'Abd Allah Muhammad b. 'Uthman, ruling as Muhammad X. This assessment was based on Castilian chronicles which identified him only as el Cojo ("the Lame One"). However, following publication of a new Nasrid-era Arabic source, Ibn c ÃÂá¹£im's Junnat al-Rida, it has been shown that he was actually Yusuf b. Ahmad ruling as Yusuf V.
Born in the first decade of the fifteenth century, he was the son of Abà « l-ÿAbbÃÂs Aḥmad b. Naá¹£r. Although his father never ascended the throne, Yusuf belonged to the core of the Nasrid royal lineage. He first gained prominence in 1431 as commander of the Granadan army at the Battle of Higueruela against John II of Castile, and soon emerged as a central figure in the restoration of Muḥammad IX to the throne. Appointed warden of AlmerÃÂa amid growing tensions at court, he gradually asserted increasing autonomy, ultimately proclaiming himself sultan and forcing his uncleâÂÂs abdication in 1445.
Yà «suf VâÂÂs brief reign (1445âÂÂ1446) was marked by administrative reorganization, factional realignments, and renewed frontier warfare, but it was quickly undermined by rival claimants and internal dissent. Deposed in early 1446 by the pretender IsmÃÂÿël III, he continued to resist from AlmerÃÂa, conducting vigorous campaigns against both his rival and Castilian strongholds, and recovering several fortresses along the frontier. His efforts significantly weakened IsmÃÂÿëlâÂÂs position, yet his career ended abruptly when he was assassinated by his own vizier in 1447.
Yà «sufâÂÂs exact date of birth is unknown but indirect evidence provides a reasonable estimate. His father, Abà « l-ÿAbbÃÂs Aḥmad b. Naá¹£r, was born around 1380, and Yà «suf himself was already commanding the Granadan army in 1431 at the Battle of Higueruela. On this basis, historians place his birth in the first decade of the fifteenth century.
Although his father never ascended the throne, Yà «suf belonged to the core of the Nasrid royal lineage. He was the grandson of Yusuf II and grandnephew of the celebrated Muhammad V, one of the dynastyâÂÂs greatest rulers. He was also nephew to two reigning emirs: Muhammad VII and Yusuf III.
His mother, FÃÂá¹Âima al-Ḥurra, was sister to Muhammad IX, who reigned multiple times between 1419 and 1453. Contemporary accounts emphasize the particularly close bond between FÃÂá¹Âima and her brother, suggesting that maternal ties significantly strengthened Yà «sufâÂÂs political position. This relationship would later prove decisive in his rise to power. Yà «suf also had at least one sister. In December 1431, when Muḥammad IX fled Granada in the face of advancing rivals, he took her with him.
Yà «sufâÂÂs first documented public role came in 1431, when he commanded the Nasrid forces at the Battle of Higueruela near Granada. The engagement pitted the army of the Emirate against the powerful Castilian forces of John II of Castile. Although the battle did not decisively alter the balance of power, Yà «sufâÂÂs leadership at such a young age demonstrates both his prominence within the ruling family and his recognized military competence. His command enhanced his prestige among the Granadan elite and the army.
In December 1431, Yà «suf accompanied his uncle Muḥammad IX when the latter fled the Alhambra due to the advance of the rival claimant Yà «suf IV. From Granada they went first to AlmerÃÂa and then to Málaga where they regrouped and made plans with other loyal factions to retake the throne.
During the campaign to restore Muḥammad IX, Yà «suf played a decisive role. He led forces from Málaga toward Granada, entered the capital, and laid siege to the Alhambra, then held by the rival emir. In March 1432, he confronted Castilian troops allied with Yà «suf IV on the outskirts of Granada. By late April, Yusuf succeeded in entering the summer palace and opening the gates of the Alhambra from the rear, effectively securing his uncleâÂÂs restoration. His contribution was so central that chroniclers regard him as the principal architect of Muḥammad IXâÂÂs return to power. This achievement substantially increased his prestige and political standing.
In June 1432, shortly after Muḥammad IXâÂÂs reinstatement, Yà «suf departed the capital to reinforce troops in Guadix, which were attempting to repel Castilian raids. Despite the ultimate defeat of the Granadan forces, Yà «sufâÂÂs continued leadership reinforced his military credentials.
However, relations between uncle and nephew deteriorated. The reasons are unclear, but court intrigues appear to have widened the rift. Fearing a destructive conflict between her brother the Emir and her son Yusuf, FÃÂá¹Âima al-Ḥurra intervened. She persuaded Muḥammad IX to appoint Yà «suf warden of the Alcazaba of AlmerÃÂa.
The emir hoped the assignment might remove Yusuf as a potential rival but that was not the case. As warden of AlmerÃÂa, Yà «suf gradually asserted increasing autonomy. He began to exercise powers normally reserved for the sultan, including minting coins in his own name and levying taxes. He even launched military actions against neighboring governors, besieging towns such as Santa Cruz de Marchena and Andarax.
Muḥammad IX eventually marched against him while Yà «suf fortified himself within the Alcazaba and proclaimed himself sultan. After a month-long siege and several clashes, Muḥammad IX withdrew, only to discover that major cities, including Granada and Guadix, had risen in Yà «sufâÂÂs favor.
Facing widespread defection, Muḥammad IX abdicated in 1445. In exchange, he secured favorable terms, including residence in the Alhambra and control of Salobreña and Motril.
Adopting the honorific Abà « l-Ḥaà ·à ·ÃÂà · and the regnal title al-Muþayyad bi-llÃÂh (âÂÂSupported by GodâÂÂ), Yà «suf consciously evoked the memory of Yusuf I, one of GranadaâÂÂs most distinguished rulers. In the early months of his rule, he reorganized the administration, distributed offices among supporters, and issued official documents from the Alhambra. Yet stability proved elusive. A new pretender, IsmÃÂÿël (later IsmÃÂÿël III), emerged from the Castilian court, where John II maintained Granadan exiles. Establishing himself in Cambil, IsmÃÂÿël fomented dissent.
Yà «suf responded with political maneuvering. He dismissed the vizier ÿAlë b. ÿAllÃÂq and appointed a member of the powerful Banà « l-SarrÃÂj (Abencerrajes) family, temporarily calming unrest. Once stability returned, however, he reversed course: he arrested key figures, confiscated property, reinstated ÿAlë b. ÿAllÃÂq, and launched further campaigns to suppress opposition.
Despite internal instability, Yà «suf V achieved notable military successes. Between 1446 and 1447, he recovered several fortresses previously lost to Castile, including Ḥiá¹£n al-Naà ·aà ¡, Ḥiá¹£n al-BarÃ«à ·, Cortes de Baza, Galera, Castilléjar, Huéscar, and others. Though some identifications remain debated, chroniclers attribute these conquests to his energetic leadership.
When IsmÃÂÿël III seized Granada in early 1446, Yà «suf fled to AlmerÃÂa and continued resistance from there. He launched attacks both against the new sultan and along the Castilian frontier. In May 1446, he captured Benamaurel and Benzalema. Later campaigns recovered Arenas, Huéscar, Vélez Blanco, and Vélez Rubio. These operations coincided with dynastic disputes within Castile. Yà «suf skillfully exploited internal Castilian conflicts, aligning with rebellious nobles and benefiting from the kingdomâÂÂs distractions.
Yà «sufâÂÂs resurgence ended abruptly in August 1447, when his vizier ÿAlë b. ÿAllÃÂq assassinated him in AlmerÃÂa. The motives remain uncertain but likely involved political calculation amid shifting alliances. His death accelerated the collapse of his rival. Within a month, IsmÃÂÿël III fled to Castile, and Muḥammad IX once again reclaimed the throne.