Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada

Yusuf I (full name: al- Mu'ayyad bi- llah Abū l - Ḥaǧǧāǧ Yūsuf, * 1318, † 1354 ) was Emir of Granada from 1333 to 1354.

Under Yusuf I, the brother and successor of Muhammad IV (1325-1333), the kingdom of the Nasrid reached its economic and cultural peak. Through an alliance with the Marinids of Morocco and good relations with Aragon and Genoa, trade was encouraged and asserted their independence from Castile. After the Castilian Gibraltar IV had been conquered by the Genoese fleet support already under his predecessor Muhammad, the Marinids again stationed troops in Al -Andalus.

This has led to increased interference, however, again the Moroccan sultans of Granada. Only after the heavy defeat of the Nasrid Marinids and the Rio Salado against Castile (1340 ), these interventions could be prevented. Thus, the Nazarite had rid themselves of the Moroccan influence, but they were in the aftermath of the threat of Castile alone against. Effective aid by the Muslim Maghreb empires could not be expected in the future. Although the Rio Salado addition to Marinids the Nasrid were beaten, Yusuf I succeeded after the loss of Algeciras ( 1343 ) the conclusion of an armistice for 10 years.

Despite the war, it came under Yusuf I to the economic and cultural development of the Emirate, which among other things in the extensive construction activity at the Alhambra ( establishment of the Puerta de la Justica 1348 ) and the establishment of the great mosque in Granada was expressed. Yusuf I was murdered in October 1354 by one of his bodyguards. His son Muhammad V (1354-1391) took over the rule in the Emirate of Granada.