Muhammad al-Nasir

Relationship with King John of England In the early 13th century, John, King of England was under pressure after a quarrel with Pope Innocent III led to England being placed under an interdict, by which all forms of worship and other religious practices were banned. John himself was excommunicated, parts of the country were in revolt and there were threats of a French invasion.

Writing two decades after the events, Matthew Paris, a St Albans chronicler of the early thirteenth century, claims that, in desperation, John sent envoys to al-Nâsir asking for his help. In return John offered to convert to Islam, to make the country at disposal of the caliph and turn England into a Muslim state. Among the delegates was Master Robert, a London cleric. Al-Nâsir was said to be so disgusted by John's grovelling plea that he sent the envoys away. Historians have cast doubt on this story, due to the lack of other contemporary evidence.

Viziers Abu Zayd bin Yujan (1198–1199) Abu Muhammad Abd al-Wahid ibn Abi Hafs (1199–1205), the future governor of Ifriqiya (see above) Abu Sa`id Uthman ibn Jam`i (1205–1214)