The population of Córdoba had initially welcomed Ali for his impartiality; however, both his severity and the appearance of a pretender from the previous ruling dynasty of the Umayyads, Abd ar-Rahman IV, has caused his popularity to fall, ending in his assassination on March 22, 1018.

Abd ar-Rahman is elected caliph, but he is in turn ousted by Ali's brother, al-Qasim al-Ma'mun, governor of Seville.

Abd-ar-Rahman IV is murdered at Cádiz while fleeing from a battle in which he had been deserted by the very supporters which had brought him into power.

Yahya ibn Ali ibn Hammud al-Mu'tali has been governor of Ceuta from 1016, a title he had received from his father, Ali ibn Hammud.

After the latter's death, he had refused to recognize his uncle al-Qasim al-Ma'mun as caliph.

After reaching Málaga, he moves to Córdoba with a Berber army in 1021.

Al-Qasim abandons the city, taking refuge in Seville.

The Caliphate of Cordoba breaks up into the taifa kingdoms.

The Berber mercenary Abdallah ibn Muhammad ibn Maslamah ibn al-Aftas (1022–1045) takes control of Badajoz, following the death of Sabur al-Khatib (a Slavic serf, previously serving at the court of Caliph al-Hakam II, that had proclaimed himself Lord of Badajoz in 1009, and that Ibn al-Aftas had served).

Ibn al-Aftas has added to his name the Laqab al-Mansur Billah (Victorious by Grace of God), and rules over an extensive part of the Al Garb Al Andalus, from the Douro river to the south of Tagus river, establishing the taifa of Badajoz.

Sabur's sons flee to Lisbon, where they create the short-lived taifa of Lisbon.

The qadi (religious judge) Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad is named governor of Seville by caliph Yahya ibn Ali ibn Hammud al-Mu'tali in 1023.

However, with the caliphate of Cordoba losing integrity, the Abbadids, a Sevillan family of Arabic origins, seizes control.

As a result, later in 1023, Abu al-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abbad declares Seville independent from Córdoban rule, establishing the taifa of Seville.

Yahya reigns until 1023, when al-Qasim takes back the throne.

The latter is in turn ousted by the Umayyad party, which raises Abd ar-Rahman V to the caliphate in December 1023.

In the following month, he will be murdered by a mob of unemployed workmen, headed by one of his own cousins.