Chapter VI: The Emirate

Abd-al-Aziz--His Wise Administration--His Execution
ordered by the Khalif--Ayub-Ibn-Habib--His
Reforms--Al-Horr--Al-Samh--His Invasion of France--His
Defeat and Death--Abd-al-Rahman--Feud of the Maadites and
Kahtanites--Its Disastrous Effects--Anbasah-Ibn-Sohim--His
Ability--He penetrates to the Rhone and is
killed--Yahya-Ibn-Salmah--Othman-Ibn-Abu-Nesa
--Hodheyfa-Ibn-al-Awass--Al-Haytham-Ibn-Obeyd
--Mohammed-Ibn-Abdallah--Abd-al-Rahman--His
Popularity--Proclaims the Holy War--Treason
of Othman-Ibn-Abu-Nesa--The Emir attempts
the Conquest of France--Character of Charles
Martel--Battle of Poitiers--Death of
Abd-al-Rahman--Abd-al-Melik--Okbah-Ibn-al-Hejaj--His
Wisdom and Capacity--Charles Martel ravages
Provence--Berber Revolt in Africa--Victory of the
Rebels--Abd-al-Melik-Ibn-Kottam--Balj-Ibn-Beschr--Thalaba
--Abu-al-Khattar--Condition of Western Europe--Unstable and
Corrupt Administration of the Emirs--Importance of the
Battle of Poitiers 266

CHAPTER VII

FOUNDATION OF THE SPANISH MONARCHY

The Northern Provinces of Spain--Their Desolate and
Forbidding Character--Climate--Population--Religion
--Peculiarities of the Asturian Peasantry--Pelayus
--His Birth and Antecedents--He collects an Army
--Obscure Origin of the Spanish Kingdom--Extraordinary
Conditions under which it was founded--Battle of
Covadonga--Rout of the Arabs--Increase of the Christian
Power--Favila--Alfonso I.--His Enterprise and Conquests
--His Policy of Colonization--Survival of the Spirit of
Liberty--Religious Abuses--State of Society--Beginning
of the Struggle for Empire 337

CHAPTER VIII

THE OMMEYADES; REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN I.

The Ommeyade Family--Its Origin--Its Hostility to
Mohammed--The Syrian Princes--Their Profligacy--Splendors
of Damascus--Luxury of the Syrian Capital--Rise of the
Abbasides--Proscription of the Defeated Faction--Escape of
Abd-al-Rahman--His Romantic Career--He enters Spain--His
Success--Defeat and Dethronement of Yusuf--Constant
Insurrections--Enterprise of the Khalif of Bagdad--Its
Disastrous Termination--Invasion of Charlemagne--Slaughter
of Roncesvalles--Death of Abd-al-Rahman--His Character--His
Services to Civilization--Foundation of the Great
Mosque--The Franks reconquer Septimania 367

CHAPTER IX

REIGN OF HISCHEM I.; REIGN OF AL-HAKEM I.

Custom of Royal Succession violated by the Will
of Abd-al-Rahman--Accession of Hischem--Revolt of
Suleyman and Abdallah--They are routed and their
Armies dispersed--Clemency of the Emir--Invasion of
Septimania--Defeat of the Franks--Indecisive Results
of the Campaign--Public Works of Hischem--His Noble
Character--His Partiality for Theologians--The
Southern Suburb of Cordova--Death of Hischem--General
Distrust of Al-Hakem--Suleyman and Abdallah again in
Rebellion--Civil War--The Gothic March--Siege and
Capture of Barcelona--Apathy of the Emir--Importance
of the Conquest--The Edrisite Dynasty--Disturbances
at Toledo--“The Day of the Ditch”--The Royal
Body-Guard--Revolt of the Faquis--Its Results--League of
the Asturian and Frankish Princes--Legend of St. James the
Apostle--Death of Al-Hakem--His Character 421

CHAPTER X

REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN II.; REIGN OF MOHAMMED

Accession of Abd-al-Rahman II.--Defection of
Abdallah--Invasion of the Gothic March--Embassy from
the Greek Emperor--Revolt of Merida--Sedition at
Toledo--Incursion of the Normans--Persecution of the
Christians--Death of Abd-al-Rahman--His Love of Pomp--His
Virtues--His Patronage of Art and Letters--Ziryab--His
Versatility--Conspiracy of Tarub--Stratagem of
Mohammed--His Bigotry--Toledo again Revolts--Rise of
the Beni-Kasi--War with the Asturias--Rebellion of
Ibn-Merwan--The Serrania de Ronda--Ibn-Hafsun, his Origin
and Exploits--Death and Character of Mohammed--Incipient
Decadence of the Moslem Power 475

CHAPTER XI

REIGN OF AL-MONDHIR; REIGN OF ABDALLAH

Parallel between the Policy of the Moorish and
Asturian Courts--Alfonso III.--His Conquests--Energy
of Al-Mondhir--Siege of Bobastro--Stratagem of
Ibn-Hafsun--The Emir is Poisoned--Abdallah ascends the
Throne--Conditions of Parties and Sects--Prevalence of
Disorder--Insurrection at Elvira--Success of the Arab
Faction--Disturbances at Seville--General Disaffection of
the Provinces--Ibn-Hafsun defeated at Aguilar--Disastrous
and Permanent Effects of the Continuance of Anarchy--Sudden
Death of Abdallah--Important Political Changes wrought by a
Generation of Civil Warfare 529

CHAPTER XII

REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN III.

Eminent Qualities of the New Ruler--His Firmness--Rapid
Subjection of the Rebel Territory--Dissensions of
the Christians--Defeat of Ibn-Abi-Abda--Death of
Ibn-Hafsun--Impaired Power of the Arab Nobles--War with
the Fatimites of Africa--Rout of Junquera--Abd-al-Rahman
assumes the Title of Khalif--Its Significance--Invasion
of Castile--Reverse of Alhandega--Civil Wars of the
Christians--The Princes of Leon and Navarre visit the
Moslem Court--Abd-al-Rahman dies at the Age of Seventy
Years---His Remarkable Achievements--The Greek and German
Embassies--The Saracens in France and Italy--The Slaves
and their Influence--Plot of Abdallah--Condition of the
Country under Abd-al-Rahman III.--Cordova--Its Wealth and
Magnificence--The Royal Villas--The City and Palace of
Medina-al-Zahrâ--Melancholy Reflections of the Greatest of
the Khalifs 563

CHAPTER XIII

REIGN OF AL-HAKEM II.

Splendid Ceremonial at the Accession of Al-Hakem
II.--His Wise and Prudent Measures--Ordoño seeks an
Audience--His Baseness--Successful Expedition against
the Christians--Disturbances in Africa--Army of the
Khalif Defeated--The Berber Chieftains are corrupted,
and their Forces disband--Importance of Cordova as a
Religious Centre--Description of the Great Mosque--Death
of Al-Hakem--His Literary Attainments--His Patronage of
Letters--The Library--Institutions of Learning--General
Prevalence of Education--Public Improvements--The Khalif
the Exemplar of the Highest Culture of his Age--Prosperity
of the Empire 634