Chapter XVIII: The Empire of the Almohades

Rise of Abu-Abdallah, the Mahdi--His Character
and Talents--He rebels against Ali--His Eventful
Career--Abd-al-Mumen succeeds Him--Decline of the
Almoravide Power in Spain--Raid of Alfonso of Aragon--Rout
of Fraga--Death of Alfonso--Indecisive Character of the
Campaigns in the War of the Reconquest--Progress of
Abd-al-Mumen in Africa--Victories of the Almohades--Natural
Hostility of Moor and Berber--Anarchy in the Peninsula--It
is invaded by the Africans--Establishment of the Almohade
Empire in Andalusia--Almeria taken by the Christians--Its
Recapture by the Berbers--Death of Abd-al-Mumen--His
Genius and Greatness--Accession of Yusuf--His Public
Works--He organizes a Great Expedition--He dies and is
succeeded by Yakub--The Holy War proclaimed--Battle of
Alarcos--Effects of African Supremacy--Death of Yakub--The
Giralda--Mohammed--He attempts the Subjugation of the
Christians--Despair of the Latter--Battle of Las Navas de
Tolosa--Utter Rout of the Almohade Army 247

CHAPTER XIX

THE PROGRESS OF THE CHRISTIAN ARMS

General Disorder in the Peninsula--Aggressive Policy
of the Christians--Capture of Ubeda--Al-Mamun--Rise
of Mohammed-Ibn-Hud--Merida taken by the King of
Leon--Prosperity of Barcelona--Jaime I. of Aragon--Siege
of Majorca--Terrible Sack of that City--Extinction
of the Almohades--Siege and Capture of Cordova
by Ferdinand--Valencia surrenders to the King of
Aragon--Character of the Struggle between Christian
and Moslem--Xativa--Its Prosperity--Murcia becomes the
Property of Castile--Xativa acquired by Aragon--Death and
Character of Jaime--Rise of the Kingdom of Granada--Its
Wealth and Literary Culture--Ferdinand captures
Jaen--Mohammed-Ibn-Ahmar, King of Granada, renders Homage
to Ferdinand--Seville invested by the Castilians--Great
Strength of that City--Its Obstinate Defence--It is reduced
by Famine--Character of Ferdinand the Saint 334

CHAPTER XX

PROSECUTION OF THE RECONQUEST

Condition of Moorish Spain after the Death of Ferdinand
III.--Invasion of Ibn-Yusuf--Vast Wealth and Power of the
Spanish Clergy--Public Disorder--Energy of Mohammed I.--His
Achievements--Mohammed II.--Peace with Castile--Character
of Alfonso X.--Siege of Tarifa--Mohammed
III.--Al-Nazer--Ismail--Baza taken--Mohammed IV.--The
Empire of Fez--Defeat of the Africans in the Plain
of Pagana--Yusuf--Rout of the Salado--Alfonso XI.
captures Algeziras--Splendid Public Works of the Kings
of Granada--Mohammed V.--Ismail II.--Abu-Said--He
repairs to the Court of Pedro el Cruel, and is
murdered--Yusuf II.--Mohammed VI.--Yusuf III.--Mohammed
VII.--Mohammed VIII.--Ibn-Ismail--Gibraltar taken by the
Castilians--Character of Muley Hassan--Critical Condition
of the Spanish Arabs--Impending Destruction of the Kingdom
of Granada 418