Chapter I: Preface: By the Editor

A limited edition of the “Legends of the Conquest of Spain,” with which this volume commences, was published in 1835. These Legends, consisting of the “Legend of Don Roderick,” the “Legend of the Subjugation of Spain,” the “Legend of Count Julian and his Family,” formed No. III. of the “Crayon Miscellany.” For the Chronicles which follow them, with the exception of “Abderahman” and “Spanish Romance,” which have appeared in the “Knickerbocker Magazine,” I have drawn upon the unpublished manuscripts of Mr. Irving, bequeathed to me by his will. This portion of the volume is illustrative of the wars between the Spaniards and the Moors, and consists of the “Legend of Pelayo,” the “Chronicle of Count Fernan Gonzalez,” the most illustrious hero of his epoch, who united the kingdoms of Leon and Castile; and the “Chronicle of Fernando the Saint,” that renowned champion of the faith, under whom the greater part of Spain was rescued from the Moors. I have selected these themes from a mass of unpublished manuscript that came into my hands at the death of Mr. Irving, because they bore the impress of being most nearly, though not fully, prepared for the press, and because they had for him a special fascination, arising in part, perhaps, from his long residence in that romantic country. “These old Morisco-Spanish subjects”—is the language of one of his published letters—“have a charm that makes me content to write about them at half price. They have so much that is high-minded, and chivalrous, and quaint, and picturesque, and at times half comic, about them.”

CONTENTS.

THE LEGEND OF DON RODERICK.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

Of the Ancient Inhabitants of Spain.—Of the Misrule of Witiza the Wicked. 1

CHAPTER II.

The Rise of Don Roderick.—His Government. 8

CHAPTER III.

Of the Loves of Roderick and the Princess Elyata. 13

CHAPTER IV.

Of Count Julian. 19

CHAPTER V.

The Story of Florinda. 22

CHAPTER VI.

Don Roderick receives an Extraordinary Embassy. 31

CHAPTER VII.

Story of the Marvelous and Portentous Tower. 35

CHAPTER VIII.

Count Julian.—His Fortunes in Africa.—He hears of the Dishonor of his Child.—His Conduct thereupon. 45

CHAPTER IX.

Secret Visit of Count Julian to the Arab Camp.—First Expedition of Taric el Tuerto. 53

CHAPTER X.

Letter of Muza to the Caliph.—Second Expedition of Taric el Tuerto. 58

CHAPTER XI.

Measures of Don Roderick on Hearing of the Invasion.—Expedition of Ataulpho.—Vision of Taric. 64

CHAPTER XII.

Battle of Calpe.—Fate of Ataulpho. 69

CHAPTER XIII.

Terror of the Country.—Roderick rouses himself to Arms. 76

CHAPTER XIV.

March of the Gothic Army.—Encampment on the Banks of the Guadalete.—Mysterious Predictions of a Palmer.—Conduct of Pelistes thereupon. 82

CHAPTER XV.

Skirmishing of the Armies.—Pelistes and his Son.—Pelistes and the Bishop. 88

CHAPTER XVI.

Traitorous Message of Count Julian. 93

CHAPTER XVII.

Last Day of the Battle. 97

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Field of Battle after the Defeat.—The Fate of Roderick. 103

ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE FOREGOING LEGEND.

The Tomb of Roderick. 108

The Cave of Hercules. 109

LEGEND OF THE SUBJUGATION OF SPAIN.

CHAPTER I.

Consternation of Spain.—Conduct of the Conquerors.—Missives between Taric and Muza. 119

CHAPTER II.

Capture of Granada.—Subjugation of the Alpuxarra Mountains. 125

CHAPTER III.

Expedition of Magued against Cordova.—Defense of the Patriot Pelistes. 132

CHAPTER IV.

Defense of the Convent of St. George by Pelistes. 136

CHAPTER V.

Meeting between the Patriot Pelistes and the Traitor Julian. 142

CHAPTER VI.

How Taric el Tuerto captured the City of Toledo through the Aid of the Jews, and how he found the famous Talismanic Table of Solomon. 146

CHAPTER VII.

Muza ben Nosier.—His Entrance into Spain and Capture of Carmona. 153

CHAPTER VIII.

Muza marches against the City of Seville. 158

CHAPTER IX.

Muza besieges the City of Merida. 160

CHAPTER X.

Expedition of Abdalasis against Seville and the “Land of Tadmir.” 168

CHAPTER XI.

Muza arrives at Toledo.—Interview between him and Taric. 177

CHAPTER XII.

Muza prosecutes the Scheme of Conquest.—Siege of Saragossa.—Complete Subjugation of Spain. 182

CHAPTER XIII.

Feud between the Arab Generals.—They are summoned to appear before the Caliph at Damascus.—Reception of Taric. 187

CHAPTER XIV.

Muza arrives at Damascus.—His Interview with the Caliph.—The Table of Solomon.—A rigorous Sentence. 193

CHAPTER XV.

Conduct of Abdalasis as Emir of Spain. 198

CHAPTER XVI.

Loves of Abdalasis and Exilona. 203

CHAPTER XVII.

Fate of Abdalasis and Exilona.—Death of Muza. 208

LEGEND OF COUNT JULIAN AND HIS FAMILY.

Legend of Count Julian and his Family. 217

Note to the preceding Legend. 232

THE LEGEND OF PELAYO.

CHAPTER I.

Obscurity of the Ancient Chronicles.—The Loves of Doña Lucia and the Duke Favila.—Birth of Pelayo, and what happened thereupon; His Early Fortunes, and his Tutelage under the veteran Count Grafeses. 237

CHAPTER II.

What happened to Pelayo at the Court of Witiza. 246

CHAPTER III.

How Pelayo lived among the Mountains of Cantabria.—His Adventure with the Needy Hidalgo of Gascony and the Rich Merchant of Bordeaux.—Discourse of the Holy Hermit. 249

CHAPTER IV.

Pilgrimage of Pelayo, and what befell him on his Return to Spain. 261

CHAPTER V.

The Battle of Covadonga. 268

CHAPTER VI.

Pelayo becomes King of Leon.—His Death. 274

ABDERAHMAN: THE FOUNDER OF THE DYNASTY OF THE OMMIADES OF SPAIN.

CHAPTER I.

Of the Youthful Fortunes of Abderahman. 279

CHAPTER II.

Landing of Abderahman in Spain.—Condition of the Country. 289

CHAPTER III.

Triumphs of Abderahman.—The Palm-tree which he planted, and the Verses he composed thereupon.—Insurrections.—His Enemies subdued.—Undisputed Sovereign of the Moslems of Spain.—Begins the famous Mosque in Cordova.—His Death. 293

CHRONICLE OF FERNAN GONZALEZ, COUNT OF CASTILE.

Introduction. 313

CHAPTER I.

Installation of Fernan Gonzalez as Count of Castile.—His First Campaign against the Moors.—Victory of San Quirce.—How the Count disposed of the Spoils. 316

CHAPTER II.

Of the Sally from Burgos, and Surprise of the Castle of Lara.—Capitulation of the Town.—Visit to Alfonso the Great, King of Leon. 321

CHAPTER III.

Expedition against the Fortress of Muñon.—Desperate Defense of the Moors.—Enterprise against Castro Xeriz. 326

CHAPTER IV.

How the Count of Castile and the King of Leon make a Triumphant Foray into the Moorish Country.—Capture of Salamanca.—Of the Challenge brought by the Herald, and of the Count’s Defiance. 329

CHAPTER V.

A Night Assault upon the Castle of Carazo.—The Moorish Maiden who betrayed the Garrison. 331

CHAPTER VI.

Death of Alfonso, King of Leon.—The Moors determined to strike a fresh Blow at the Count, who summons all Castile to his Standard.—Of his Hunt in the Forest while waiting for the Enemy, and of the Hermit that he met with. 335

CHAPTER VII.

The Battle of the Ford of Cascajares. 340

CHAPTER VIII.

Of the Message sent by the Count to Sancho II., King of Navarre, and the Reply.—Their Encounter in Battle. 343

CHAPTER IX.

How the Count of Toulouse makes a Campaign against Castile, and how he returns in his Coffin. 347

CHAPTER X.

How the Count went to receive the Hand of a Princess, and was thrown into a Dungeon.—Of the Stranger that visited him in his Chains, and of the Appeal that he made to the Princess for his Deliverance. 351

CHAPTER XI.

Of the Meditations of the Princess, and their Result.—Her Flight from the Prison with the Count, and Perils of the Escape.—The Nuptials. 355

CHAPTER XII.

King Garcia confined in Burgos by the Count.—The Princess intercedes for his Release. 361

CHAPTER XIII.

Of the Expedition against the ancient City of Sylo.—The unwitting Trespass of the Count into a Convent, and his Compunction thereupon. 363

CHAPTER XIV.

Of the Moorish Host that came up from Cordova, and how the Count repaired to the Hermitage of San Pedro, and prayed for Success against them, and received Assurance of Victory in a Vision.—Battle of Hazinas. 366

CHAPTER XV.

The Count imprisoned by the King of Leon.—The Countess concerts his Escape.—Leon and Castile united by the Marriage of the Prince Ordoño with Urraca, the Daughter of the Count by his first Wife. 373

CHAPTER XVI.

Moorish Incursion into Castile.—Battle of San Estevan.—Of Pascual Vivas and the Miracle that befell him.—Death of Ordoño III. 378

CHAPTER XVII.

King Sancho the Fat.—Of the Homage he exacted from Count Fernan Gonzalez, and of the strange Bargain that he made with him for the Purchase of his Horse and Falcon. 385

CHAPTER XVIII.

Further of the Horse and Falcon. 389

CHAPTER XIX.

The Last Campaign of Count Fernan.—His Death. 393

CHRONICLE OF FERNANDO THE SAINT.

CHAPTER I.

The Parentage of Fernando.—Queen Berenguela.—The Laras.—Don Alvar conceals the Death of King Henry.—Mission of Queen Berenguela to Alfonso IX.—She renounces the Crown of Castile in favor of her son Fernando. 401

CHAPTER II.

King Alfonso of Leon ravages Castile.—Captivity of Don Alvar.—Death of the Laras. 408

CHAPTER III.

Marriage of King Fernando.—Campaign against the Moors.—Aben Mohamed, King of Baeza, declares himself the Vassal of King Fernando.—They march to Jaen.—Burning of the Tower.—Fernando commences the Building of the Cathedral at Toledo. 415

CHAPTER IV.

Assassination of Aben Mohamed.—His Head carried as a Present to Abullale, the Moorish King of Seville.—Advance of the Christians into Andalusia.—Abullale purchases a Truce. 420

CHAPTER V.

Aben Hud.—Abullale purchases another Year’s Truce.—Fernando hears of the Death of his Father, the King of Leon, while pressing the Siege of Jaen.—He becomes Sovereign of the two Kingdoms of Leon and Castile. 423

CHAPTER VI.

Expedition of the Prince Alonzo against the Moors.—Encamps on the Banks of the Guadalete.—Aben Hud marches out from Xerez and gives Battle.—Prowess of Garcia Perez de Vargas.—Fight and Pursuit of the Moors.—Miracle of the Blessed Santiago. 427

CHAPTER VII.

A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power. 435

CHAPTER VIII.

A Spy in the Christian Camp.—Death of Aben Hud.—A vital Blow to Moslem Power.—Surrender of Cordova to King Fernando. 439

CHAPTER IX.

Marriage of King Fernando to the Princess Juana.—Famine at Cordova.—Don Alvar Perez. 446

CHAPTER X.

Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.—Fortifies Granada and makes it his Capital.—Attempts to Surprise the Castle of Martos.—Peril of the Fortress.—A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.—Diego Perez, the Smasher.—Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro. 450

CHAPTER XI.

Aben Hudiel, the Moorish King of Murcia, becomes the Vassal of King Fernando.—Aben Alhamar seeks to drive the Christians out of Andalusia.—Fernando takes the Field against him.—Ravages of the King.—His last Meeting with the Queen-Mother. 456

CHAPTER XII.

King Fernando’s Expedition to Andalusia.—Siege of Jaen.—Secret Departure of Aben Alhamar for the Christian Camp.—He acknowledges himself the Vassal of the King, who enters Jaen in Triumph. 465

CHAPTER XIII.

Axataf, King of Seville, exasperated at the Submission of the King of Granada, rejects the Propositions of King Fernando for a Truce.—The latter is encouraged by a Vision to undertake the Conquest of the City of Seville.—Death of Queen Berenguela.—A Diplomatic Marriage. 470

CHAPTER XIV.

Investment of Seville.—All Spain aroused to Arms.—Surrender of Alcala del Rio.—The Fleet of Admiral Ramon Bonifaz advances up the Guadalquivir.—Don Pelayo Correa, Master of Santiago.—His Valorous Deeds and the Miracles wrought in his Behalf. 475

CHAPTER XV.

King Fernando changes his Camp.—Garci Perez and the seven Moors. 482

CHAPTER XVI.

Of the Raft built by the Moors, and how it was boarded by Admiral Bonifaz.—Destruction of the Moorish Fleet.—Succor from Africa. 488

CHAPTER XVII.

Of the Stout Prior Ferran Ruyz, and how he rescued his Cattle from the Moors.—Further Enterprises of the Prior, and of the Ambuscade into which he Fell. 492

CHAPTER XVIII.

Bravado of the Three Cavaliers.—Ambush at the Bridge over the Guadayra.—Desperate Valor of Garci Perez.—Grand Attempt of Admiral Bonifaz on the Bridge of Boats.—Seville dismembered from Triana. 496

CHAPTER XIX.

Investment of Triana.—Garci Perez and the Infanzon. 504

CHAPTER XX.

Capitulation of Seville.—Dispersion of the Moorish Inhabitants.—Triumphant Entry of King Fernando. 508

CHAPTER XXI.

Death of King Fernando. 514

SPANISH ROMANCE.

Spanish Romance. 519

Legend of Don Munio Sancho de Hinojosa. 523