THE 
 
 HISTORY OF SPAIN, 
 
 f ROM THE 
 
 EARLIEST PERIOD 
 
 CLOSE OF THE YEAR ISOfj. 
 
 IN T \V O VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL: I. 
 
 nv jo fix PJGLAND, 
 
 ISTED FOR LONGMAN", HfRST, RF. F. S, A S D ORV 
 
 P ATERNOSTER-ROW j 
 A N' D '.'.'. S H E A R D O \\~ X , D O N C A S T E !l 
 
 \ M 7 ** 
 
 'H, t ,) '
 
 W. Sheardown, Printer, Ki^h-fttttt, Doncafter.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 *Tn 
 
 X HE History of Spain, although very 
 imperfectly known to the generality of 
 English readers, constitutes an import- 
 ant part of the history of the world. 
 There scarcely exists a nation of which 
 the transactions have had a greater 
 influence on the destinies of Europe, or 
 of which the annals aftbrd lessons of greater 
 importance. Neither ancient nor modern 
 history furnishes any instance of an empire 
 in which so great natural advantages, and 
 so many fortunate incidents, have been 
 so completely counteracted by political 
 mismanagement. These considerations 
 render an historical view of the Spanish 
 monarchy an object which must, at all 
 times, command the attention of the 
 a 2 
 
 444.643
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 statesman and the moral philosopher. At 
 
 this momentous crisis it is peculiarly 
 
 important. The tremendous events which 
 
 have lately occurred, and the lively 
 
 interest which the British nation has 
 
 taken in all that relates to the destinies 
 
 of Spain, indicate the propriety of looking 
 
 back to that chain of causes which, by 
 
 various revolutions, conducted her to that 
 
 high degree of elevation in which she once 
 
 stood, and has sunk her into her present 
 
 state of depression. 
 
 History being the register of human 
 actions and the mirror of human nature, 
 is the school of political and social science, 
 and the study the most congenial to the 
 mind of man. But the manner in which 
 it is written in modern times, renders the 
 
 knowledge of it almost inaccessible. When 
 
 ~ 
 
 every narrative, however unimportant, is 
 extended to a tedious prolixity ; when 
 obscure or doubtful details, originating in 
 the imagination of historians, and re- 
 echoed from one to another, are spun out 
 into endless verbosity : and ponderous 
 volumes are filled with uncertain and unin-
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 teresting matter, only a small number of 
 persons have the leisure to peruse those 
 tiresome records ; and the greatest part 
 of readers must remain ignorant of the 
 transactions of past ages. 
 
 Having been long accustomed to con- 
 
 o o 
 
 sider the subject in this light, I could not 
 read, without approbation, the admonition 
 contained in a periodical work of criticism, 
 of which the extensive circulation is a 
 proof of its popularity. " It is," say the 
 Edinburgh reviewers, " a grievous thing 
 i( to see literature become daily more 
 " inaccessible, and books swelled in bulk 
 " as well as costliness, till few are able to 
 -" purchase and still fewer to peruse them." 
 
 "A man of letters, who under- 
 
 " takes a new work, has a duty imposed 
 " upon him to regard the common weal 
 " of literature, and withstand that pro- 
 " digious multiplication of printed paper 
 " which is the vice of our age." Edinburgh 
 Rev. No. 25. p. 135. 
 
 Deeply impressed by observations so 
 congenial to my own sentiments, and 
 which are indeed too obvious to escape
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 the attention of any person that casts the 
 slightest glance on the subject, I have 
 endeavoured to give a distinct and com- 
 prehensive view of Spanish history con- 
 densed within so moderate a compass as 
 not to weary the attention nor overbur- 
 thn the memory of the reader. In per- 
 forming this task it was necessary to pass 
 slightly over ill authenticated, doubtful, 
 and trifling particulars, in order to expatiate 
 more fully on the great events which have 
 had a decided influence on the fortunes 
 of the Spanish nation. In writing on any 
 historical subject, indeed, the different 
 parts of the narrative ought to be extended 
 or contracted in proportion to the greater 
 or less importance of the transaction re- 
 lated. Daily experience must convince 
 us that, amidst the mass of contradictory 
 evidence, it is extremely difficult to pro- 
 cure an authentic account of the particu- 
 lars of such transactions as occur at the 
 present time ; and it would bean imposi- 
 tion on the reader to pretend to relate, 
 with precision, the particulars of the num- 
 berless battles and sieges, and still more
 
 PREFACE. Vli 
 
 of the dark and secret cabals of former 
 ages. Could these even be detailed with 
 the most punctilious accuracy, they 
 would, at this day, be uninteresting. 
 After reading the most voluminous 
 
 o 
 
 histories, the remarkable characters, the 
 great actions and events, and the general 
 results, alone are remembered. By omit- 
 ting unauthenticated circumstances and 
 
 o 
 
 uninteresting particulars, which tend only 
 to mislead and weary, instead of instruct- 
 ing and entertaining the reader, I presume 
 that I have distinctly related all that is 
 important in the history of Spain, and 
 developed the principal causes which have 
 produced the long decline and the present 
 degradation of a monarchy which once 
 filled all Europe with the terror of its 
 arms, and spread far and wide the dread of 
 its power. 
 
 The authorities on which this history 
 is grounded are chiefly the following : viz. 
 
 Polybii. Hid. Titi Livii Hift. ab Urb Cond- Sueton. Vita AuguflL 
 Plutarch Vita Scip. Hanibb. Caef. &c. Plinii. Hift. Nat. Marianae 
 Hift. de rebus Hifpanicis. Gibbon's Dec. Rom. Emp. Cardonne 
 Hift. de L'Afrique et de L'Efpagne fous la domination des Arabes. 
 Herrera Gen. Hift. Life of Columbus by Ferdinando Columbus. 
 Robcrtfon's Hift, Charles V, Robertfon's Hift. America. Slcidanc's
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 Comment. De Solis Hift. of Conqueft of Mexico. Dr. Watfon's 
 Hift. Philip II. FamianiStrad. Hift. de Bell. Belgico. Dr. Watfon's 
 Hift. Philip III. Anecdotes du Compte Due d'Olivarez. Hift. Gen. 
 deL'Efpagnc. Mem. du Marefchal Due de Berwick. Voltaire Siecle 
 dc Louis XIV. Voltaire Siecle de Louis XV. The Englifh 
 Hiftorians Rapin, Cambden, Hume, Smollct, and Bdfliam. Henault 
 Abregc Chronologique de 1' Hid. de France, Moore's Lives of Cardi- 
 nal Alberoni and the Duke of Riperda.- - Uiioa Retabliilment dss Manu- 
 factures et du Commerce d' Efpagne. UftarizThjory and Praflice of 
 Commerce. Bourgoing Tableau dc L'Efpagne sncienne and modcrne. 
 Expofnion of Don Pedro Cevallos. Neai';'s H.d. Campaign in 
 Portugal ct Spain. Several other authorities, as Mt^ntefquieu Efprit 
 des Loix. Folard. Obferv. Sur Polyb. Townfend's Trav. S\s'in- 
 burn's Trav. Profef. Links Trav. and Semple'i Trav. have, ou 
 fome occafions, been confulted.
 
 CONTEXTS. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 SITUATION and phyfical advantages of the Spanifh Peninfula. 
 Arrival of the Phoenicians. Foundation of Cadiz. War between the 
 colony of Cadiz and the Aborigines. The Carthaginians called in to 
 the aid of the colony. View of the ftate of Spain at that epoch. 
 Fabulous account of the foundation of Liflbon. Hamilcar fubdues 
 Bcetica and is (lain. SuccetTes of Afdrubal : his death. Hannibal 
 undertakes to complete the conqueft of Spain.- Siege and deftruftion of 
 Saguntuin. Comeft between the Carthaginians and the Romans for 
 the pofli {lion of Spain. Death of the two Scipios, Cneius and 
 Pubhus. SuccefTcs of Cornelius Scipio in Spain. Spain ceded to 
 the Romans. Terragona and other flrong cities founded. Re- 
 bellion of the Lufnanians Rebellion of the Cantabrians Memor- 
 able fiege and deftruQion of Numantia. Spain efpoufes the party 
 of Pompey. Is reduced by Czefdr. Formidable revolt of the 
 Cantabrians in the reign of Auguftus.- Their final reduction by 
 Agrippa. Foundation of SaragoiTa and Merida - - - 1 to 18 
 
 CRAP. II. 
 
 State of Spain under the Romans. Quantity of gold and filver drawn 
 from the Spanim mines. Invafion of the Franks. -Recovery of 
 Spain by the Romans. Contentions of the rival Pretenders to the 
 Roman purple. Conqueft of Spain by the Vandals, the Suevi, and 
 the Alani. Dreadful ftate to which the country was reduced. Some 
 bands of martial Spaniards maintain their independence. -Adolphus, 
 the Gothic King, undertakes the conqueft of Spain. His death. 
 The Gothic fceptre ufurped by Singeric. Short reign of Smgeric. 
 Wallia elecled King of the Goths. He fubdues the Silingi and the 
 Alani, and recovers the greateft part of Spain. Spain a fecond time 
 VOL. i, b
 
 X CONTENTS. 
 
 devefted by the Suevi. Hermanric, King of the Suevi, drowned 
 in the Anas. Genferic, King of the Vandals, abandons Spain, and 
 founds a kingdom in Africa. Spain ravaged by the Suevi. 
 Theodorir, King of the Vifigoths, invades Spain, fubdues the Suevi, 
 and compels them to retire to the mountains of Gallicia and Afturia, 
 Theodoric evacuates Spain.- Eunc, King of the Vifigoths ; 
 conquers the greatelt part of Spain. Clovis, King of the Franks, 
 attacks the kingdom of the Vifigoths. Capture of Thouloufe and 
 Bourdeaux. Alanc, King of the Goths, killed in battle. The 
 Goths expelled from all their dominions to the North of tb<; 
 Garonne ------ - = 19 ^c 
 
 CHAP. HI. 
 
 The Goths transfer the feat of their government from France into 
 Spain. Reign of Amalaric. Reign of Thendes. The Frank;; 
 invade Spain and plunder SaragofTa. Obliged to purchafe their re- 
 treat by reftoring a great part of their fpoils. Reign of Theodigild, 
 Civil war among the Goths. Athanagilde, by the aid of the 
 Emperor Juftinian, obtains the crown. Makes Toledo the capital 
 of Spain. Cedes to the Emperor Juftinian feveral of the maritime 
 cities. Pernicious confequences of that meafure. Reign of Leovigild. 
 Encroachments of the Euirern Emperor. Leovigild expels the 
 troops of Constantinople from Cordova and Medina Sidoma Sub- 
 dues the Cantabrians, the remains of the Suevi, and the freebooters 
 of the Sierra Morena. Intrigues of his court. Revolt of Her- 
 mencgild. He is fent prifoner to Toledo. Leovigild fubdues the 
 Vafcones, and founds the city of Vittoria. The Vafcones emigrate 
 into France, where they yet fubfift under the name of Gafcons. 
 Hermenegild efcapes from prifon and again flies to arms. Is taken 
 prifoner and put to death by his father. Entire fubjugation of the 
 Suevi. Death and character of Leovigild. Reign of Recared. 
 Abolition of Arianifm, and the eftablifiiment of the Catholic Faith in 
 Spain. Recared repels an invafion of the Franks. Regulates the 
 Spanifh church. Death and character of Recared. Reign of 
 Luiva. Reign of Witeric. His aflavTmation.. Reign of Gondemar. 
 Rrign of Sifibut. Expels the Greeks from the coafls of the 
 Mediterranean. Plis cruel perfecution of the Jews. His conquest of
 
 CONTENTS. XI 
 
 Ccula and Tangier. Death and character ofSifibut. Short reign of 
 Jlccarcd II. Reign of Suintilla. Complete expulfion of the Con- 
 flantinopolitan Greeks from Spain. The whole peninfula of Spain 
 and Portugal united under the Gothic fceptre. Suintilla becomes 
 tyrannical, is abandoned by his fubjecls, and dethroned by Sifenand. 
 Reign and death of Sifenand. Reign of Chintilla. Reign of 
 Tulga. Reign of Chindifuintho. His character and death.- -Reign 
 of Recifuintho. His character and death. Reign of Wamba. 
 Wamba repreffes different revolts. Defeats the Arabians at fea. 
 Is dethroned. Remarkable inftance of the power of cuftom and 
 prejudice. Reign of Erviga. Reign of Egiza. Revifal of the 
 Gothic laws. Confpiracy of the Jews. Attempt of the Arabians 
 to invade Spain. Fruflrated by the total defeat of their fleet. 
 ,Reign of Witiza. His tyranny. Depofed by Roderic. Acceffion 
 of Roderic 31 57 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 v r iew of the conftitution and ftate of focicty in Spain under the do- 
 minion of the Vifigoths. Character of Roderic. Hiflory of Count 
 Julian inveftigated. Invafion of Spain by the Arabians under Tarik. 
 Degeneracy of the Goths. Defeat and death of Roderic. Trea- 
 fon of Oppas, Archbifhop of Seville. Aflonifhing progrefs of the 
 Mahommedans. Capitulation of Toledo. Of Murcia, Capture 
 of Medina Codi. Seizure of the Emerald table. Arrival of Mufa 
 in Spain. DifTentions between that commander and Tarik. Re- 
 duflion of Seville and Merida. Vaft defigns of Mufa. His triumphal 
 march from Ceuta to Damafcus. His difgrace. His fon, Abdalaziz, 
 afpires to the ibvereignty of Spain. Is affaffmated. His head fent 
 to the Caliph and presented to Mufa, who retires to Mecca and dies 
 broken hearted. Character of Mufa and Tank. Fate of Count 
 Julian. Retreat of Pelagius with a band of martial Spaniards to 
 the mountains of Auuria. The Arabian Viceroy of Spain leads 
 an army acrofs the Pyrenees. Alhama, his lieutenant, defeated and 
 flain by Pelagius. -Death of the traitor Oppas. Abdoulrahman, 
 Viceroy of Spain, invades France, and is defeated by Charles 
 Martcl.- Reflections on that fubjcft. Death of Pelagius. Extent 
 cf his dominions. Reign of his fon Flavilla, His death. Influx 
 ba
 
 Xll CONTENTS. 
 
 of the Arabians into Spain.' Their numerous colonies. Revolu- 
 tion in the Caliphate. The throne of Damafcus transferred from 
 the family of Ommijah to that of Abbas. Abdalrahman, of the 
 Houfe of Ommijah, efcapes from the general mafTacre of his family, 
 and eftablimes an independent Caliphate in Spain ----- 58 85 
 
 CHAP. V. 
 
 Reign of Alphonfo the Catholic. Occupies the cities of Leon and 
 Aftorga. Reign of Froila. His affaffination. Reign of Silo. His 
 death and character. Ufurpation of Mauregato Death of Abdal- 
 rahman the firft Spanifh Caliph, His character. Acceffion of 
 Haffem I. Reign ofBermudo. Bloody defeat of the Mahomme- 
 dans. Death of the Caliph Haflem. His character. Acceffion of 
 Hicaem or Haffem II. His character. Revolts of the Arabians. 
 Re ; :;tion of Toledo. Revolt and reduction of Cordova. Of Merida. 
 Death of Haflem II. His Character. His magnificence. Accef- 
 fion u! Abdalrahman II. Civil wars among the Arabians. Revolt 
 of Toledo and Merida. Succeffes of Alphonfo. His death. Tur- 
 bulent reign of Ramiro. Inroads and repulfe of the Danes. Bloody 
 defeat of the Mahommedans. Death of Ramiro. Death of the 
 Caliph Abdalrahman II. Character of thofe two Princes. Accef- 
 fion of Orthogno I. to the throne of Oviedo. Tempeftuous reign of 
 the Caliph Mahommed. Revolts of the Arabian Governors. 
 Reign of Alphonfo III. Is expelled from his capital by Fioila. who 
 ufurps the throne. Affiffination of Froila. Alphonfo returns to his 
 capita 1 . Quells a revolt in Bifcay. SuccefTive defeats of two 
 Mahornmcda'i armies. Death of the Caliph Malioir.mad. Accef- 
 fion of the Caliph Almoufir. His unhappy and turbulent reign. 
 Revolt of Toledo Dr.it'i of Almoufir. Reign of Abdoullah. 
 Shuts himfelf up in Cordova. D/V.S of chagrin. Misfortunes of 
 Alphonfo. Rebellion of his fon Garcias. Alphonfo refigns his 
 crown to Garcias. Reign of Garci;.s. His viciones. His leverity. 
 His death. Acceffion of the Caliph Abdalrahman III. He reduces 
 the rebels. Reflores the tranquillity of the Caliphate. Acceffion of 
 Orthogno II. Two bloody but indecifive battles between the Chnf- 
 tians and the Mahommedans. The feat of the Chrifli.in kingdom 
 removed from Oviedo to Leon. Death cf Orthcsno II. Short and
 
 CONTENTS, Xlll 
 
 tyrannical reign of Froila II. Reign of Alphonfo IV. Reign of 
 Ramiro. He takes Madiid. Inlults Toledo. Ikfiegcs Saragofia. 
 Excr:ions of Abdalrahman. His defeat at Simaiicas. R.imiro 
 defeats the Mahommedans and ravages their territories. Death of 
 Ramiro. Reign of Orthogno III. Supprefles the revolt of his 
 brother Sancho. Suppreffes another infurreclion in Gallicia Abd.il- 
 rahman invades Caftile,is defeated and expelled. Death of Orthogno 
 III. Reign of Sancho. He is expelled fiom the throne by the Count 
 ofCaflile. Reign of Orthogno IV. Sancho reftored by the aid of 
 Abdalrahman.- Sancho repulfes the Normans. His death. Death 
 of the Caliph Abdalrahman III.-4-His character General view of 
 the Spanifh Caliphate. Flounfhing'flate of fcience and letters among 
 the Arabians. Defcription of the Mofque of Cordova. Wealth 
 and magnificence of Abdalrahman III. Defcription of the city ami 
 palace of Zehia. Abdalrahman's eflimate of regal felicity. Obfer- 
 vations on the fubjeft. General pifture of Spain in that age. Splen- 
 dour and magnitude of Cordova. Crowded population and wealth of 
 the Caliphate, Its commerce and revenues. -Literature and libraries. 
 Companion of the Caliphate with the other countries of E;i- 
 rope - 86 127 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Reign of Ramiro III, War between the Chriflians and the Mahom- 
 medans. The Normans repulfed and their fleet deflroyed. Revolt 
 of Bermudo. Bloody civil war among the Chiiflians. Death of 
 Ramiro. AcceflTion of Bermudo. Acceffion ot Hakkam to tit;: 
 Caliphate. He beficges Leon and ravages Caflile. His magnifi- 
 cence. His patronage of fcience and letters. His profperous reign. 
 His death. Reign of the Caliph Haflem. Power and military fuc- 
 rcfs of his Vizier Almanzor. War between the Chriflians and the 
 Mahommedans. The Chriflians totally defeated by Almanzor. - 
 Almanzor takes Leon by affault. Definition of Leon. Rapid 
 fucceffes of Almanzor. Confederacy of the Chnfhan Pnnccs of 
 Spain. Memorable battle of Ofma. Terrible defeat and carnage 
 of the Mahommedans. Death of Almanzor. Death of Bermudo 
 King of Leon. Reign of Alphonfo V.- The city of Leon rebuilt. 
 Death of Alphonfo. Reign of Bermudo III. Ferdinand, fufl King
 
 XIV CONTENTS. 
 
 of CaRile. Dcnth of Sancho King of Navarre. Divifion of his 
 dominions. War between the Kings of Caftile, Leon, and Navarre. 
 Death of Bermudo III. Acceffion of Ferdinand, King of Caftile, 
 to the throne of Leon. Decline of the power of the Ommiacles.- - 
 Civil wars of the Caliphate. The throne of the Caliphs fucceflively 
 ufurped by Almahadi, by Suleiman, and by Ali-ben-Hamond.- 
 Morteda elected to the Caliphate. Murdered by his foldiers. Ali- 
 bcn-Hamond fuffocated. Cafim, his brother, elected to the throne 
 Expelled by Jaiah. Cafim re-afcends the throne. Again ex- 
 pelled by Jaiah. Moftahzar elefied. Death of Jaiah. Aflaflina- 
 tion of Mofiahzar. ElmuiKck-Sibillah ufurps the Caliphate. Hi? 
 death. Arctffion of Mutamed-al-Allah. He and his Vizier perifh in 
 a popular tumult at Cordova. Extinction of thedynaRy of theOmmi- 
 ades. Ufurpations of the Arabian governors. The Caliphate 
 divided into the different kingdoms of Cordova, Toledo, Seville, 
 Grenada, &c. -- - 128-14^ 
 
 CHAP. Til. 
 
 extent of the Chriftian and Mahommedan territories in Spain. DeatL 
 of Ferdinand. War between his fons, Sancho and Alphonfo. The 
 latter defeated and condemned to confinement in a monaftery. 
 His efcape. Death of Sancho. Alphonfo afcer.ds the throne and 
 re-unites the kingdoms of Leon and Cafiile.-- Seizes the perfori and 
 dominions of his brother Garcias.-Seii.es Bifcay. Memorable fiege 
 and capture of loledo. Rodengo, furnamed the Cid, captures 
 Va'enua. Union of the Arabian kingdoms of Seville and Cordova. 
 That kingdom attacked by Alphonfo. The King calls to his 
 affnlancc JuiTjfF, King of Morocco. Bloody battle and total defeat 
 of the Chr;fiia;-.s. Oiigin of the kingdom of Portugal. The King 
 of Morocco invades Spain, and feizes Grenada. Invades Spain a 
 fecond time. Takes Seville and a (Fumes the title of " Piince of the 
 Moficms of Spun." Retreat of the King of Morocco.- His death. 
 - Invrifion of Spain by his fuccefTor Ali. Bloody defeat of the 
 Clir.lt;. ms. Magnanimity of Alphonfo. His death. Reign of 
 Alp'io:; r '. VII. Siege and capture of SaragofTa by the Chriftians. 
 The King of Arragon killed in battle againft the Moors. Siege and 
 capture of Almcria. Alphonfo takes Andujar. Defeats the Mcor;
 
 CONTEXTS. XV 
 
 near Jaen. His death. The Moors recover their pofTeffions. 
 Reign of Sancho. His death. Reign of Alphonfo VIII. Revolu- 
 tion in Africa. Abi Jakoub, King of Morocco, invades Spain. His 
 retreat. Invades Spain a fecond time. Is defeated and (lain. H:s 
 fon, Jakoub, invades Spain. Total defeat of the Chnfhans. Death 
 of Jakoub. His fucceflbr, Mahommed, invades Spain. Is totally 
 defeated and lofes all his conqucfts. Death of Alphonfo. Reign 
 of Henry I. His death. Acceffion of Ferdinand the Saint.- -His 
 fucceiFes againft the Moors. Final union of the kingdoms of Caftile 
 and Leon. 146 181 
 
 CHAP. VIII. 
 
 State of the Mahommedan power in Spain. Chivalry of Spain. Arra- 
 gon defolated by the Moors, and v'alentia by the Chriflians. Cordova 
 captured by the Chriftians. Abou Said ufurps the throne of Grenada. 
 Siege and Capture of Seville by the Chriftians. Death of Ferdi- 
 nand. His character. Reign of Alphonfo the Wife. Heroif;n 
 of Don Garcias de Gomez. The King of Morocco invades Spain. 
 Don Nugnez de Lara defeated and flain. Similar fate of the Arch- 
 bifhop of Toledo. Misfortunes of Alphonfo. Rebellion of his fon 
 Don Sancho. Reign of Sancho. Tariff taken from the Moors. - 
 Magnanimity of Don Gufman. Death of Sancho. His character. 
 Reign of Ferdinand. Gibraltar taken from the Moors. Death of 
 Ferdinand. Reign of Alphonfo XI. Convulfions of Grenada. 
 Defolating wars between the Chriftians and the Moors. Gibraltar 
 betrayed to the Moors. Abi Haflan, King of Morocco, invades Spain. 
 His army defeated and his fon (lain. The King of Morocco defeat- 
 ed, and two other of his fons killed in the battle. Algefiras take/i 
 from the Moors. Death andcharacler or Alphoufo XL 182 236 
 
 CHAP, IX. 
 
 Reign of Peter the Cruel. His tyranny. Succefsful war againft the 
 Moors. His treachery towards the King af J-renada. Is expelled 
 trom the throne by his brother Henry of Tranftamare. Is rcftorcd 
 by Edward the Black Prince. His ingratitude to Edward. Peter i> 
 defeated and afterwards murdered by Henry, -Reign of Henry H-.J
 
 XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 death. Reign of John. His wars with Portugal and England. 
 Reign of Henry III. Confederacy of the nobles. War with PortU" 
 gal. With the Rovers of Africa. The Chriftians take Tetuan. 
 Henry prepares for expelling the Moors from Spain. His death. 
 His character. Turbulent reign of John II. Defolating war 
 between the Chriftians and the Moors. Convulfions of Grenada. 
 Dreadful ftate of that kingdom from foreign wars and inteftine com- 
 motions. Civil wars in Caftile. Death of John II. Reign of Henry 
 IV. Gibraltar furprifed by the Chriftians. Henry depofed in effigy. 
 Marriage of his fifter Ifabe'la to Ferdinand of Airagon. Death of 
 Henry. Acceflion of Ferdinand and Ifabella. Union of the crowns 
 of Leon, Caftile, and Arragon --- 237 283 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 State of Spain at the acceflion of Ferdinand and Ifabella.- Preparations 
 for expelling the Moors. Commencement of hofhlities. The 
 Moors furprife Zahara. Alhama taken by the Chriflians Civil war 
 in the city of Grenada. The King, Abul-Haffan, depofed, and his fon 
 Aboul-Abdallah, raifed to the throne. Aboul-Abdallah defeated 
 and made prifoncr by the Chriftians.- Abul-HafTan reftored. 
 Aboul-Abdallah liberated by Ferdinand. Abul-HafTan again de- 
 pofed, and his brother Zagal elecled King of Grenada. Bloody 
 civil war between the uncle and the nephew The Count <ie Cabra 
 furprifed and defeated by Zagal. Succeffcs of Ferdinand. Dieadful 
 civil war in the city of Grenada. Zagal defeated by the Chriftians. 
 Is (hut out of Grenada. Malaga taken by the Chrifnans. Zagal 
 defeats the Chriftians. Baza taken by Ferdinand. Zagal fur- 
 renders to Ferdinand. Defcription of Grenada. Reduction of that 
 capital --- - - 284309 
 
 CHAP. XL 
 
 Reflections on the conqueft of Grenada. Expulfion of the Jews from 
 Spain. Difcovery of America. Circumftances which led to that 
 event. Columbus is ill treated by Ferdinand. Small account made 
 of the difcovery of the new world. Ferdinand affifts the King of 
 Naples in expelling the French. --Political Hate of Caftile, Ot
 
 CONTENTS. XVli 
 
 Arragon.' Ferdinand dcpreffes the nobles and extends the royal pre- 
 rogative. Obtains the title of Catholic. His domeflic misfortunes. 
 Rebellion of the Moors.- Ferdinand obtains polleffion of Naples. 
 Wars between Spain and France. -Death oflfabella. Her cha- 
 raftcr. Intrigues of Ferdinand Conduct of Cardinal Ximenes. 
 League of Cambray. Ferdinand fazes N.ivarre. Makes great pre- 
 parations for a war with France. Death of Ferdinand.- His character. 
 Effects ofhis reign --- 310 367 
 
 CHAP. AY/. 
 
 Acceffion of Charles V. Vigorous adminittration of Cardinal 
 Ximenes. His death.-- His character. Perturbated ftate of Spain. 
 Election of Charles to the imperial throne of Germany. General 
 difcontent of the Spaniards. Charles departs for Germany. Revolt 
 of a great part of Spain. Eftablifhment of the Holy Junta. War 
 of the Commons againft the ariftocracy and the crown. Execution 
 of Don Juan de Padilla. Magnanimity ofhis widow Donna Maria. 
 Her vigorous defence of Toledo. SupprefTion of the revolt of the 
 Commons. Fatal blow to the liberties of Spain - ... 368 398 
 
 CHAP. XIII. 
 
 Difcovery of Mexico. Expedition of Cortez. His quarrel with the 
 governor of Cuba. His war with the Tlafcalans. The Tlafcalans 
 fubmit and join Cortez in the war againft Mexico. Negotiations 
 with Montezuma. Ma fiacre of Cholula The Spaniards and their 
 allies are received into the city of Mexico. Dcfcription of Mexico 
 and its fituation. Cortez feizes the Emperor. Defeats Pamphilo de 
 Narvaez. Returns to Mexico. General armament of the Mexicans. 
 Death of Montezuma. Retreat of the Spaniards out of Mexico. 
 Siege and capture of Mexico, ............. 399468
 
 THE 
 
 HISTORY OF SPAIN. 
 
 CHAP. I. 
 
 Situation and phyfical advantages of the Spanifh Peninfula. Arrival 
 of ilie Phoenicians. Foundation of Cadiz. War between the colony 
 '' Ci'dizand the Aborigines. The Carthaginians called in to the aid 
 .i ihc colony. View of the date of Spain at that epoch. Fabulous 
 ;-.-i -vjut of the foundation of LilV.on- Hamilcar fubdues Boetica 
 << i'.l is {lain. SuccefTes of Afdrubal : his death. Hannibal under- 
 K./.CS to complete the conqucft of Spain. Siege and deftruclion of 
 Saguntum. Conteft between the Carthaginians and the Romans for 
 the pofleffion of Spain.- Death of the two Scipios, Cneius and 
 Pubhus. Succefles of Cornelius Scipio in Spain. Spain ceded to 
 the Romans. Tcrragona and other flrong cities founded. Re- 
 bellion of the LuOtanians Rebellion of the Cantabrians- Memor- 
 able fiege and dedruftion of Numantia. Spain efpoufes the party 
 of Pompey. Is reduced by Ca:fjr. Formidable revolt of the 
 Cantabrians in t'.ie eign of AugnOu"; Their final reduction by 
 Aqrippa. Foundation of Saragoffa and Merida. 
 
 1 HE rile, the progrefs, the various revolutions, 
 the immenfe aggrandizement, and the remark- 
 able decline of the Spanifh monarchy, prefcnt a 
 VOL. t. A
 
 C 2 HISTORY OF 
 
 feries of hiflory equally interefling to the ftatef- 
 man, the merchant, and the moral philofopher. 
 No other part of Europe, except Greece* and 
 Italy, exhibits a fimilar fpeclacle of a country 
 poiTeffing the grenteft phyfical advantages, im- 
 poverifhed, depreffed, and degraded by a train 
 of political and moral caufes of a nature equally 
 peculiar and fingular. 
 
 The great peninfula, comprifing Spain and 
 Portugal, being fituated between the Mediter- 
 ranean and the Atlantic Ocean, and nearly fur- 
 rounded by the fea, having its coaih indented 
 with a number of excellent harbours, poifefles 
 all the advantages of a commercial fituation. In 
 moil of the provinces the foil is fertile and the 
 climate falubrious, and if indullrioufly cul- 
 tivated, few countries could better fupply the 
 \vants or even the luxuries of a numerous popula- 
 tion. It is amidd the events of her hiftory that 
 we mull fearch for the caufes which have, in 
 almoft every age, prevented Spain from flourifh- 
 ing in proportion to the bleffings lavifhed on it 
 by nature, arid to the opportunities with which 
 fhe has even been favoured by Providence. 
 
 The origin of nations is for the mod part 
 buried in obfcurity. At what time Spain was 
 
 * In the general appellation of Greece, it is here intended to include 
 Macedonia and lome. of the other neighbouring parts.
 
 SPAIN. O 
 
 firft peopled, or who were the firft inhabitants 
 that fettled on herfhores,are circumftancestotally 
 unknown. But it is certain that, at a very early 
 period, the Phoenicians traded to the Spanifh 
 coafts, and it is generally affirmed that more than 
 a thoufand years before the chriftian era, the 
 city of Cadiz rofe under their aufpices.* 
 
 This Phoenician colony, fecurely feated on an 
 ifland, feparated by a narrow ftrait from the 
 continent, and chiefly engaged in commercial 
 affairs, feerns to have remained during the fpace 
 of feveral centuries in a peaceable and flourifh- 
 ing flate. At length being involved in an un- 
 fuccefsful conteft with the inhabitants of Bcetica, 
 the prefent Province of Andalofia, they called 
 to their affiftance the Carthaginians, 
 who, like themfelves, were of Phoe- 
 nician extraction, and united with them by com- 
 mercial connexions. 
 
 When Spain firft became known to the Cartha- 
 ginian?, the country was poffeffed by a number 
 of barbarous nations and tribes. Their dif- 
 tinflions and their refpcclive boundaries, could 
 they even be accurately delineated, would be 
 uninterefting to a modern reader. Some of 
 the principal nations of this vaft peninfula, how- 
 
 * Cadiz was found:d by a Phoenician colony, Vellei Patercub. 
 lib. i. cap. 22, 
 
 A 2
 
 4 HISTORY OF 
 
 ever, claim fome notice, and make fome figure 
 in Roman hiftory. Thefe were the Bceticanswho 
 inhabited Andalufia and Grenada, the foinhern- 
 rnoft parts of Spain, the Lufitanians, who oc- 
 cupied the modern Portugal, the Celtiberians,* 
 pofLfling the Province of Arragon, the Lacetani 
 of the modern Catalonia, and the Cantabrians, 
 inhabiting the northern countries of Bifcay and 
 Afturia. To thefe mi^ht be added various na- 
 
 O 
 
 lions of inferior fame and importance, as the 
 Vaccei, whole capital, in the modern Province 
 of Leon, and near the borders of Afturia, is ftill 
 known by its ancient name of Palantia, the 
 Edetani, the Callaici,t and other tribes, too 
 numerous to be mentioned, and too unintereft- 
 ing to excite attention. The difpofitions, the 
 manners, and euftoms of thefe different nations 
 or tribes, feem to have been nearly fimilar : 
 bold, fubtle, and fanguinary, like the generality 
 of barbarians, they were chiefly occupied in 
 vindictive or predatory wars, and paid little 
 attention to the arts and employments of peace. 
 Their garments were rude, their bodies painted 
 with various colours, and their long hair deco- 
 rated with ornaments of sold and (liver. Their 
 
 ' The name of Celtiberians indicates their Celt c origin, and their 
 (aviation adjacent to the Iberus or Ebro, which interfefls the Province 
 of Arragon. 
 
 t The C.sllaici inhabited the modern Province of Gallicia, and the 
 corruption of the ancient feems to have produced the modern name,
 
 religion fecms to have borne fome refemblance 
 to that of the Druids in Gaul and Britain. They 
 acknowledged one Supreme Being, but wor- 
 fhipped a number of fubordinate deities. They 
 confidered the moil gloomy groves as the chofen 
 refidence of their gods, and under thofe awful 
 fhades propitiated their favour by human facri- 
 fices. The natural wealth of the country, and 
 the commercial advantages which it offered, 
 however, had attracled feveral foreign colonies 
 to fettle and build cities on its coafts : of thefe 
 the principal were Cadiz, already mentioned, 
 Saguntum founded, at an early period, by a 
 colony of Greeks, and Lifbon, on the Tagus, a 
 city of which the origin is fo completely in- 
 volved in obfcurity, that fable has afcribed its 
 foundation to UI) ffes. 
 
 Such was the fituation of Spain when Hamilcar, 
 the father of the celebrated Hannibal, firft difem- 
 barked the forces of Carthage on its coaft. The 
 refiftance which he found was fuch as mi^ht have 
 
 o 
 
 been expecled from numerous hordes of bar- 
 barians, fierce, independent, and warlike, in 
 whom nothing of the foldier was wanting except 
 regular difcipline. In nine years of inceflant 
 warfare Hamilcar fubdued the Province of 
 Bcetica, but advancing at length into Lufitania, 
 he was furrounded and ilain near the banks of 
 the Tagus. His brother, Afdrubal, fucccedcd
 
 6 HISTORY OF 
 
 to the command, and partly by arms and partly 
 by addrefs, induced the Callaici, the Celtiberians, 
 and the various tribes -which occupied the 
 modern Provinces of Murcia, Valentia, the two 
 
 Caftiles, and Leon, to ftibmit to the Carthaginian 
 yoke. 
 
 In the midft of fuccefs Afdrubul fell by the 
 hand of an affafTin ; and the command devolved 
 on his nephew, the celebrated Hannibal, who, 
 in his infancy, had fworn on the altar eternal 
 hoftility to Rome, and refolved to begin the 
 execution of his defigns by completing the con- 
 queft of Spain. Having employed two years 
 in making immenfe preparations, he commenced 
 hoflilities by the fiege of Saguntum, a city which 
 was in alliance with the Romans, and under their 
 protection. During the fpace of eight months 
 the valour of the inhabitants, and the ftrength 
 of their walls, baffled ail the efforts of the 
 befiegers. At length the city was taken by 
 affault; and the inhabitants, in this laft extremity. 
 difplayed their invincible refolution, by letting 
 fire to their houfes, and involving themfelves 
 and their ef feels in one general deflruclion. 
 After the annihilation of Saguntum, Hannibal 
 reduced the whole of Spain under the Carthagi- 
 nian yoke, except the mountainous country of 
 Camabria, which feems to have dill retained its 
 independence. The military (kill and political
 
 SPAIN. 7 
 
 addrefs of that general rendered him equally 
 qualified to command an army, and to conciliate 
 the jarring paffions of rival tribes. The formerly 
 holtile Spaniards augmented the Carthaginian 
 forces : they joined, with alacrity, the ftandard 
 of Hannibal ; and feveral thoufands of thofe 
 martial barbarians,* having marched under his 
 banner acrofs the Pyrenees and the Alps, difplay- 
 cd their valour in the Woody fields of Trebia, 
 Tralymene, and Cannae. 
 
 From this period Spain and Italy were the two 
 theatres on which Carthage and Rome long con-- 
 tended for the fuperiority. On the part of the 
 Romans the two brothers Cneius and Publius 
 Scipio, had the conduct of the Spanifh war; 
 but both thefe illuftrious chiefs, elated by the 
 fuccelles of feven profperous campaigns, and 
 meditating the entire conqueft of the country, at 
 length fell glorioufly at the head of their armies, 
 overwhelmed by the united forces of Carthage 
 and Spain. In order to retrieve thefe misfortunes 
 Cornelius Scipio, afterwards diftinguifhed by the 
 furname of Africanus, was fent from Rome to 
 take the command of the army in Spain. That 
 hero, the fon of Publius Scipio, was only twenty- 
 four years of age when, inverted with, the pro- 
 confular dignity, he undertook the arduous tafk 
 
 * Polyb, lib. 3. cbap. 4, 5,
 
 8 HISTORY OF 
 
 of avenging his father's death, and fupporting 
 the glory of the Roman name. His arrival in 
 the holtile country opened a fplendid career 
 of viclory. Extending his conquefts on every 
 fide, he made himfelf mafter of New Carthage, 
 which afforded immenfe plunder to his foldiers ; 
 and his heroic generofity and felf denial, in rc- 
 ftoring a beautiful captive toaCehiberian Prince, 
 her betrothed fpoufe, conciliated the affc&ions 
 of one of the mod powerful nations of Spain.* 
 
 In feveral parts of the country, however, the 
 Carthaginian influence prevailed, and excited 
 the natives to arm again ft the growing power 
 of Rome. A body of 22^500 Spaniards, of 
 whom 2.500 were cavalry; commanded by two 
 of their Princes, undertook to fupport the 
 fortunes of Carthacre. and left 17.000 of their 
 
 O / / ' 
 
 number on the enfan^uined field. The open 
 
 O I 
 
 country fubmitted to the Roman arms; and 
 Scipio, in order to complete the expulfion of the 
 Carthaginians, immediately commenced the fiege 
 of Cadiz, where the fhattered remains of their 
 forces v/ere concentrated. The fortifications of 
 the citv vieldcd to the afiaults of the befiegers, 
 
 * O 7 
 
 ->nd the reiterated mocks of their machines: 
 .Hid the Roman Eagles were difplayed from the 
 Pvrcnces to the Pillars of Hercules. 
 
 * I,iv. lib. ^6. chap.. 4.0.
 
 SPAIN. y 
 
 At the memorable battle ofZamathe genius 
 'of Carthage funk under the fuperior prowefs or 
 fortune of Rome : Spain was yielded to the 
 viftors and became a Roman province, numerous 
 colonies were eftablifhed, and fortified cities 
 arofe in different parts of the country. Of thefe 
 Terragona, in a lofty and advantageous fituation, 
 on the coaft of the Mediterranean, nearly midway 
 between Barcelona and the mouth of the Ebro, 
 was long confidered as the chief, fmce it per- 
 mitted the Romans, by a fhort and eafy naviga- 
 tion, to pour their forces into Spain. 
 
 The Roman power now feemed firmly eftab- 
 lifhed ; but a people impatient of control, and 
 regardlefs of danger, could not long endure a 
 (late of dependence and fervitude. The Spaniards 
 revolted in different parts, and, during a number 
 of years, furnifhed occupation to the legions of 
 Rome, and exercifed the talents of her generals. 
 Various inftances of Roman oppreffion and 
 perfidy excited the Lufitanians to make the moft 
 vigorous efforts, and under the command of 
 Viriatus, who, in the obfcure ftation of a private 
 foldier, had acquired the talents of a general, 
 they long held the Roman arms at defiance. 
 This enterprifing chief defeated the armies of 
 Rome in feveral bloody engagements, and eftab- 
 lifhed his dominion over nearly one-third of the 
 Spanifh peninfula. But although invincible in
 
 10 HISTORY OF 
 
 arms he fell a vidim to perfidy. During the 
 negotiations for a treaty of peace with Quintus 
 ServiliusCaepiojConfpirators, bribed with Roman 
 gold, arTaflinated him in his tent at the filent hour 
 of midnight, while, exhaufted with the cares and 
 toils of his Ration, he was taking a neceffary 
 repofe. The Lufitanians lamented the lofs and 
 honoured the memory of their general. His 
 obfequies were folemnized with barbarian mag- 
 nificence ; but his empire fell with its founder. 
 Tantalus, whom the fuffrages of the people raifed 
 to the fupreme command, did not poffefs the 
 abilities of his predeceffor, but funk under the 
 difficulties of his fituation. The Roman Eagles 
 were difplayed through the weftern part of the 
 peninfula. The Lufitanians faw their fields laid 
 wafte and their cities reduced to afhes ; but their 
 bands of hardy warriors retired to the faftnefles 
 of their mountains: in thofe inacceflible retreats 
 they defied the power and policy of the Romans, 
 and to their demand of tribute returned for 
 anfwer, that their anceftors had left them fteel 
 to defend, but not gold to redeem their pof- 
 feffions. 
 
 The Celtiberians, in the mean while, were not 
 lefs inflamed with the emhufiaftic ardour of free- 
 dom. The city of Numantia, fituated near the 
 fource of the Duero, and not far from the modern 
 town of Soriaj afferted her native right to inde-
 
 SPAIN. 11 
 
 pendence. The warlike inhabitants Tallied from 
 their gates and repulfed the difciplined troops 
 of the Romans; and Quintus Pompeius, having 
 afterwards approached their walls with an army 
 of 30,000 veterans, was glad to accede to a treaty, 
 by which the Numantians agreed to pay thirty 
 talents at different periods, and to deliver up 
 the Roman deferters and prifoners. 
 
 But the fenate refufed to ratify the treaty ; and 
 when Viriatus was no more, and the refiflancc 
 of the Lufitanians was confined within the limits 
 of their own mountains, the Romans again dif- 
 played the fignals of hoftility. The NumantianSj 
 ruining out of the city, totally defeated another 
 Roman army conduced by Pompilius Leenas, 
 whofe Shattered forces preferved a cautious dif- 
 tance during the remaining part of the campaign. 
 The next commander who difplayed the Roman 
 Eagles before the walls of Numantia was the 
 theconful, Hoftilius Mancinus, who, after 20,000 
 Romans had been flaughtered by about four thou- 
 fand Numantians, was, with the fugitive remnant 
 of his army, furrounded by the viftors, and pre- 
 ferved from the fword by a treaty to which the 
 lenate again refufed its ratification. The glory 
 of the Spaniards, however, was not confined to 
 one theatre. Emilius Lepidus, who had been 
 appointed fuccefTor to Mancinus, was repulfed 
 from before the walls of Palentia 3 with the lofs 
 B 2
 
 12 HISTORY OF 
 
 of fix thoufand Legonaries. But that city was 
 fometime afterwards obliged to furrender to Cal- 
 phurnius Pifo, and the Spaniards, after being 
 elated by fuccefs, began to experience the vicif- 
 fitudes of war. 
 
 Numamia long flood the glory of Spain and the 
 difgrace of the Roman arms. That celebrated 
 city was about three miles in circumference, and 
 feated on a lofty hill j but, according to the con- 
 feflion of the Roman hiftorians, the number of its 
 citizens, able to bear arms, did not exceed ten 
 thoufand. Their minds, however, were fortified 
 by the love of liberty and the contempt of death ; 
 and, during the fpace of fourteen years, this fmall 
 but enthufiaftic body of warriors defied the 
 power of Rome. The reduction of Numamia 
 was referved for the genius and fortune of a 
 fecond Scipio Africanus, who had immortalized 
 his name by the capture and definition of Car- 
 thage. But this experienced commander, though 
 at the head of fixty thoufand men, did not 
 venture haftily to approach thofe inaufpicious 
 walls, before which fo many Roman generals had 
 fuffered difcomfiture and difgrace, and employed 
 a whole year in confirming the difcipline of his 
 army before he judged it expedient to advance 
 to the city. The Numamians, by their reiterated 
 attacks, retarded his march ; but their impetuous 
 valour was compelled to yield to the fteady
 
 SPAIN. 13 
 
 eourage and fuperior number of their enemies. 
 They had the mortification of feeing their fields 
 laid wade by the invaders, and were obliged to 
 retreat within the walls of their city, which was 
 foon after clofely beficged. 
 
 The citizens of Numantia offered to acknow- 
 ledge the fovereignty of Rome on honourable 
 terms; but the fenate required the furrender of 
 themfelves and their city at difcretion. Thefc 
 indignant warriors, therefore, preferring a glo- 
 rious death to a life of fervitudc, Tallied from the 
 city, and offered battle to the numerous hod 
 of their enemies. But the prudence of Scipio 
 declined to expofe his foldiers to the defperatc 
 valour of men determined to die, and rcfolving 
 to reduce the devoted city by famine, he cau- 
 tioufly reftrained the Romans within their 
 trenches. No hope was now left for the Numan- 
 tians, unlefs the martial tribes of Spain fhould 
 take arms in their favour ; but the whole country 
 was overawed by the legions of Rome. The 
 fingle city of Lutia, of which no veftige now 
 remains, adopted the generous refolution of 
 fupporting the finking fortunes of Numantia ; 
 but before they could make any attempt for that 
 purpofe they were anticipated by the Roman 
 general, who had been apprized of their defign. 
 Four hundred of their young men, of the highefl 
 rank, fuffercd the amputation of the right hand;
 
 14 HISTORY OF 
 
 and their punifhment warned the neighbouring 
 nations of the dangerof provoking the vengeance 
 of Rome. 
 
 The Numamians, at laft being left without 
 hope, and expofed to the horrors of famine, 
 refolved to fell their lives at the deareft rate. 
 They made a defperate fally, and, attacking the 
 Roman lines, exerted the laft efforts of their 
 valour in a horrible carnage of their enemies. 
 Their ftrength was at length exhaufted by the 
 unequal conflict; but their fpirits were ftill 
 unfubdued. Difdaining to follow the triumphal 
 car of the conquerors, or to enrich them with 
 their fpoils, thofe who did not fall by the fword, 
 being driven into the city, fet fire to their houfes 
 and confumed themfelves, their families, and 
 theireffecl:s,in the general conflagration. Numan- 
 tia, fo famous in Roman hiftory, was thus reduced 
 to a heap of afhes and ruins ; and of all the 
 inhabitants only fifty could be fnatched from 
 the flames to adorn the triumph of the viftor. 
 
 After the fall of Numantia the greater! part of 
 the peninfula fubmitted peaceably to the Roman 
 yoke. The Cantabrians. and fome of the Lufi- 
 tanians, in the faftneffes of their mountains, for 
 fome time preferved their freedom, and braving, 
 in their craggy retreats, the refentment of Rome, 
 often invaded the plain and fertile countries. 
 Their cmcrprifesj however, woe confined to
 
 SPAIN. 15 
 
 predatory excurfions, and make no figure in 
 hiftory. But amidft the civil diflentions of the 
 Roman republic the name of Spain is often con- 
 fpicuous. In this country Sertorius, whofe name 
 is ranked with thofe of the ableft commanders of 
 antiquity, long fupported the finking party of 
 Marius, while that of Sylla was triumphant in. 
 Italy. Sertorius fell by treafon ; and Spain was 
 compelled to fubmit to the arms of Pompey. 
 But that celebrated Roman appears to have ufed 
 his viclory with moderation, for in his fubfequent 
 conteft with Caefar the Spaniards efpoufed his 
 caufe with ardour. Even when Pompey was 
 no more, Spain revered his memory and pro- 
 tected his fons. The martial Spaniards joined, 
 with alacrity, the legions that adhered to the 
 Pompeian party ; and it required the prefence 
 of Caefar himfelf, with the exertion of all his 
 military talents, to put an end to the conteft. 
 After a variety of aclions, and the capture of 
 Munda, Cordova, and Hifpalis the modern. 
 Seville, Caefar reduced Spain to his obedience^ 
 and obliged that province to expiate its attach- 
 ment to Pompey by heavy contributions. 
 
 It was not, however, till the reign of Auguflus 
 that Spain could be confidered as completely 
 brought under the Roman yoke. The Canta- 
 brians, in their mountainous recefTes, had, till 
 then, maintained their independence 3 and their
 
 JO HISTORY OF 
 
 predatory inroads afforded the Romans a plaii- 
 fible pretext for attempting their fubjugation. 
 Augufhis vifited Spain in perfon, and fixed his 
 refidence at Tarragona, while the Roman legions 
 penetrated into the mountainous regions of Can- 
 tabria. The natives defended their conntry 
 and their freedom with their ancient and heredi- 
 tary valour. But, between their irregular bands 
 and the disciplined legions of Rome, the conteft 
 was unequal. The Cantabrian army, confiding 
 of twenty-three thoufand men, was furrounded, 
 and obliged to furrender. Ten thoufand of their 
 abled warriors were incorporated among the 
 legions, and condemned to employ their ftrength 
 and courage in fighting the battles of Rome : the 
 reft were fold into flavery : but their invincible 
 refolution difappointed the views of their pur- 
 chafers, and mod of them embraced a voluntary 
 death. The Roman armies, entering the modern 
 Province of Adurias on different fides, explored 
 the interior retreats of the barbarians, and 
 involved them in one general conflagration. 
 All the northern part of Spain was in this manner 
 brought under the Roman dominion. And 
 Auguftus, in order to overawe the interior, as 
 well as to perpetuate the memory of his expe- 
 dition to Spain, founded the cities of Csefar 
 Augufta, and Auguda Ernerita, known, at this 
 day, by the names of Saragofia and Mcrida.
 
 SPAIN. 17 
 
 The fanguinary defeat and fevere chaftifement 
 of the Cantabrians, however, had not broken 
 their independent fpirit, nor extinguished their 
 martial ardour. Regardlefs of their recent dif- 
 afters, five years had fcarcely elapfed before they 
 again rofe in arms, and fet the power of Rome at 
 defiance. The well known character of the 
 Cantabrians required the talents of the ableft of 
 the Roman commanders to oppofe the efforts 
 of their defperate valour; and the celebrated 
 Agrippa, (on in law of Auguftus, being appointed 
 to conduct this important war, marched with his 
 veteran legions againft the infurgents. As foon 
 as the hoftile armies met, the Cantabrians 
 furioufly ruflied on the Roman legions, whofe 
 tried valour was obliged to give way to the 
 impetuous fhock. Agrippa rallied his forces^ 
 and reanimated their courage by his example. 
 The conflict was long and extremely fanguinary; 
 and Agrippa confelfed, that of all the engage- 
 ments, in which he had commanded, this was 
 the moil fevere and obftinate. The fteady 
 courage and regular difcipline of the Romans, 
 however, at length proved an overmatch for 
 the impetuous valour of their adverfaries. 
 Although dearly purchafed with the lofs of great 
 numbers of the braved legionaries, the victory 
 was complete : the Cantabrians were defeated 
 with a terrible Daughter ; their ftrong pofitions 
 
 VOL, r. c
 
 13 HISTORY OF 
 
 \vere difcovered and forced by the viQors : 
 their martial tribes were compelled to defcend 
 from the mountains and fix their abode in the 
 plains, and to exchange a life of precarious 
 adventure and predatory war for the peaceful 
 purfuits of agriculture. The refinance of the 
 Cantabrrans was the laft ftruggle of the Spaniards 
 agaiinft the power of Rome. About two hundred 
 years had elapfed from the firft entrance of the 
 Roman legions into Spain, when the arms of 
 Agrippa reduced the whole peninfula to com- 
 plete and peaceable fubjeclion. 
 
 In order to divide the power of his lieutenants, 
 the policy of Auguftus diftributed the Spanifh 
 peninfula into three diftincl provinces, Tarra- 
 conenfis, Lufuania, and Bcetica. Tarraconenfis 
 comprifed the modern Provinces of Gallicia, 
 Afturias, Bifcay, Navarre, Catalonia, the two 
 Caftiles, Arragon, Valentia, and Murcia : Lufi- 
 tania, extending from the Duero to the mouth 
 of the Anas, correfponded nearly with the king- 
 dom of Portugal ; and Bcetica comprehended 
 the fouthern parts of Spain, having the Sierra 
 Morena for its northern boundary.
 
 SPAIN. 19 
 
 CHAP. II. 
 
 Srate of Spain under the Romans. Quantity of gold and filvcr drawn 
 from the Spanifh mines. Invafion of the Franks. Recovery of 
 Spain by the Romans. Contentions of the rival Pretenders to the 
 Roman purple. Conqueft of Spain by the Vandals, the Suevi, and 
 the Alani. Dreadful (late to which the country was reduced. Some 
 bands of martial Spaniards maintain their independence. Adolphus', 
 the Gothic King, undertakes the conqueft of Spain. His death. 
 The Gothic fceptre ufurped by Singeric. Short reign of Singeric. 
 Wallia elecled King of the Goths. He fubdues the Silingi and the 
 Alani, and recovers the greateft part of Spain. Spain a fecond time 
 devafted by the Suevi. Hermanric, King of the Suevi, drowned 
 in the Anas. Genferic, King of the Vandals, abandons Spain, and 
 founds a kingdom in Africa. Spain ravaged by the Suevi. 
 Theodoric, King of the Vifigoths, invades Spain, fubdues the Suevi, 
 and compels them to retire to the mountains of Gallicia and Afturia. 
 Theodoric evacuates Spain. Euric, King of the Vifigoths, 
 conquers the greateft part of Spain. Clovis, King of the Franks, 
 attacks the kingdom of the Vifigoths. Capture of Thouloufe and 
 Bourrleaux. Alaric, King of the Goths, killed in battle. The 
 Goths expelled from all their dominions to the North of the 
 Garonne. 
 
 DURING the time that Spain remained in 
 peaceable fubjeftion as a Roman province, her 
 ferocious tribes emerged from their native bar- 
 barifni. The numerous Roman colonies, eftab- 
 lifhed in the different diftrifrs, diffufed through 
 
 C 2
 
 20 - HISTORY OF 
 
 every part of the peninfula the benefits of agri- 
 culture and the elegance of the arts. The grape 
 and the olive, with a variety of excellent fruits, 
 were introduced into Spain ; and Columella, a 
 native of the country, has defcribed, in elegant 
 Latin, the advanced ftate of theSpanifh hufbandry 
 in the reign of Tiberius. But the wealth which 
 the earth contained in its bowels was not lefs an 
 objeft of attention than the fertility of its fur- 
 face : a fingie mine near Carthagena produced 
 daily 25,000 drachmas of filver,* and twenty 
 thoufand pounds weight of gold was annually 
 received from the Provinces of Lufitania, 
 Gallicia, and Afluria.t Subfequent calamities 
 checked the fpirit of fpeculation and enterprife 
 in the fearch of thofe fubterraneous riches ; and 
 the difcovery of the fuperior wealth of America 
 has induced a total neglecl of the Spanifh mines. 
 But under the Roman dominion, Spain was to 
 Rome, what Mexico and Peru have fince been 
 to Spain. And the Roman proconfuls, and 
 their dependents, went into that country with 
 the fame views of amaiTmg a fortune as the 
 Spanifh viceroys and other public functionaries 
 have carried with them into America. The 
 riches diffufed by the mines through every part 
 
 * Strabo lib. 3148. 
 
 + Plin. Hift. Nat. lib. 33. cap. 3.
 
 SPAIN. 21 
 
 of the peninfula was apparent in the fplendour 
 of the cities and the monuments of public gran- 
 deur, the ruins of which, after the lapfe of fo 
 many centuries, and after fo many national con- 
 vulfions, ftill difcover feveral veftiges of Roman 
 magnificence.* 
 
 The natives ofSpain (hewed themfelves worthy 
 of the natural advantages of their country. In 
 arms and in letters they fhone confpicuous 
 among the various nations that compofed the 
 Roman empire. Their names were often in- 
 fcribed among the moft illuftrious of theConfular 
 Senators; and the Emperors Trajan and Hadrian, 
 both natives of the city ofltalica, now known by 
 the name of Old Seville, gave a new luftre 
 to the Spanifh character by the glory and 
 happinefs which they diffufed over the Roman 
 world. In the more humble and peaceful walks 
 of genius, Spain could boaft of Florus, the 
 hiftorian, her offspring and ornament, as well as 
 of Martial, the epigrammatic epigrammatift, a 
 native of Bilbilis, on the banks of the Xalon ; and 
 the city of Cordova, in particular, claims the 
 the literary and philofophic honour of having 
 given birth to Lucan, the celebrated epic poet, 
 and the immortal Seneca, \vhofe reputation of 
 
 * For the ftate of Spain under the Romans, vide Gibbon Dec. 
 P.om. Einp. cap. 31. p. 350, c,
 
 '22 HISTORY OF 
 
 wifdom has defcended through the lapfe of almoft 
 eighteen centuries. 
 
 When the clouds of barbarifm from the north 
 burft on the Roman empire, Spain was in- 
 volved in the general night of darknefs and 
 calamity. The reign of Gallienus was the era 
 from which we muft date the commencement of 
 thofe troubles. which convulfed and at laft over- 
 whelmed the civilized world ; and the Franks 
 \vere the firft barbarians whofe ravages Spain 
 was doomed to experience. From the banks of 
 the Rhine a large body of thofe hardy adven- 
 turers having penetrated through Gaul, crofled 
 the Pyrenees and ravaged the Spanifh provinces. 
 During the fpace of twelve years they extended 
 their devaluations through the whole of the 
 peninfula, after which they pafled over into 
 Mauritania in fearch of new fcenes of adventure 
 and pillage. 
 
 A fucceflion of warlike Emperors reftored the 
 Roman (late to its former profperity, and 
 Spain refumed her former fplendour. Agricul- 
 ture and commerce revived ; and although an 
 hundred and fifty years of peace had not wholly 
 obliterated the footftcps of the Franks, the cities 
 of Tarragona, Merida, Seville, and Cordova, 
 maintained their rank among thofe of the Roman 
 empire. But the feeble fway of Honorius en- 
 couraged the ambition of his generals to ufurp
 
 SPAIN. 23 
 
 the imperial purple, and their rival claims ex- 
 haufted the ftrength of the empire in civil diflen- 
 tions. Conftamine, who had been acknowledged 
 Emperor in Britain and Gaul, loon afterwards 
 received the fubmiflion of Spain. But the reign 
 of the ufurper was fliort. He had the mortifica- 
 tion of feeing the revolt of Spain, which, by the 
 influence of his general, Gerontius, inverted 
 Maximus with the purple. Gerontius, and the 
 two rival ufurpers, were involved in the fame 
 fate, being overwhelmed by the fuperior fortune 
 of Conftantius, the general of Honorius. Thefe 
 contefts, between the different pretenders to 
 imperial authority, were followed by more 
 dreadful convulfions. About a year before the 
 fack of Rome by the Goths under Alaric, the 
 Suevi, ihe Vandals, and the Alani, poured 
 through the palfcs of the Pyrenees, and carried 
 havoc and delegation into Spain.* Thedevafta- 
 tion of their country produced all the horrors 
 of famine, which was loon followed by the 
 peltilence, its general concomitant. A very 
 large proportion of the people was (wept away, 
 and the wild beads multiplied without control in 
 the once fertile fields now changed into deferts. 
 At length thcfe barbarian hordes fixed their per- 
 manent feats in the depopulated country. The 
 
 Gibbon Dec, Rom, Emp. vol. 5. cap. 31,
 
 24 HISTORY OF 
 
 Vandals and the Suevi divided between them 
 mofl of the northern diftrifts. The Alani took 
 poffeffion of the middle part of Spain, extending 
 from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, and 
 including Lufitania or the modern Portugal ; and 
 the Silingi, a branch of the Vandalic nation, 
 occupied the Province of Bcetica, comprifing the 
 fouthernmoft portion of the peninfula. The 
 barbarians, however, being themfelves afflicled 
 xvith the evils which they had introduced, were 
 obliged to direcl their attention to the re-eftab- 
 liftunent of order, and the revival of agriculture. 
 Having contracted with the conquered people 
 iome reciprocal engagements of protection and 
 obedience, the towns and villages were again 
 occupied and the lands were cultivated by fervile 
 hands. A confiderable number, however, of the 
 martial Spaniards retired to the mountainous 
 parts of the country, where they bravely main- 
 tained their fieedom. 
 
 Such was the (late of Spain when the Gothic 
 King. Adolphus, brother of the famous Alaric, 
 and brother-in law to Honorius, whofe fifter, 
 Piacidia, he had married, was cormniffioned by 
 that Emperor to undertake the recovery of the 
 penirrfula. From Gaul he paffed the Pyrenees, 
 and in the name of the Emperor took pof- 
 feliion of Barcelona, \vhere he foon after 
 perifhcd by aifaffi nation. Singeric, one of the
 
 SPAIN. 25 
 
 chief confpirators, ufurped the Gothic throne, and 
 after a reign of only feven days fell, in his turn, 
 by the hand of an afiaffin. The Gothic fceptre 
 was then, by the national fuffrage, committed to 
 the warlike hand of Wallia ; and the new 
 monarch, following the example of Adolphus, 
 drew his fword in the fervicc of Honorius, 
 and undertook the conqueft of Spain. After 
 three obftinate and bloody campaign.^ Wallia 
 proved victorious. In Bcetica the Silingi were 
 almoft extirpated; the Alani, in Lufitania, 
 fuffered nearly the fame fate, and their King fell 
 in battle. The fcattered remnant of thefe 
 nations ranged themfelves under the banners of 
 the Vandals and the Sucvi ; but the ferocious 
 valour of thofe German tribes was obliged to 
 yield to the fuperior taclics and martial ardour 
 of the Gothic Chief; and after many bloody 
 engagements, the promifcuousherd of barbarians 
 were driven into the mountainous regions of 
 Gallicia and Aihiria. 
 
 The courage and conducl of Wallia had 
 reftored the Spanifii peninfula to the empire of 
 Rome ; but only a fhort time elapfed before 
 all his conquefls were loft. On the retreat of 
 the Goths the Vandals had emerged from their 
 faftnefTes in the mountains : and Spain was again 
 the theatre of their devaftations. Seville and 
 Carthagena opened their gates to the victorious
 
 2-6 HISTORY OF 
 
 barbarians, who feizing the veflels, found rn 
 thofc ports, ufed them in the execution of new 
 enterprifes. The Iftes of Majorca and Minorca 
 had long ferved as a retreat to many of the 
 opulent Spaniards, who, in order to avoid the 
 calamities of war and barbarian pillage, had 
 retired thither wiih their effefts. But their 
 hopes of fecurity, in thofe fequeftered iflands, 
 proved illufory. The Vandals embarking on 
 board the mips, of which they had gained 
 poffeffion, purfued the fugitives into their re- 
 treat and returned to Spain with their fleet laden 
 with fpoil. 
 
 The Vandals and the Suevi, from allies, had 
 now become enemies, and amidft the obfcurity 
 which envelopes the eventsof thofe times, hiftory 
 records a bloody engagement which took place 
 near Merida, between Genferic, King of the 
 Vandals, and Hermanric, King of the Suevi, in 
 which the latter being totally defeated, was driven 
 into the river Anas, where he perifhed with moft 
 of his army. 
 
 Genferic, however, foon after this victory 
 abandoned Spain, and fixed in Africa the feat 
 of the Vandalic monarchy. The Suevi. notwith- 
 ftanding their recent difaflers, were {till numer- 
 ous in the mountains of Gallicia ; and after the 
 retreat of the Vandals, they iffued from their 
 gloomy recelfcs and ravaged the ferule pro-
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 vinces. About thirty years after the departure 
 oF Genferic, the complaints of the Spaniards 
 induced the Emperor Avitus to commiffion 
 Theodoric, King of the Goths, to chaftife the 
 Suevi, and re-eftablifh the Roman dominion 
 throughout Spain. The Gothic monarch croffed 
 the Pyrenees, and on the banks of the Urbicus, 
 ten or twelve miles from Aftorga, totally defeated 
 the Suevi, whofe King, Rechiarius, after efcaping 
 from the carnage, was delivered up to the viftor 
 and led to immediate execution. The Suevi 
 being thus vanquifhed in battle, and once 
 more confined to the mountains of Gallicia and 
 Afturia, the King of the Vifigoths met with no 
 oppofition to his progrefs. But he was diverted 
 from completing the conqueft of Spain by a new 
 revolution in Italy, Avitus was no longer Em- 
 peror, and Theodoric, on hearing of the de- 
 pofition of his friend and ally, evacuated Spain 
 and re-croffed the Pyrenees. 
 
 The conqueft, which Theodoric had begun, 
 was completed by his brother, Euric, who wielded 
 the Gothic fceptre with vigour and ability. 
 Having croffed the Pyrenees with a formidable 
 army, he overwhelmed all oppofition, but he 
 leemed to decline a conteft with the martial 
 bands of the Suevi, in the mountains of Gallicia 
 and Afturia. A treaty of amity and alliance 
 was concluded, and thofe hardy warriors re- 
 D 2
 
 28 HISTORY OF 
 
 mained, independent, in their mountainous re- 
 gions, while all the reft of Spain acknowledged 
 the fovereignty of Euric.* 
 
 It appears that Euric had atchieved the con- 
 queft of Spain in his own name, and had not, 
 like his predeceflbrs, afted merely as an ally of 
 the Emperor, and under an imperial commiffion. 
 In his reign, indeed, the empire of the Weft was 
 totally d-fTolved; and when Odoacer fat dpwa 
 on the throne of the Csefars, he refigried to 
 Euric all the Roman dominions beyond die Alps. 
 The city of Thouloufe had hitherto been the 
 capital of the kingdom of the Vifigoths ; but 
 Euric fixed his refidence at Bourdeaux, where 
 he reigned with a fplendour correfponding with 
 his power and his fame. 
 
 Euric expired in the midft of profperity, and 
 the throne was filled by his fon, Alaric, a brave 
 but inexperienced youth, the difaflers of whofe 
 reign form a coniraft with the good fortune of 
 his predeceflbr. The Franks under their King, 
 Clovis, ifluing from the countries, \vatered by 
 the Meufe, the Scheld, the Mofelle, and the 
 Rhine, had already extended their conquefts 
 to fouthward of the Seine. Their monarch 
 defirous of completing the conqueft of Gaul, 
 refolved to attack the kingdom of the Vifigoths, 
 
 * For the character of the Suevi vide Caef. Comm. lib. 4,
 
 SPAIN. 29 
 
 which coruprifed fomc of its fined provinces. 
 Ambition and avarice were the motives by 
 which Clovis was actuated; but religion ferved 
 as a pretext for aggrerTion. Soon after Con- 
 llantine had eftablifiied tlie chriflian religion 
 in the Roman empire, the Goths had alfo em- 
 braced its doctrines ; but the chrittianity of 
 the Goths was Arianifm, which had been pro- 
 pagated among them by miflionaries from Con- 
 ftantinople. The Franks, together with their 
 monarch, on being converted from Pagan ifm, had 
 embraced the orthodox faith of the Trinity; and 
 Clovis, difguifmg his ambition with the veil of 
 religion, in a moment of profound peace, in- 
 vaded the Arian kingdom of the Vifigoths. A 
 decifive battle was fought not many miles to the 
 fouth of Poi&iers : the Goths were totally routed, 
 and Alaric, their King, found an honourable 
 death in the field. Clovis fixed his winter quar- 
 ters at Bourdeaux. In the fpring, Thouloufe 
 furrendered to the viclor, and the regalia of the 
 Gothic Kings was tranfported to Paris. The 
 Franks pufhing forward their conquefts, laid 
 fiegc to the city of Aries; and the complete 
 e xpulfion of the Vifigoths from Gaul was pre- 
 vented only by the arms of Theodoric, the 
 Oftrogothic King of Italy, who declared himfelf 
 the proteclor of the infant fon of Alaric, and 
 marched againft the invaders. Clovis, after
 
 30 HISTORY OF 
 
 having loft a great number of men, was obliged 
 to retire from the walls of Aries; and a treaty of 
 peace was concluded.* All the country, how- 
 ever, from the Loire to the Garonne, was in- 
 difiblubly united to the monarchy of the Franks, 
 and the power of the Vifigoths in Gaul might, 
 from that period, be confidered as extinguifhed, 
 although they frill retained their pofTefTions to 
 the ibuth of the Garonne. 
 
 * This treaty was concluded A. D. 509, Renault Abrege Chronoio* 
 gique, vol. i. ad An. The Prefid. Hen. however, is extremely obfcure on 
 the fubjecl : He fays that Clovis had conquered the country to the 
 Pyrenees, and docs not afcertain the boundaries fixed bv the treaty.
 
 SPAIN. 81 
 
 CHAP. III. 
 
 The Goths transfer the feat of their government from France into 
 Spain, Reign of Amalaric. Reign of Thendes. The Franks 
 invaii:' C - ; M : :I and plunder SaragofTa. Obliged to purchafe their re- 
 treat . rclioring a great part of their fpoils. Reign of Theodigild, 
 Civi. .ir among the Goths. Athanagilde, by the aid of the 
 Emperor jul'in'un, obtains the crown. Makes Toledo the capita! 
 of Spain. Cedes to the Emperor Juftiuian feveral of the maritime 
 cities. Pe.-raciousconfequencesof thatmeafure. Reign of Leovigild. 
 Encroachments of the Eaftern Emperor. Leovigild expels the 
 troops of Coatlantinople from Cordova and Medina Sidonia Sub- 
 dues the Cantabrians, the remains of the Suevi, and the freebooters 
 of the Sicii-a Morena. Intrigues of his court. Revolt of Her- 
 menegild. He ij fent priibner to Toledo. Leovigild fubdues the 
 Vafcones, and founds the city of Vutoria. The Vafcones emigrate 
 into France, where they yet fubfift under the name of Gafcons. 
 Hermenegild efcapes from prifon and again flies to arms. Is taken 
 prifoner and put to death by his father. Entire fubjugation of the 
 Suevi. Death and character of Leovigild. Reign of Recared.- 
 Abolition of Arianifm, and the eftablifhrrjent of the Catholic faith in 
 Spain. Recared repels an mvafion of the Franks, Regulates the 
 Spanifh church. Death and character of Recared. Reign of 
 Luiva. Reign of Witenc. His alTaflinaion. Reign of Gondemar, 
 Reign of Sifibut. Expels the Greeks from the coafts of thr 
 Mediterranean. His cruel peifecution of the Jews. His cor.queft of 
 Ceuta and Tangier. D';ath a; d character ofSifibut. Short reign of 
 Recared II. Reign of Scintilla. Complete expulfion of the Con- 
 ftantinopohiaii Gu-eks from i>uam.--Thc who.e peninlula ot Spain 
 and Portugal united under the Gothic fceptic Sumtilla become--, 
 tyrannical, ii abandoned by his iubjtcls, and ctihioned by Sifcnand. 
 - Reign and death of Silenand. Reign of ChiiuiJla. Reign cf
 
 32 HISTORY OF 
 
 Tulga. Reign of Chindifuintho. His character and death. Reign 
 of Recifuintho. His character and death. Reign of Wamba. 
 \Vamba repreffes different revolts. Defeats the Arabians at fea. 
 Is dethroned. Remarkable inftance of the power of cuflom and 
 prejudice. Reign of Erviga. Reign of Egiza. Revifal of the 
 Gothic laws. Confpiracy of the Jews. Attempt of the Arabians 
 to invade Spain. Fruftrated by the total defeat of their fleet. 
 Reign of Witiza. His tyranny. Depofed by Roderic. Acceffion 
 of Roderic. 
 
 TliE Vifigoths having loft their capital cities 
 of Thouloufe and Bourdeaux, with the beft part 
 of their pofleflions in Gaul, transferred the feat 
 of their monarchy into Spain, which had re- 
 mained in peaceable fubjeftion to their do- 
 minion. They carried their infant King, Amalaric, 
 acrofs the Pyrenees ; but the commencement of 
 his reign was difturbed by his baftard brother, 
 Gefalaic, who afferted his claims to the throne. 
 This pretender, however, periflied in the conteft, 
 and left Amalaric without a rival. During his 
 minority the affairs of the kingdom were ably 
 conducted by Thendes, to whofe hands the 
 nation had committed the regency. But foots 
 after Amalaric had aiFumcd the reigns of govern- 
 ment, he perifhed in a war againft the ions of 
 Clovis, who had invaded his remaining dominions 
 in Gaul. Whether he fell in battle or was 
 afTaffinated by his fubjech, hiftory has not afcer- 
 tained ; but whatever was the manner of his 
 death, it clofed the line of the full race of the
 
 SPAIN. 33 
 
 Kings of the Vifigoths, and their monarchy, 
 which had hitherto been hereditary, muft, from 
 this period, be confidered as elective. 
 
 The illuftrious qualities of Thendes 
 A. 0,531. , , , r . i i 
 
 had been conlpicuous during his re- 
 gency; and the unanimous fuffrages of the 
 people proclaimed him their fovereign. But 
 his wifdom and firmnefs were unable to refift 
 the fuperior fortunes of the fons of Clovis, 
 who having purfued their victorious career 
 from the Garonne to the Pyrenees, forced 
 the paffes of the mountains, and entering 
 Spain, penetrated as far as SaragofTa. Having 
 plundered that city, the invaders, loaded 
 wilh fpoil, (lowly pointed their march towards 
 Gaul. But Thendes having collected his forces 
 hung upon their rear, and by reiterated attacks 
 embarraffed their retreat; fo that it was only by 
 the facrifice of a great part of their plunder 
 that the Franks were permitted to re-pafs the 
 Pyrenees. Thendes^ however, was lefs fortunate 
 in his next enterprife. The Vandalic kingdom 
 of Africa had been recently conquered by 
 Bellifarius, the celebrated general of the Em- 
 peror Juftinian ; and the town of Ceuta, which 
 the Vifigoths poffeffed on the African coaft, 
 was involved in the conqueft. Thendes made 
 formidable preparations for the recovery of this 
 
 VOL. I. E
 
 34 HISTORY OF 
 
 important place, and conducted the expedition 
 in perfon. But be failed in the attempt, and 
 was driven from before its walls with great lofs. 
 He did not long furvive this difafter, being 
 foon after (tabbed in his palace by the hand of 
 an aflaflin. 
 
 The fuffrages of the nation raifed to the throne 
 Theodigild, one of their mod diilinguifhed 
 chiefs. He had fignalized his valour againfl 
 the Franks; but the fame of the warrior was 
 obfcured by the luft of the tyrant. The wives 
 and the daughters of his mo ft illuftrious fubjefts 
 were the victims of his unbridled licentioufnefs; 
 and after he had abufed the regal authority for 
 the fpace of a year and five months, a band of 
 confpirators put an end to his reign and his 
 life. 
 
 The appointment of his fucceffor excited a 
 civil war in the nation. Agila, whom the con- 
 fpirators had placed on the throne, was rejected 
 by a confiderable part of the nation, and 
 Athanagilde, one of the Gothic nobles, turned to 
 his own advantage the rifing difaffeclion. Sup- 
 ported by the troops of the Emperor Juflinian, 
 he wrefted the fceptre from the hand of Agila, 
 who, being defeated in battle, took refuge in the 
 city of Merida. The vanquished monarch 
 experienced the common fate of Princes in his 
 fituation. The citizens fecurcd to themfelves
 
 SPAIN. 35 
 
 the favour oF Athanagilde by prefenting to him 
 the head of his rival. 
 
 Athanagilde fixed his royal refidence in the 
 city of Toledo, which, from this period, was 
 regarded as the capital of Spain ; and endea- 
 voured, by an equitable and mild administration, 
 to conciliate the affe&ions of his fubje&s. But, 
 in the conteft for the throne, he had adopted a 
 meafure highly injurious to the interefts of his 
 kingdom, and fubverfive of the tranquillity of 
 his reign. In return for the fupport afforded 
 him by Juftinian he had been obliged to cede 
 to that monarch feveral of the maritime cities of 
 Spain ; and from thefe fortreffes the Romans 
 opprcffed the adjacent diftri&s. This occafioned 
 a war, which the Gothic King carried on with 
 great vigour and ability, and wrefted from the 
 Romans fome of thefe fortreffes; but others 
 \vere rendered impregnable by conflant fupplies 
 from Africa. 
 
 Athanagilde died without male i flue, and five 
 months of anarchy caufed Spain to regret his mild 
 and ileady adminiftration. At length the choice 
 of the nation was determined in favour of Luiva, 
 who was o-overnor of the remaining territories 
 
 o o 
 
 of the Vifigoths in Gaul. His brother, Leovigild, 
 was, at his requeft, affociated with him in the 
 government. Luiva continued to watch over 
 the fafety of the Gallic provinces, and left the 
 E 2
 
 36 
 
 adminiftration of Spain to Leovigild, who, on 
 the death of his brother, fucceeded to the undi- 
 vided fovereignty. 
 
 During the period of interregnum and anarchy, 
 the Romans, of the eaftern empire, having feized 
 the favourable moment of emerprife, had 
 advanced from their fortrefieson the fhores into 
 the interior country ; and their banners were 
 difplayed on the walls of Cordova and Medina 
 Sidonia. Leovigild was no fooner eftabliflied 
 in the regal dignity than he laid fiege to thefe 
 cities, and reduced them after an obftinate re- 
 fiftance. Their furrender was followed by the 
 fubmiflion of feveral other cities; from which 
 the imperial garrifons were expelled, and the 
 Romans, or more properly the Greeks of Con- 
 ftantinople, were again confined to their mari- 
 time ftations. The defcendantsof theCantabrians, 
 in the mountains of Afturia and Bifcay, as well 
 as the remains of the Suevi, and a hardy race of 
 freebooters in the Sierra Morena, who lived in a 
 flate of barbarous independence, were, by the 
 perfevering courage of Leovigild, fubdued, and 
 brought to adopt a civilized mode of life. 
 
 But this monarch, fo great in war and politics, 
 appears to have been the wretched flave of 
 religious bigotry and female intrigue. In order 
 to flrengthen his authority and influence, he had 
 married Goifvintha, the widow of Alhanagilde,
 
 SPAIN. 37 
 
 But, by a former marriage, lie had two Tons, 
 Hermcnegild. and Recared, who, in order to pre- 
 vent that anarchy which Spain had fo lately 
 experienced, had, by the influence of the 
 monarch, and the voice of the nation, been 
 nominated to the fucceflion. His cldeft fon, 
 Hennenegild, had efpouftd a Catholic Princefs, 
 the daughter of Sigebert, King of Auftrafia and 
 the celebrated Brunchaut, and confequently the 
 grandaughterof Goifvintha. The beautiful Irtgun- 
 dis was no more than fixteen years of age : her 
 perfon was the object of univerfal admiration ; 
 but her faith expofcd her to the perfecution of 
 the Arian court of Toledo. The Queen, her 
 grandmother, was the moft inveterate of her 
 enemies; and her furious zeal fo completely 
 {lifled the diclates of nature, that, on the refufal 
 of Ingundis to abjure her faith in the Trinity, 
 {he dafhed her againll the ground, kicked her 
 violently, and ordered her to be thrown into a 
 fifh-pond. Love and honour obliged Hennene- 
 gild to Men to the complaints of Ingundis. Her 
 beauty and innocence foon perfuaded him th.it 
 fhc fuflered in the caufe of truth ; and the hen 
 of the Gothic monarchy was converted to the 
 faith of his orthodox bride. Whether driven to 
 extremities by refentment of the injurious treat- 
 ment of his fpoufe, or by the apprehenfion oi 
 further perfection, Hennenegild immediately
 
 38 HISTORY OF 
 
 took arms againft his father and fovereign. The 
 remonftrances of his brother Recared induced 
 him to make his fubmiflion; but inftead of 
 receiving the pardon which he probably expell- 
 ed, he was fent as a prifoner to Toledo. The 
 orthodox nation of the Vafcones, who inhabited 
 the modern Province of Navarre, had fupported 
 his rebellion, and Leovigild entered their country 
 in arms. In this expedition he founded the city 
 of Vittoria* as a memorial of his fuccefs. But 
 though he recovered their country he loftalmoft 
 all its inhabitants, who, refufing to fubmit to the 
 government of a perfecutor, patted the Pyrenees 
 and poflefTed themfelves of a part of Aquitain, 
 where their polterity (till fubfifl under the name 
 of Gafcons. This was the fecond inftance of that 
 religious intolerance which has produced fuch 
 incalculable calamities to Spain. 
 
 Hermenegild, in the mean while, efcaped 
 from the prifon of Toledo, and having regained 
 his liberty, had no hope of maintaining it but by 
 the fword. The Catholics of Spain were numer- 
 ous and they zealoufly efpoufed his caufe. The 
 cities of Merida, Cordova, and Seville, ftrenu- 
 oufly attached themfelves to his party ; and the 
 Sucvi and the Franks, being profeffors of the 
 orthodox faith, were called to his afiittance. 
 
 * OrViaoria.
 
 SPAIN, 39 
 
 But the formidable confederacy was broken by the 
 atlivity and vigour of Leovigild. The rebellious 
 cities were fucceflively reduced. Imprudence, 
 or imperious neceffity, had induced Hermenegild 
 to Ihut himfelf up in Cordova ; and, on the 
 furrender of that city, he became the captive 
 of an exafperated father. Being carried in 
 chains to Terragona, it is faid, that from his 
 prifon, he kept up a traitorous correfpondence 
 with the court of Conftantinople, and that the 
 Archbifhopof Seville was employed as his ambaf- 
 fador to the Emperor of the Eaft. But, as we do 
 not find that the prelate was punifhed, and as it is 
 faid that Hermenegild refufed to purchafe life and 
 freedom by conforming to Arianifm, it appears 
 that he fell a viclim to the bigotry of an intriguing 
 and intolerant court. The holy fears of Leovigild 
 for the fpiritual welfare of his people, were 
 probably increafed by the malice and addrcfs of 
 Goifvintha; and the Arian monarch ordered the 
 execution of his Catholic fon and prefumptive 
 fucceflbr, in order to prevent the future eflablifh- 
 mentof the Trinitarian faith in Spain. 
 
 The Suevi of Spain, in the mountains of Gal- 
 licia, had hitherto been governed by their own 
 Princes under the paramount fupremacy of the 
 King of the Vifigoths. But Leovigild, exafpe- 
 rated by their fupport of his fon's rebellion, 
 invaded their faftneiles 3 and having confined
 
 40 HISTORY 01' 
 
 Abaca, the laft of their native Princes, to a 
 monadery, reduced them under his own abfolute 
 dominion. This expedition clofed the military 
 labours of Leovigild. The remainder of his 
 reign was employed in reviling the Gothic code^ 
 and promulgating laws adapted to the genius and 
 temper of his people. Leovigild endeavoured 
 to irnpofe on the imaginations of his fubjefts 
 by oftentatious parade, and was the firft of the 
 Vifigoihic monarchs that was riiltinguiflied by 
 the magnificence of his robes. But his private 
 life was fimple and frugal ; and his invariable 
 temperance was the fource of his vigour in 
 declining age. A modern hiftorian has depicted 
 the character of Leovigild in impofing colours, 
 and has fneeringly obferved that the zeal of the 
 orthodox clergy transformed the flubborn rebel 
 and difobedient fon into a martyr and a faint: 
 lie ought alfo to have remembered, that impartial 
 hi (lory repiefents the father as aftern tyrant and 
 a fupcrltitious bigot.* 
 
 After a fjccefsful reign of eighteen years 
 Leovigild expired in the palace of Toledo, and, 
 according to the original defignation, Recared, 
 his favourite fon, afcended the throne. The 
 itrutture of Arianifui, which the deceafed 
 
 * Gibbon calls Hermenegild an ungrateful rebel. Dec. Rom. Emp. 
 vol. 5. c.ip. 27. p. 2c>6.
 
 SPAIN. 41 
 
 monarch had laboured to cement by the blood 
 of his Ton, Hermenegild, was overthrown by his 
 fucceflbr; and foon after the death of Leovigild, 
 the Catholic do&rine of the Trinity became the 
 eftablifhed religion of Spain. 
 
 During the life of his father, Recared had, in 
 filence, concealed the orthodox faith which he 
 had imbibed. On his acceflion to the throne, 
 he pretended that the dying monarch had 
 abjured Arianifm, and recommended to his fon 
 the converfion of his fubjecls. Having con- 
 vened an aflembly of the nobles and clergy, he 
 represented to them that the Vifigoths were the 
 only nation of Chriftians that rejected the Nicene 
 Creed. It has already been obferved, that the 
 Catholics of Spain were numerous and formid- 
 able, and the arguments of the King were 
 probably fupported by a Catholic army. The 
 Arian clergy, however, appeared convinced 9 
 snd the adembly decreed the eftablifliment of 
 the Trinitarian faith, 
 
 The Catholic religion was now triumphant in 
 Spain; but the Arians, who were ftill a numerous 
 party, were difgufted at the profcription of their 
 faith, and the fall of their power. Their infur- 
 re&ions and repeated confpiracies, however, 
 were defeated by the vigour and policy of 
 Recared. Inftead of retaliating on Goifvintha 
 ?he wrongs of his injured brother : the generality 
 
 VOL, J, r
 
 42 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the young monarch refpected the widow of 
 his two predeceflbrs,and loaded her with favours. 
 But the heart of the Gothic Oueen was incapable 
 of gratitude ; and fhe fell a victim to her own 
 treafonable defigns. On the detection of a 
 confpiracy which fhe had formed againfl the 
 life of her fon-in-law and fovereign, rage or 
 defpair extinguiflied the feeble remains of her 
 life, and proved, perhaps, a more terrible punifh- 
 ment than could have been inflicted by the 
 hand of the executioner. 
 
 Foreign war, as well as domeftic treafon, re- 
 
 O ' 
 
 quired the attention of Recared. The Franks, 
 with an army of fixty thoufand men, had in- 
 vaded his dominions in Gaul ; but they were 
 attacked and fuddenly defeated by the Vifigoths. 
 A peace was concluded, and the Gothic monarch 
 returning into Spain, directed his whole atten- 
 tion to the eftablifhment and regulation of the 
 Catholic church. While the laurels of victory 
 (till dazzled the eyes of his fubject?, he fum- 
 moned a council of the Spanifh Bifhops, with 
 the moft holy or moft opulent of their Abbots. 
 The five Metropolitans of Toledo. Seville, Tar- 
 ragona, Merida, and Braga, prefided according 
 to their refneclive feniority; and the liability of 
 the Catholic church was iecured by new canons 
 and decrees. From the care of religion. Recared 
 was apain called to the toils of war. The Em-
 
 SPAIN. 43 
 
 peror of the Eaft, who flill poffeffed many of the 
 maritime Rations, endeavoured to excite the 
 Spaniards to revolt, and thefe intrigues pro- 
 voking the refentment of the Gothic monarch, 
 
 o * 
 
 occafioned a war, which, however, produced 
 no events of importance. Recared alfo re- 
 pelled an invafion of the Vafcones, who at- 
 tempted to regain, by their fwords, their former 
 poiTeffions in Spain. The detection of another 
 confpiracy, the third, by which he had been 
 menaced, and the punifhment of the confpirators 
 clofed his adminiftration. Recared died, at 
 Toledo, after a tempeftuous reign of twenty-five 
 years, in which his wifdom, firmnefs, courage, 
 and lenity, had been eminently difplayed. 
 
 Luiva, his fon, was, by the choice of the 
 nation, appointed his fucceflbr; but neither the 
 virtues nor the vices of the new monarch could 
 be unfolded before he periflied by a confpiracy, 
 of which hiflory has not recorded the particulars. 
 Witeric, the principal confpirator, ufurped the 
 throne ; but he enjoyed, only a fliort time, the 
 fruit of his guilt. Being fufpefted of an inten- 
 tion of reftoring Arianifm, he was fuddenly at- 
 tacked and aflafiinatcd in his palace, and his 
 mangled body was expofed to the infults of the 
 populace. Gondemar, the moil diltinguifhed 
 agent in the punifhment of Witeric, was, by the 
 fuffragcs of the nation, raifed to the throne, 
 r 2
 
 44 HISTORY OF 
 
 But while his youth and abilities promifed a long 
 and profperous reign, he was carried off by fick- 
 nefs in the fecond year after his elevation to 
 royality. 
 
 The unanimous fuffrages of the Goths placed 
 the fceptre in the hands of Sifibut ; and his 
 martial abilities fanftioned their choice. He 
 had no fooner afcendcd the throne than he at- 
 tempted to expel the Greeks, of Conftaruinople, 
 from Spain, and undertook the expedition in 
 perfon. Their forces were routed and almoli 
 annihilated in two decifive engagements ; and 
 on viewing the carnage of the field, he is laid to 
 have uttered this impaffioned exclamation, 4t Un- 
 " happy man that I am to fee fo much blood 
 t; fpilt through my means." 
 
 Hiflorians have recorded the fpeech to his 
 glory; but it is eafy to affect an oftentatious dif- 
 play of generous companion which cofts nothing 
 but words, or it might be the expreflion of tem- 
 porary feeling which every warrior muft cc- 
 cafionally experience. We cannot, however, 
 refufe the tribute of praife to his martial a tchieve- 
 ments, which were highly beneficial to his 
 country. The throne of Conftaminople was, 
 at this time, fliaken by the formidable attacks of 
 the Perfians and the Avars; and the Emperor 
 Heraclius, was incapable of affording any fuc- 
 cours to his fortrefles in Spain. In this fitua-
 
 SPAIN. 45 
 
 iion he was happy to conclude a treaty, by 
 which he relinquiflied all his cities and forts on 
 the coaft of the Mediterranean. 
 
 The brilliant qualities of Sifibut were tarniuV. 
 ed by religious bigotry, and his cruelty to 
 the Jews forms a difguRing contrail to his 
 boafled expreffion of pity and regret over his 
 flaughtcred enemies. That people, if we may 
 credit their aflertions, had been firft introduced 
 into Spain by the fleets of Solomon, and their 
 numbers increafed by new colonies which fled 
 from the arms of Nebuchadnezzer or the tyranny 
 of his fucceffors. Whatever was the time or 
 the caufo of their ftrtt introduction into that 
 country, it is certain that they had been greatly 
 multiplied by the policy of the Emperor Hadrian, 
 \vho, in confequcnce of their revolt, is faid to 
 have tranfported forty thoufand families of the 
 tribe of Judah, and ten thoufand of the tribe of 
 Benjamin, into the peninfula. The Catholics 
 had experienced the rigours of Arian peifccu- 
 tion ; but in their prufpcrity they no longer 
 remembered the days of adverfity. The\ 
 adopted that intolerant fpirit of which they had 
 fo long and fo bitterly complained. The cxccf- 
 iive zeal of the Gothic King prompted him to 
 undertake the converfion of the Jews; and he 
 fhewed himfelf a fevere apoitle. In order to 
 procure the falvation of their louls, he fubjeclcd
 
 46 HISTORY OF 
 
 their bodies to torture, and their goods to con- 
 fifcation. Above ninety thoufand of thofe un- 
 happy people, to preferve their wealth and their 
 lives, confented to receive the facrament of 
 baptifm, and to comply with the externals of a 
 religion which they difbelieved and detefted. 
 
 The laft of the military expeditions of Sifibut 
 extended his dominion beyond the natural 
 limits of his kingdom, by the conqueft of Ceuta 
 and Tangier, on the African coaft. He died 
 foon after his return to Spain. His intolerant 
 fpirit, in matters of religion, is the only ftain that 
 hiftory can fix on his character; and his martial 
 
 renown fecured to his fon, Recared II. the 
 
 621. 
 
 fucceffion to the throne. 
 
 The death of Recared, foon after his acceflion, 
 fummoned the national council to the election 
 of a new King. The memory of Racared I. was 
 (till revered by the Goths; and their grate, 
 ful fuffrages raifed his fecond fon, Suintilla, 
 to the throne. He had already diftinguifhed 
 his valour in the field, and the activity and 
 vigour which he difplayed during the firft 
 years of his reign, promifed to realize the 
 hopes of the nation. He repelled a formida- 
 ble irruption of the Gafcons, who had penetrated 
 to the Ebro, and obliged them to purchafe a fafe 
 retreat by the redoration of their plunder. But 
 the moft memorable event of his reign was the
 
 SPAIX. 47 
 
 complete expulfion of the Conftantinopolitan 
 Greeks from Spain. The victories of Sifibut 
 had obliged them to abandon the coafts of the 
 Mediterranean, and confined their poifeffions 
 within the narrow limits of the modern Province 
 of Algarve. During the fpace of feventy 
 years, which had elapfed fince the acceffion of 
 Athanagilde, by means of the arms of Juftinian, 
 the Goths had been infulted by the imperial 
 banners waving on their coafts. Suintilla afpired 
 to the glory of completely eradicating this thorn 
 from the bofom of the monarchy ; and the rafii 
 precipitancy of the Greeks facilitated the fuccefs 
 of his enterprife. Prudence might have fu^eefted 
 
 1 O OO 
 
 the propriety of waiting the attack in their 
 fortifications; but their confidence of viclory 
 induced them to quit their impregnable ftations, 
 and engage the fuperior numbers of the Goths 
 in the field. A bloody defeat was the confc- 
 quence of their rafhnefs, and Suintilla, without 
 lofs of time, improved the advantage. Mod of 
 the Byzantine fortrefles were furprifed or obliged 
 to furrender: a treaty was concluded, by 
 which the imperial garrifons evacuated the coafts 
 of Spain; and the whole peninfula was, for the 
 firft time, united under the fceptre of the Gothic 
 monarchy. 
 
 Such were the military fucceffes of Suintilla : 
 but profperity feems to have corrupted bi*
 
 48 HISTORY OP 
 
 principles of government ; and from the pro- 
 tector, he degenerated into the tyrant of his 
 people. The general difcontent excited the 
 patriotifm or the ambition ofSifenand, governor 
 of the Gothic territories in Gaul, to ereB. the 
 ftandard of revolt, and his liberal promifes pro- 
 cured him the aid of Dagobert, King of France. 
 Supported by this powerful alliance, he crofled 
 the Pyrenees with a numerous army of Goths 
 and Franks. Suintilla being abandoned by his 
 troops, Sifenand advanced, without oppofition, 
 to Toledo, where he was folemnly inverted with 
 the regal title and authority ; but the life of the 
 depofed monarch was refpefted, although a 
 national council afterwards declared his pofterity 
 for ever incapable of afcending the Gothic 
 throne. 
 
 The death of Sifenand, after a reign often 
 years, fummoned the Gothic Peers to a new 
 eleftion ; and the fceptre was committed to the 
 hand of Chintilla. whofe reign, of fix years, is only 
 marked by his rigorous edift againft the Jews. 
 His adminiflration, however, feems to have been 
 approved by the Goths, whofe fuffrages placed 
 his fon, Tulga, on the throne. But a confederacy 
 of fome of the principal nobles hurled him from 
 his high elevation. The fceptre was transferred 
 to the hand of Chindifuintho, and the depofed 
 monarch was confined to the walls of a monaftery.
 
 SPAIN. 49 
 
 But it was not till he had afferted his claim by 
 arms, that the new King could eftabiifh his 
 authority. The party which oppofed his 
 election was crufhed : his title was recognized 
 
 O 
 
 in a national council, and his fon, Recifuiruho, 
 was received as his aflbciate and fucceflbr. The 
 character of Chindifuintho appears to have been 
 pacific and lenient ; and after a profperous 
 reign of eleven years, his death was lamented by 
 all claffesof his fubjecls. The undivided fove- 
 reio;ntv devolved on Recifuintho, and durincr 
 
 O . J ^^ 
 
 his reign of twenty-four years, Spain was happy 
 under his aclminiftration. 
 
 The death of Recifuintho fummoned the 
 Gothic clergy and nobles to the difficult tafk 
 of choofing a fucceflbr, who might imitate his 
 virtues, and follow his example. The fuffrages 
 of the afTembly were united in favour of Wamba, 
 vvhofc fuperior talents were univerfally acknow- 
 ledged ; but whofe folid judgment led him to 
 prefer the eafe and quiet of private life to the 
 cares and toils of fovereignty. He long refifted 
 the general wifh; and his fubfequent conduft 
 attefts the fincerity of his reluclance to accept 
 what others are fo eager to obtain. But the 
 eftimate which he made of the value of a crown 
 mewed that he was worthy of wearing it. The 
 Goihic Peers earneftly requefted his compliance, 
 and at length he yielded to their felicitations, re-
 
 50 HISTORY OF 
 
 minding them that he gratified their defire rather 
 than his own inclination. Indeed he was no 
 fooner inverted with royalty than he experienced 
 its concomitant troubles. The trumpet of war 
 called him to fupprefs two different revolts in 
 Afturia and in the Gothic territory in Gaul. 
 Againfl the Afturians he marched in perfon, and 
 f'oon reduced them to obedience. But the 
 rebellion in Gaul was of a more formidable 
 nature. Paul, a fkilful and veteran general, 
 was lent into the Gallic provinces, while the 
 King was employed in Afturia ; but he had no 
 fooner croffed the Pyrenees than he ere Bed the 
 ftandard of revolt, and ufurped the independent 
 fovereignty of the country whrch he went to 
 reduce to the obedience of the Gothic monarch. 
 The turbulent fpirit of the Catalonians prompted 
 them to engage in the revolt; and the ufurper 
 was fupported by the powerful alliance of the 
 Franks. 
 
 Wamba having received intelligence of the 
 perfidy of his general, fuddenly marched from 
 the frontiers of Navarre, traverfed Arragon, 
 entered Catalonia, and made himfelf matter of 
 Barcelona. He then forced the paiTes of the 
 Pyrenees, and laid fiege to the city of Narbonne, 
 which furrendered after a vigorous defence. 
 But the moft determined refinance was made 
 by the city of Nifmesj in which the ufurper had
 
 SPAIN. 51 
 
 iixed his refidence. The walls, however, were 
 fcaled, and the royal banners difplayed in the 
 ftreets. The moft defperate and daring of 
 the rebels retired to the ruins of the ancient 
 amphitheatre, and within the mouldering walls 
 of that mafTy pile defended themfelves with 
 great courage, but at length were obliged to 
 fubmit to the conqueror. The ufurper Paul, 
 and his principal adherents were, after a legal 
 trial, condemned to death ; but the clemency 
 of the Gothic King permitted them to implore 
 the forgivenefs of heaven during the remainder 
 of their days in amonaftery. 
 
 After fuppreffing this formidable rebellion, 
 Wamba re-pafTed the Pyrenees, and entered 
 Toledo in triumph. Having eftabliftied his 
 reputation as a warrior, he directed his attention 
 to the bufmefs of a legiflator, and his falutary 
 regulations in the church as well as the ftate attefl 
 the prudence of his adminiftration. But from 
 the affairs of peace his attention was again called 
 to thofeofwar. In the fpace of lefs than a 
 century, the followers of Mahomet, from the 
 diftant region of Arabia, had penetrated to the 
 Atlantic, and fubdued the northern countries of 
 Africa. From the ports of that continent their 
 piratical fquadrons infulted or menaced the 
 coaftsof Spain. In order to protect the repofe 
 of his kingdom, the Gothic monarch equipped a 
 G 2
 
 52 HISTORY OF 
 
 numerous fleet of the fmall veffeis then in ufe. 
 The Vifigoihs became gradually accuftomed to 
 this new theatre of aclion, and from a variety 
 of defultory confli&s, returned home crowned 
 with viclory, and laden with fpoil. At length a 
 decifive engagement took place between the 
 fleets of the Saracens and the Goths. On the 
 fide of the latter the viclory was complete and 
 glorious, not lefsthan two hundred and feventy 
 of the Arabian veiTels being brought in triumph 
 into the ports of Spain. 
 
 The reign of Wamba had been diftinguifhed 
 by great and illtrft'nous aftions ; and his ad- 
 miniflration had been marked by wifdom and 
 juftice. Yet amidft ihe affelion of his fubjeBs, 
 and the admiration of foreigners, that monarch 
 \vas deprived of the crown which his virtues 
 had adorned. Among the Goths and the Franks, 
 the head that had once been fhaven, was, by 
 that operation, rendered for ever incapable of 
 wearing a crown, as among the fons of Aaron 
 the lead mutilation or corporeal blemifli in- 
 volved a perpetual exclufion from the Ifraelitifh 
 priefthood. The fate of Wamba, as related by 
 hiftorians, is a remarkable inflance of the power 
 of cuftoms and prejudices, and (till more of 
 refignation and forgivenefs. A ftrong opiate 
 was adminiftered to him, and while he laboured 
 under its ftupifying effects, the opportunity for
 
 SPAIN. 53 
 
 treafon was feized by Erviga. a nobleman, who 
 boafted his defcent from Athanagilde : his long 
 hair, the fymbol of his dignity, was cut off by the 
 daring hand of the traitor; his head was fhaved; 
 and Wamba, no longer a King, awoke to a lenfe 
 of his misfortune. But he difiembled his fur- 
 prife, affumed the language of voluntary retire- 
 ment, and ftifled the emotions of revenge to 
 preferve the tranquillity of his country. It is 
 even afferted that he recommended as his fuc- 
 cefibr the traitor who defrauded him of his 
 crown. The ftory is refated, with hefitation, by 
 an eloquent modern hiftorian : it appears, in- 
 deed, too romantic to be credible. When we 
 confider the relu&ance with which Wamba ac- 
 cepted the fovereignty, it would rather feem. 
 that his refignation was voluntary, that to pre- 
 vent the loyal oppofition of his fqbjefts, the 
 matter had been privately concerted with Erviga, 
 and that the fanciful writers of the age had 
 given to the (lory its extravagant caft. It is 
 certain that Wamba cheerfully retired to the 
 walls of a monaflery ; and in that peaceful 
 feclufion, the latter part of his life, though lefs 
 fplendid, was undoubtedly more happy than that 
 which he had fpent amidft the agitations of the 
 world and the cares of royalty. 
 
 The recommendations of Wamba raifed Erviga 
 
 & 
 
 to the throne by uniting the fuffrages of the
 
 54 HISTORY OF 
 
 national council in his favour. Whatever were 
 the means by which the new fovereign obtained 
 the kingdom, he governed it with wifdom and 
 equity. Either his remorfe, his fears, or his 
 gratitude, induced him to negleft the pretenfions 
 of his own fans'; and with the hand of his daugh- 
 ter, Cixilona, he called Egiza, the nephew and 
 heir of Wamba, to the fucceffion. After a 
 peaceful and profperous reign of eight years, he 
 refigned the fceptre to Egiza, and exchanged 
 the robes of royalty for the habit of penitence. 
 Having fhaved his head, he affumed the garb of 
 a monk, and expired in peace a fhort time after 
 his refignation. 
 
 The reign of Egiza is diftinguifhed by a 
 general revifal of the Jaws which had been 
 compiled by a long fucceffion of Gothic Kings. 
 Till this period the Vifigoths had been governed 
 by their own inftitutions, and had indulged their 
 conquered fubjefts in Gaul and Spain, with the 
 ufe of the Roman law. But their gradual im- 
 provement in civilization and policy induced them 
 to compofe a code of civil and criminal jurif- 
 prudence, communicating the fame obligations 
 and privileges to all the nations of the Spanifh 
 monarchy, who were then become a great and 
 united people ; and from that period all the in- 
 habitants of the peninfula, whether of abori- 
 ginal, Roman, or Gothic extraction, may be
 
 SPAIX. 
 
 comprifed under the general appellation of 
 Spaniards. 
 
 The peaceful tafk of legiflation did not occupy 
 the whole reign of Egiza. Secret confpiracy 
 menaced the nation, and the trumpet of war 
 called the Spaniards to arms. Since the days of 
 Sifibut the Jews had been expofed to the moft 
 horrible perfections, and Chintilla had ifTued 
 an edicl commanding their total expulfion. That 
 decree, however, had been eluded through the 
 connivance of the governors of provinces and 
 the lenity of later monarchs. Many of thofe 
 wretched people, indeed, had pafied over to 
 Africa ; but the powerful attraction of local at- 
 tachment had induced great numbers to remain in 
 Spain, under the weight of civil and ecclefiaflical 
 laws. They were ftill permitted to purfue the 
 different branches of commerce ; but without 
 legal protection their wealth and even their lives 
 were expofed to the rapacity and caprice of 
 their rulers. Perfecution naturally produced a 
 third of revenge. The Jews having loft the 
 ufe and almoft the remembrance of arms, were 
 of themfelves unable to refift oppreflion ; but. 
 they exulted in the victories of the Arabians, 
 and folicited the Mahometans to deliver them. 
 from the tyranny of Chriftians. For this pur- 
 pofe they kept up a fecret correfpondence with 
 their brethren, who had flickered themfelves
 
 .)() HISTORY OP 
 
 from perfecution in Africa. Through their 
 medium they perfuaded the Arabian conquerors 
 of Africa to attempt the invafion of Spain, and 
 being affured of effectual fuccours. refolved to 
 
 o 
 
 erect the flandard of revolt; but the execution 
 of their defign was prevented by a timely dif- 
 covery. At this period the Chriftian Kings and 
 Bifhops of Spain might have learned that religi- 
 ous intolerance produces political convulfions ; 
 but inftead of relaxing they increafed the rigours 
 of perfecution. The laws againft the Jews were 
 revived : the public exercife of their religion 
 was prohibited under the fevereft penalties; and 
 all their children, under feven years of age, were 
 ordered to be taken from them and educated in 
 the chriftian faith. 
 
 The difcovery of the Jewifh confpiracy 
 might, for a moment, difconcert the plans of the 
 Mahometans ; but it did not deter them from 
 afpiring to the conqucfi of Spain. Their 
 numerous fquadrons again appeared on the 
 coatts of Andalufia, and again received a total 
 defeat, which, for the fecond time, humbled 
 their pride and difpelled the apprehenfion of the 
 Spaniards. This difcomfiture of the Saracen 
 ravy was one of the mod brilliant tranfaclions of 
 the reign of Egiza. Afhort war with the Franks 
 and Gafcons produced no important refult, 
 Bu: that monarch made ufe of a moment of
 
 SPAIN. 57 
 
 tranquillity to afTure the fucceffion to his fon. 
 In the national council at Toledo, Witiza was 
 aflociated with his father in the regal dignity; 
 and the death of Egiza happening foon after, 
 the undivided fovereignty devolved into his 
 hands. 
 
 The commencement of the reign of Witiza 
 was marked with wifdom and lenity; but his 
 adminiftration foon degenerated into licentiouf- 
 nefs and tyranny. The general deteftation of 
 his memory has induced the hiftorians of the 
 times to exaggerate his vices beyond the bounds 
 of truth or probability ; but they were un- 
 doubtedly glaring and numerous. Among other 
 noble fufferers, under the jealoufy and refent- 
 ment of the tyrant, was Theodofrid, a kinfman 
 of Recifuintho, who had fwayed the fceptre with 
 applaufe, and whofe memory was revered. This 
 illuftrious nobleman was deprived of fight, and 
 immured in a prifon at Cordova. His fon, 
 Roderic, undertook to revenge his father's 
 wrongs and the fufferings of his country : he 
 erefted the flandard of revolt, and thoufands, 
 who had either felt or dreaded the cruelty of 
 the tyrant, joined him with alacrity. A civil 
 v/ar enfued which terminated in the depofition 
 of Witiza, and the elevation of Roderic to the 
 throne of Spain. 
 
 VOL. i. H
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. IV. 
 
 View of the conftitution and ftate of fociety in Spain under the do- 
 minion of the Vifigoths. Character of Roderic. Hiftory of Count 
 Julian inveftigated. Invafion of Spain by the Arabians under Tarik. 
 Degeneracy of the Goths. Defeat and death of Roderic. Trea- 
 fon of Oppas, Archbifhop of Seville. Aftonifhing progrefs of the 
 Mahommedans. Capitulation of Toledo. Of Murcia. Capture 
 of Medina Coeli. Seizure of the Emerald table. Arrival of Mufa 
 in Spain. Difientions between that commander and Tarik. Re- 
 dulion of Seville and Merida. Vaft defigns of Mufa. His triumphal 
 march from Ceuta to Damafcus. His difgrace. His fon, Abdalaziz, 
 afpires to the fovereignty of Spain. Is aflafllnated. His head fent 
 to the Caliph and prefented to Mufa, who retires to Mecca and dies 
 broken hearted. Character of Mufa and Tarik. Fate of Count 
 fulian. Retreat of Pelagius with a band of martial Spaniards to 
 the mountains of Afturia. The Arabian Viceroy of Spain leads 
 an army acrofs the Pyrenees. Alhama, his lieutenant, defeated and 
 flam by Pelagius. Death of the traitor Oppas. Abdoulrahman, 
 Viceroy of Spain, invades France, and is defeated by Charles 
 Martel. Reflections on that fubjecl. Death of Pelagius. Extent 
 of his dominions. Reign of his fon Flavilla. His death. Influx 
 of the Arabians into Spain. Their numerous colonies. Revolu- 
 tion in the Caliphate. The throne of Damafcus transferred from 
 the family of Ommijah to that of Abbas. Abdalrahman, of the 
 Houfe of Ommijah, efcapes from the general mafTacre of his family, 
 and eflablifhes an independent Caliphate in Spain. 
 
 HAVING traced the biftory of Spain from tbe 
 rime that the Carthaginians firft entered tbe
 
 SPAIN. 59 
 
 country to the acceffion of the laft monarch of 
 the Vifigoths, and defcribed the ftate of the 
 peninfula under the Roman dominion, it is 
 requifite to exhibit a fketch of that political 
 ftruclure which was overthrown by the Arabian 
 conquerors, who annexed one of the largeft 
 kingdoms of Europe to the religion and throne 
 of the Caliphs. 
 
 It has already been obferved that the 
 monarchy of the Vifigoths, which at firft 
 was hereditary in the family of Alaric and 
 Adolphus, became elective on the extinction of 
 that dynafty. The vacancy of the throne was 
 always fupplied by the fuffrages of the national 
 council, confiding of the prelates and nobles; 
 and the regal dignity was limited to the pure and 
 noble blood of the Goths. The influence of 
 the clergy contributed to the fupport of regal 
 government. Spiritual cenfures, as well as 
 temporal penalties, were denounced againft thofe 
 impious fubjefts who fhould prefume to refift his 
 authority, confpire againft the life of the fovereign. 
 or violate, byan unlawful union, thechaftity of his 
 widow. But the monarch himfelf, when he afcend- 
 ed the throne, was bound, by a reciprocal oath, 
 to God and his people, that he would rule with 
 moderation and equity. The hiftory of the 
 Vifigoths, however, as well as that of feveral 
 other nations, (hews that neither the Kings nor 
 H 2
 
 60 HISTORY OF 
 
 the fubjefts conftantly adhered to thefe mutual 
 obligations. The regal authority was fubje& 
 to the control of a powerful ariftocracy ; and 
 the Bifhops and Nobles were guarded by a 
 fundamental law of the nation, which provided 
 that they fhould not fuffer degradation or punifh- 
 ment, unlefs by the free and public judgment of 
 their Peers. The affairs of the church were 
 regulated in the national councils. While 
 queflions of doclrine and ecclefiaftical difcipline 
 were agitated, the laity were excluded ; but as 
 foon as the debates were ended, the doors were 
 thrown open for the entrance of the great 
 officers of the palace and the nobles, who ratified 
 the decrees of the Bifhops and Abbots. 
 
 It is impoffiblc, at this diftance of time, to 
 difcover the ftate of the great mafs of the people 
 under the firfl Kings of the Yifigoths. While 
 their conquefl was unftable, and the conquerors 
 only half civilized, it is probable that the lower 
 orders were in a fituation iitile better than 
 flavery ; but the code of Egiza united all the 
 people of Spain under one fyftern of jurifpru- 
 dence,and admitted the conquered toa participa- 
 tion of freedom with the conqueror. This code 
 of laws has been ridiculed by Montefquieu with 
 exceflive feverity.* It is no wonder that it fhould 
 
 * Montefq. Efprit des Lois Liv. n8. cap. i.
 
 SPAIN. 61 
 
 have been tinftured with the fuperftition of the 
 age ; but it pofiefled the merit cf impartial 
 policy and moderation. While it preferved to 
 the nobles all their honourable privileges, it 
 ameliorated the condition of the people; and 
 while in the other countries of Europe, the con- 
 quered had funk into the abjecl flaves of the 
 conquerors, the Spaniard was permitted to re- 
 deem his freedom, and often his property, by 
 the payment of a fmall fine or annual rent. In 
 Spain, as well as in the other European countries, 
 the feudal fyftem prevailed; but "as a judicious 
 hiftorian obferves, the harfhnefs of its features 
 were foftened by policy or humanity. 
 
 Such was the date of Spain when her throne 
 was about to be overturned by a tremendous 
 revolution, and her extenfive territory fubdued 
 by a race of conquerors, from the efleth of 
 whofe arms the reft of Europe happily elcaped. 
 Roderic had received the fceptre under the moft 
 promifing aufpices, and the memory ofRecifuin- 
 tho united the nation in his favour ; but his 
 elevation to royalty proved equally fatal to 
 himfelf and his kingdom. The misfortunes of 
 Witiza might have warned him of the danger of 
 imitating his example; but he forgot the ialutary 
 Icffon. Roderic was not deficient cither in 
 courage or genius ; but thofe brilliant qualities 
 were obfcured by vices of the deepen 1 dye.
 
 62 HISTORY OF 
 
 An eminent hiflorian affixes to his character the 
 epithets of cruel, vindictive, and voluptuous in 
 the higheft degree. His oppreffion of the fons 
 of Witiza, perhaps not unprovoked, compelled 
 them to leek an afylum in Africa, where they 
 waited the opportunity of afTerting their pre- 
 tenfions in arms. Their uncle, Oppas, Arch- 
 bifhop of Seville, entered into their views, and 
 endeavoured to alienate the minds of the people 
 from their fovereign, who, according to the 
 current accounts of the Spanifh hiftorians, in- 
 ftead of extinguifhing thofe fidl fparks of revolt, 
 gave them an increafed adivity by the perpetra- 
 tion of a crime which occafioned his deflruc- 
 tion, and the fubverfion of the empire of the 
 Vifigoths. 
 
 The popular tale of the forcible violation of 
 Cava, the daughter of Count Julian, by the 
 brutal liccntioufnefs of Roderic, has been re- 
 echoed by hiftorians as the caufe of her father's 
 revolt, and of all the calamities which it brought 
 upon Spain. The ftory, however, has, by fome 
 modern critics, been rejected as fufpicious, and 
 as deftitutc of fuflicicnt evidence : it is pre- 
 fcrvcd by Cardonne, who relates it in detail and 
 without hcfitation,*but its authenticity is doubted 
 
 * Cardonne Hid, dc L'Afriquc et dc L'Efpagne, torn. i. p. 64, &c>
 
 63 
 
 by Gibbon,* and ridiculed by Voltaire. t What- 
 ever was the caufe of Count Julian's revolt, its 
 effects were tremendoufly fatal ; and his rafli in- 
 vitation of the Arabians produced the calamities 
 of eight hundred fucceeding years. His valour 
 had defended Ceuta againft the affaults of their 
 numerous hofts ; and Mufa, the leader of the 
 faithful, and governor of Africa for the Chaliph 
 Wdlid, muft have been agreeably furprifed by 
 the proffered alliance of a chief, the prowefs of 
 whole arms he had felt, and by the furrender of a 
 fortrefs which had baffled all his attacks. Mufa 
 folicited and obtained pcrmiffion of the Caliph 
 to annex the unknown countries of the Weft to 
 the religion of Mahomet and the throne of 
 Damafcus. And while he was making prepara- 
 tions for the conqueft of Spain, the confpirators 
 flattered themfelves that he would be contented 
 with the glory and fpoil, without afpiring to ex- 
 tend the Arabian empire beyond the limits of 
 Africa. 
 
 The cautious Mufa, in order to try the ftrength 
 
 and fidelity of his Spanifh adherents, and the 
 
 foundation of his own hopes, detached a fmall 
 
 force of a hundred Arabians and four 
 
 hundred Africans. Thefe precurfors 
 
 * Gibbon Dec. Rom. Emp. vol. 9, p f 468, 
 1 Voltaire Hilt. Gen. cap, 26.
 
 64 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the Mahommcdan hoft having landed on the 
 fhores of Andalufia, advanced to the town and 
 caftle of Count Julian. Their favourable re- 
 ception, the number of the Count's vaflals who 
 joined their ftandard, the richnefs of their fpoil* 
 and the fafety of their return, were regarded as 
 the moft promifing omens of future fuccefs. In 
 the enfuing fpring feven thoufand veterans* were 
 embarked under the command of Tarik-ben 
 Ziad-ben-Abdoul!ah, a fkilful and dauntlefs 
 leader, \vhofe atchievements furpalfed the ex- 
 pectations of his chief. The Arabians difem- 
 baiked at the foot of Mount Calpe, which, from 
 that event, acquired the name of Djcbel, or 
 Gibal Tarik, the mountain of Tarik, now 
 changed by corruption of language into the 
 modern appellation of Gibraltar ; where the 
 Britifii banners have waved, more than a century, 
 in defiance of the united efforts of France and 
 Spain. 
 
 Immcrfed in voluptuoufnefs and indolence, 
 Rodcric had paid little attention to the prepara- 
 tions that had been making in Africa; but the 
 invafion of his kingdom roufed him from his 
 lethargy. He difpatched one of his kinfmen at 
 the head of fome fclccl troops ; but they fcarcely 
 
 * Gibbon flntcs the number at five thoufancL Hift. Dec. Rcm. 
 Eir.p. vol. 9. p. 472. Cardonne at fcvcn thoufand, Tom. i, p. "'
 
 SPAIN. 65 
 
 furtained the firft charge of the enemy, and their 
 (light revealed to the monarch the magnitude of 
 his danger. Spain, however, was capable of 
 great and formidable efforts. The ftandard of 
 the fovereign was unfurled, and, at the royal 
 fummons, the prelates and nobles of the king- 
 dom appeared at the head of their vaffals. The 
 army of Roderic amounted to one hundred 
 thoufand men, and muft have infured victory, 
 had their difcipline and fidelity correfponded 
 with their numbers.* But the ancient inhabi- 
 tants of Spain had been long unaccudomed to 
 arms, and the Goths were no longer thofe irrefif- 
 tible conquerors who had overthrown the Roman 
 empire, and penetrated from the mores of the 
 Extiine to thofe of the Atlantic. Their youth, 
 enervated by peace and luxury, had abandoned 
 the exercife of arms ; and fome of their moft 
 powerful chiefs, impelled by jealoufy, refent- 
 ment, or ambition, were difaffcfted to the reign- 
 ing fovereign, and fecretly fought his deftruc- 
 tion. 
 
 Such was the ftate of Spain when the laft of 
 her Gothic monarchs was called to fupport the 
 weaknefs of a difputed throne, by the feeble 
 llrength and doubtful affections of a degenerate 
 
 * Cardonne, torn. i.p. 75. Gibbon fays 90,000 or 100,000, vol. 
 -.cap. 5. p. 473. 
 
 VOL, I. 4
 
 (56 HISTORY OF 
 
 people. The Arabians, however, had only five, 
 or, at the moft, feven thoufand veterans* and 
 voluntary adventurers to bring into the field 
 againft the whole force of a powerful kingdom, 
 and the numerous hoft that marched under 
 Roderic appalled, for a moment, their courage. 
 The promife of Parad'Te was cautioufly weighed 
 againft the danger of the unequal conteft ; and 
 the fanaticifm of the faithful yielded to the dic- 
 tates of prudence. Tarik employed all his judg- 
 ment and care to avoid an engagement while he 
 folicited reinforcements from Africa. In con- 
 fequence of his application to Mufa, his army of 
 veteran Arabians was increafed to twelve thou- 
 fand, befides a promifcuous crowd of Africans 
 greedy of tailing the temporal promifes of the 
 Koran, and to thefe was joined a numerous 
 body of Chriftian malecontents, collected by 
 Count Julian, and commanded by him in perfon.t 
 The town of Xeres, about fix miles from Cadiz, 
 is rendered illuftrious in hiftory by the memo- 
 rable encounter which decided the fate of Spain, 
 and overturned the empire of the Goths, which 
 
 * See Cardorme and Gibbon ubi fupra. 
 
 + Count Julian was governor of Andalufia and Lord of feveral towns 
 in Cnflile. He was the moft wealthy and powerful nobleman in Spain, 
 Cardonne, Hifl. de L'Efpagneet de L'Afrique fous la domination des 
 Arabes, torn. 1. p. 68, 69. is T ote marginale. It is therefore no wonder 
 rliat his influence brought fuch effectual fuccours to the invaders,
 
 SPAJN. Of 
 
 ihad fubfifted almofl three hundred years in that 
 country. 
 
 During the fpace of three days the two armies 
 were employed in various manoeuvres and 
 bloody fkirmifhes. On the fourth day the battle 
 became general, and the iflue proved decifive.* 
 At this momentous crifis the Gothic monarch 
 feems to have loft the qualities which had raifed 
 him to the throne. " Alaric," as an eloquent 
 hiftorian obferves, "would have blufhed at the 
 "fight of his unworhy fucceffor wearing on his 
 " head a diadem of pearls, encumbered with a 
 "flowing robe of gold and filken embroidery, 
 "and reclining on a car of ivory." This fplen- 
 did but unwarlike equipment fhows the luxury, 
 the oftemation, and pageantry, of the court, and 
 the degeneracy of the Goths. Roderic, however, 
 reminded them that they fought for their religion, 
 their familes, and their liberty, while Tarik 
 reprefented to the Moflems the neceffity of 
 victory and the impoffibility of a retreat. " The 
 "enemy," faid he, "is before you, the fea is 
 "behind: whither can you fly? Follow your 
 "general : I am refolved either to die or to 
 " trample on the proftrate King of the Vifigoths." 
 The battle was begun with equal ardour by the 
 
 * Gibbon's Dec. Rom. Emp. vol. 9. p. 473. Cardonne, torn. i.p. 76. 
 fays the {kinruOies continued fcven days until the eighth decided the 
 conteft. 
 
 I 2
 
 68 HISTORY OF 
 
 two hoftile armies, and the iffue long remained 
 doubtful. But, at the critical moment on which 
 vi6lory was fufpended, a horrible aft of treafon 
 determined it on the fide of the Mahommedans. 
 That traitor to his religion and country, Oppas, 
 Archbifhop of Seville, whofe name is a difgrace 
 to his facred character, went over with his 
 vaflals to the Mahommedans, and joined them 
 in charging the Chriftians.* The ranks of the 
 Spaniards were inftantly broken: each warrior 
 was impelled by fear or fufpicion to confult his 
 own fafety; and the greated part of the army was 
 deftroyed or difperfcd. Roderic perifhed amidft 
 the general confufion ; but the particulars ofhis 
 fate could never be afcertained. His royal robe, 
 magnificently embroidered with gold and gar- 
 nilhed with pearls, his belt ornamented in the 
 fame manner, his horfe alfo, and his faddle, 
 richly adorned with gold and emeralds, were 
 found on the banks of the Guadalquiver, then 
 known by the name of the Beotis ; but as his 
 body could never be difcovered it is probable 
 that he perifhcd in the waters of that river. 
 
 Tarik refolvcd to make no delay in reapincr 
 the fruits of fo decifive a victory. He imme- 
 diately marched to Ecija, a flrong town which 
 afforded a temporary refuge to the fugitive 
 
 * Gibbon, vol. 9. cap. 51. p. 474. Carclonr.e, torn. l. p. 77-
 
 SPAIN. >9 
 
 Spaniards. The fortifications were ftormed, 
 and the garrifon and inhabitants were involved 
 in one promifcuous (laughter. Roderic was 
 dead, and the injuries of Count Julian, whatever 
 they might be, were avenged; butthatnobleman 
 had plunged fo deep in guilt that his only hope 
 was in the ruin of his country ; and he urged 
 Tarik to complete the conqueft of Spain. The 
 Arabian general willingly liflened to a coun- 
 fel fo agreeable to his inclinations and fo flatter- 
 ing to his hopes. One of his detachments fur- 
 prifed Cordova, and drove the governor, with 
 four hundred men, into the great church, where 
 they defended themfelves more than three 
 months, and furrendered their pofts only with 
 their lives.* Another corps of Arabians re- 
 duced all the modern Province of Grenada, while 
 Tarik, with the main body, marched in perfon 
 againft Toledo. That city, the capital of Spain, 
 made no refiftance, but obtained a honourable 
 capitulation. t The inhabitants had the choice 
 of departing with their effects, or of remaining 
 under the government and protection of the 
 Modems, and enjoying the free and public 
 exercife of their religion on the eafy and equi- 
 
 * Cardonne fays that this church flood without the city. Hid. 
 d L'Efpagne and d L'Afriquc Ibus la dom. des Arabes, torn. i. p. 81. 
 
 f Gibbon, vol. 9. cap. 51. p, 476. Cardonne lays that Toledo flood 
 a long ficge, torn. i. p. 82,
 
 70 HISTORY OF 
 
 table condition of paying the fame tribute to the 
 Caliph as to their former Kings. Seven churches 
 were appropriated to the chriftian \vorfhip. 
 The Archbifhop and his clergy were allowed to 
 exercife their functions, and the Spanifh inhabi- 
 tants were left, in all civil and criminal cafes, to 
 the fubordinate jurifdiclion of their own laws 
 and magiftrates. Mtircia, and feveral other 
 cities, furrendered on nearly the fame conditions. 
 Leon, and fome other places, were reduced by 
 famine. But among all the conquefls of Tarik 
 there was none that gave him more pleafurc 
 than that of Medina Celi. In this city was kept 
 a table of emerald, valued at five hundred thou- 
 fand crowns, having 360 feet of maffy gold 
 enriched with emeralds and pearls ; and the 
 Arabian general having feized this famous monu- 
 ment of Gothic magnificence, deftined it for a 
 prefcntto the Caliph.* 
 
 But the fplendid part of the life of Tarik was 
 drawing towards a conclufion. and the aera of his 
 troubles and calamities was rapidly approaching. 
 The Arabian leader had extended his conquers 
 to the. North, over the modern Provinces of Old 
 Caflile and Leon, and had fcarcely returned to 
 the royal feat of Toledo, when he was called to 
 
 * Cir-Jonr.c's Hift. do L'Afrique and de L'Efpagne feus la domination 
 "'es Ardbc:., torn. i. p. 83, 84.
 
 SPAIN. 71 
 
 anfwer for his prefumption in daring to conquer 
 Spain in the abfence of the chief commander of 
 the faithful in the Weft. The rapidity of his 
 iuccefs had excited the jealoufy of Mufa; and 
 the Viceroy of Africa refolved, if poflible, 
 to wrefl from the hand of Tarik the glory of his 
 conqueft. At the head often thoufand Arabians 
 and eight thoufand Africans, Mufa pafTed over 
 into Spain, and, landing at Algefiras, was joined 
 by Count Julian, who promifed him his fervices. 
 By the advice of this nobleman Mufa undertook 
 the reduction of Seville and Merida, cities of 
 great opulence and ftrength, and defended by 
 the braveft of the patriots. Seville was taken 
 after a vigorous fiege ; and the Arabian chief, 
 eager to efface, by his exploits, the glory of his 
 lieutenant, immediately marched to Merida. 
 The inhabitants of that city fuftained, on this 
 occafion, the honour of their defcent from the 
 veteran legions of Auguftus. They marched 
 out of the city and gave battle to the Arabians ; 
 but an ambufcade, rufhing from a cavern or a 
 quarry, threw the Spaniards into confulion.* 
 A great number were cut in pieces, but the reft 
 regained the city and made a long and vigorous 
 defence againft the valour of the Arabians, who, 
 from their wooden turrets, which were rolled 
 
 * Cardonne,, torn, I, p. 17,,
 
 7 C 2 HISTORY OF 
 
 upon wheels againft the walls, made defperate 
 and inceffant attacks. The conftancy of the 
 befieged was at laft (ubdued by famine ; but the 
 clemency or policy of the victor granted them 
 a capitulation which muft at leaft have equalled 
 their hopes. The wealth of thofe who had fallen 
 in the fiege was confifcated for the ufe of the 
 faithful ; but the furviving inhabitants had the 
 alternative of departing with their effects or of 
 remaining under tribute. The public exercife 
 of the chriftian worfhip was allowed, and the 
 churches were divided between the followers of 
 Chrift and Mahommed. Mufa then took poflef- 
 fion of Saragofla and Barcelona, and purfued his 
 victorious career to the foot of the Pyrenees, 
 while his fon, Abdalaziz, having fubdued the 
 Province of Valentia, reduced the infurgents in 
 
 ihe fouth and again captured Seville. 
 
 The adventurous fpirit of Tarik had firft ex- 
 plored the way to thefe fplendid conquefts : yet 
 Mufa having fummoned his lieutenant to an 
 interview at Toledo, required from him a rigid 
 account of the fpoils. The character and con- 
 duct of Tarik were expofed to fufpicion and 
 obloquy; and after being ignominioufly fcourgcd 
 by the hand of Mufa himfelf, and compelled to 
 give up all the plunder acquired by his toils and 
 his victories, he was loaded with irons, and com- 
 mitted to prifon. But his complaints being
 
 SPAIN. 73 
 
 carried to the throne of Damafcus, a peremptory- 
 order of the Caliph obliged Mufa to liberate 
 him from confinement. 
 
 Mufa, in the mean while, traverfed every 
 part of Spain, and paffing the Pyrenees, pene- 
 trated to Carcaflbnne. His enterprifing mind 
 had confiJered the pofieffion of Spain as the firft 
 ftep to the monarchy of Europe, and conceived 
 the adventurous and vaft defign of fubduing 
 France, Italy, Germany as far as the Danube, 
 Hungary, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and the 
 whole of the Byzantine empire, and thus joining 
 the northern to the fouthern conquefts of the 
 Arabians. But this projecl, one of the greateft. 
 that ever was formed, was rendered abortive by 
 his enemies at the court of Damafcus. The 
 other great generals and minifters who envied 
 the glory which he had already acquired, and 
 feared his further fuccefs, reprefented Mufa as 
 a man whofe dangerous ambition had no bounds, 
 and excited in the mind of the Caliph a jealoufy 
 of his power. The friends of Tarik had flated 
 his fervices and his wrongs : the proceedings of 
 Mufa were blamed, and his intentions fufpe&ed. 
 Being ordered to repair to Damafcus to juftify 
 his conduct, he delayed his journey under 
 different pretexts ; but a more peremptory fum- 
 mons enforced his compliance. A meffenger of 
 the Caliph entered his camp, and feizing the
 
 74 HISTORY OF 
 
 bridle of his horfe, in the prefence both of the 
 Modems and the Chriftians, arrefled him in the 
 name of his mailer. The loyalty of his troops, 
 rather perhaps than his own, inculcated the duty 
 of obedience. He repaired immediately to 
 Ceuta, and his long and triumphal march from 
 that place to Damafcus, di (played the fpoils 
 of Spain. Four hundred Gothic nobles, dif- 
 tinguifhed by golden coronets and girdles, 
 and eighteen or as fome fay thirty thoufand 
 male and female captives, feleclcd for their birth 
 or their beauty, compofed a part of his retinue.* 
 On his arrival at Damafcus, he was confronted 
 \vith Tarik, who had repaired for juftice to the 
 foot of the throne. Mufa, in his difpatches, 
 had reprefented the conqueft of Spain as entirely 
 his own atchievcment, and pretended that himfelf 
 had feized the famous table of Emerald. His 
 antag nift. after complaining of his own injurious 
 treatn cm, accufed Mufa of cruelties to the con- 
 quered people, which, as he faid, had rendered 
 the name of the Moflems hateful to the univerfe. 
 On the inquiry into the circumilances attending 
 the conquefl of Spain, Tarik quite difconcerted 
 his rival. The fubtlc Arabian, lu (peeling the 
 intentions of Mufa, had, previous to his delivery 
 of the Emerald table, broken off one of its feet, 
 
 * Cardonne fays thirty thoufand female captives, Tom. i. p. 98.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 alTuring his chief that it was found in that ftate. 
 In order to dcmonftrate the falfehood of Mufa's 
 pretenfions, he requefted the Caliph to inter- 
 rogate him concerning the foot that was wanting. 
 Mufa greatly embarrafTed, was unable toanfwer, 
 and Tarik producing the foot, completed his 
 confufion. ' The refult of the inveftigation was 
 
 D 
 
 that Mufa was, by the Caliph's order, {tripped of 
 the whole or at lead of the greater! part of his 
 wealth; and fome fay that his treatment of Tarik 
 was retaliated by a public whipping. He was 
 afterwards condemned to a decent exile under 
 the name of a pilgrimage to Mecca. 
 
 Previous to his departure for Damafcus, Mufa 
 had delegated to his fon, Abdalaziz, the ad- 
 miniftration of Spain. But like his father he 
 experienced the viciffitudes of fortune ; and his 
 fail was fudden and decifive. He had mrrried 
 Egilona, the widow of the late King Roderk'; and 
 that Princefs is fuppofed to have full infpired 
 him with a defire of independent fovereignty. 
 The injurious treatment of his father might 
 alfo concur with his own ambition to prompt 
 the defign of creeling his throne at Cordova. 
 But the minds of the Modems were not yet 
 formed for projects of rebellion. They flill 
 revered in the Caliph the holy fucceffor of 
 Mahommed ; and no i'ooner were the intentions 
 of Abdalazix. known, than he was murdered by 
 
 K 2
 
 76 HISTORY OF 
 
 his followers, and thus fell the viftim of his 
 afpiring ambition. The deftruftion of the fon 
 of Mufa was not unacceptable to the court of 
 Damafcus. His head was fent to the Caliph, 
 and, by a refinement of cruelty, prefented to his 
 unfortunate father with this infulting queflion : 
 "Do you know thofe features?" "Yes," re- 
 plied the difconfolate parent, "I know them, 
 " and I imprecate the fame, a jufler fate, on the 
 "authors of my fon's death."* Mufa, already 
 exhaufted by age and grief, did not long furvive 
 this fhock ; he retired to Mecca where he foon 
 died of a broken heart. 
 
 Such was the fate of this famous conqueror : 
 the vailnefs of his genius, the extent of his 
 views, his enterprifing fpirit, his intrepidity and 
 valour, have rendered his name immortal. It 
 is, however, to be lamented that his brilliant 
 qualities were tarnifhed by his vices, and his 
 victories, in fome inftances, obfctired by his 
 cruelties. The filence of the Arabian hiftorians 
 concerning the fate of Tarik, a man fuperior to 
 Mufa in virtue, and in abilities not his inferior, 
 aiTords rcafon to believe that he paded the re- 
 mainder of his life in peaceful obfctirity. The 
 Arabian writers are equally filent concerning 
 the fate of Count Julian ; but the Spanifii 
 
 Cardonne, torn. i. p. 113,
 
 SPAIN. 77 
 
 hiflorian, Roderic de Toledo, afferts that the 
 calamities which his ambition or refentment had 
 brought upon his country recoiled on his own 
 head, and that Alahor, governor of Spain after 
 Abdalaziz, conceiving fome fufpicions of his 
 fidelity, confifcated his vafl eftates, and either 
 put him to death or caufed him to linger out his 
 days in a dungeon. That traitor to his religion 
 and country, Oppas, Archbifhop of Seville, alfo 
 received the juft recompenfe of his treafon 
 from the hand of his noble and virtuous kinf- 
 man Pelagius. 
 
 The facility with which the conqueft of Spain 
 was effected by a handful of Arabians, fhews the 
 unwarlike (late of the country at that period, 
 and the degeneracy of the once martial Goths. 
 But all the Spaniards were not funk in the 
 effeminacy of the age. After the defeat of their 
 armies, and the reduclion of their cities, a band 
 of hardy warriors retired to the mountains of 
 Afturia, where the Cantabrians fo long refilled 
 the power of Rome, and where the lait fparks 
 of national independence have never been 
 totally extinguifhed. Amidft thofe tracklefs re- 
 treats, in a life of poverty and freedom, they 
 prefervcd, with patriotic affection, their ancient 
 Jaws and cuftoms : ilfuing from their faftncffes, 
 they harrafled the neighbouring diftricls of the 
 enemy, and in frequent and bloody encounters
 
 78 HISTORY OF 
 
 with the fanatics of Arabia, they evinced their 
 defcent from thofe hardy warriors who refilled 
 the power of Rome. 
 
 This lafl remnant of brave and independent 
 Spaniards had chofen for their leader Pelagius, 
 a Prince of the royal blood, not more diftinguifh- 
 ed by his noble birth than by his determined 
 courage and acknowledged abilities; and fix 
 
 years after the battle of Xeres he re- 
 A. D. 717. } 
 
 ceived the title of King in a general 
 
 aifembly of his followers. But the kingdom 
 over which he was elected to reign was confined 
 to a narrow territory, about twenty-five miles 
 in length and twelve in breadth. His dominions, 
 however, although fo contracted in extent, had 
 all the phyfical and moral advantages calculated 
 tofecureindependence. The country wasbroken 
 by frequent and craggy mountains, which ren- 
 dered it almoft inaccefliblc to invaders, and 
 inhabited by men of determined courage, whole 
 minds were animated by the love of freedom, 
 and fortified by the contempt of death. 
 
 Alahor, the fucceflor of Abdalaziz, the fon of 
 Mufa, in the government of Spain, exercifed 
 the valour uf the Arabians by leading them 
 acrofs the Pyrenees, and difplaying the ftandard 
 of the Prophet on the banks of the Garonne. 
 Anmii't the career of victory his ardour was 
 chocked hv tlv: intelligence which he received
 
 SPAIN, 79 
 
 of the bold and well planned enterprifes of the 
 dauritlefs mountaineers of Afturia. But previous 
 to his retreat he ordered an army to be drawn 
 from different garrifons, which being joined by 
 a detachment from his forces in Gaul, marched 
 under the conduct of Ibu-Habib-Ellahmi, or 
 Alhama, his lieutenant, and Oppas, Archbifhop 
 of Seville, againft Pelagius, in order to extin- 
 guifh the laft fparks of Spanifh independence. 
 
 The numerous hoft of the invaders, having 
 traverfed, without oppofnion, the lofty and 
 rugged mountain of Aufeba, defcended into the 
 narrow valley beneath, which Pelagius, with a 
 fkilful eye, had marked for the theatre of his 
 own glory and their deftru&ion. Implicated 
 among the defiles and crags of the mountains, 
 and afl'aulted by an ambufcade of Chriftians, 
 ifluing from a cavern, the Modems were totally 
 defeated. When hiftorians inform us that the 
 field was ftrewed with a hundred thoufand of 
 their dead, we muft fmile at the exaggeration ; 
 but when we corftider the difficulty of the retreat, 
 and the religious enthufiafm which combined 
 with the fpirit of revenge to fharpen the fword 
 of the viftors, we may readily fuppofe that the 
 carnage was horrible. Alhama fell covered 
 with wounds, and that traitor to hi^religion and 
 country, Oppas, Archbifhop of Seville, fell alive
 
 80 HISTORY OF 
 
 into the hands of Pelagius, who condemned him 
 to the punifiiment juftly due to his crimes.* 
 
 One difafler was not fufficient to efface from 
 the minds of the Modems a long feries of vic- 
 tories and plunder; but fucceffive defeats con- 
 vinced them that nothing but blows were to be 
 expecled from the warlike Afturians. The 
 martial followers of Pelagius rendered them- 
 felves matters of the ftrong town of Gijon ; and 
 the Modems tacitly relinquifhed, for fome time, 
 the unprofitable conteit. The rich and fertile 
 Provinces of Gaul prefented fairer profpecls of 
 plunder than the barren mountains or Afluria. 
 
 In the ninth year of the reign of the Caliph 
 Accham, Abdoulrachman was appointed viceroy 
 of Spain. He had been educated in camps 
 amidft the clangor of war, and borne arms from 
 his early youth. Ambitious of glory and con- 
 qucfts, he no fooncr faw himfelf mafler of the 
 forces of Spain, than he refolved to ufe them 
 for the fubjugation of France. Having defeated 
 Munuz, an Arabian Lord, who had revolted 
 againfl his authority, he led a numerous army 
 acrofs the Pyrenees, put to flight the troops of 
 Eudes, Count of Aquitaine, took Bourdeaux, 
 
 * Cardonne places this action under the Viccroyaky of Abdalaziz, 
 the Ion of Mufa. Tom. i. p. 107, iio.
 
 SPAIN. 81 
 
 traveiTed Perigord, Saintonge, and Poitou, and 
 advanced almoft to the walls of Tours. But this 
 was the fatal boundary of his progrefs. The 
 whole force of the monarchy of France, united 
 under the famous Charles Martel, advanced to 
 the decifive conteft with the defperadoes of 
 Arabia. The banks of the Loire, between Tour 
 and Poicliers, was the theatre of a conflift not 
 lefs memorable for its confequences than for the 
 number and renown of the comba- 
 tants. Abdoulrahman fell in the 
 battle, and the Arabians were defeated with an 
 almoft incredible lofs. When we are told by 
 hiftorians that three hundred and feventy-five 
 thoufand Mahommedans lay dead on the enfan- 
 guined field, we muft believe the numbers to be 
 greatly exaggerated.* But the viclory was un- 
 doubtedly complete, and perhaps faved Europe 
 from the Mahommedan yoke. Another irruption 
 of the Arabians into Provence expofed them to 
 another defeat and expulfion ; and from that 
 period they confined their ambition to the fouth- 
 ward of the' Pyrenees. t 
 
 * Cardonne and Gibbon have copied this number from the Monkifh 
 hiftorians. Cardonne Hift. de L'Efpagne, &c- torn. i. p. 127. 
 Gibbon Dec. Rom. Emp. M. le Pref. Henault only fays upwards of 
 300,000. Abrege Chronologique de 1' Hift. de France. An. 732. 
 
 t The laft irruption of the Saracens was in 736, and their expulfion 
 in 739. Hen. Abreg. Chron. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 82 HISTORY OF 
 
 Thefe Gallic expeditions of the Saracens were 
 highly advantageous to the independentSpaniards 
 of Afluria, by affording them a fhort repofe 
 from war, which enabled them to eftablifh order 
 in their government. Nineteen years Pelagius 
 reigned with glory and fuccefsover the kingdom 
 which his valour had created, and at his death, 
 which happened about three years 
 after the bloody defeat of the Ara- 
 bians by Charles Mattel, he left the arduous 
 fceptre to his fon, Flavilla, with a territory of 
 about a hundred miles in length, which ac- 
 knowledged his authority. 
 
 The gratitude of the Chriftians of Afturia raifed 
 Flavilla to the throne of his father ; but his fhort 
 reign of two years was not fufHcient either to 
 juftify or condemn their choice. He perifhed 
 by a fall from his horfe in hunting; and the 
 fuffrages of a free people called to the fucceffion 
 his brother in-law, Alphonfo the Catholic, whofe 
 furname was a tribute to his zeal for religion, 
 and whofe wifdom and valour gained him the 
 efteem of his fubjeBs. His good fortune corref- 
 ponded with his merits, and the circumftances 
 of the Arabians, during his reign, greatly con- 
 tributed to ftrengthen and confolidate the rifing 
 monarchy of the Spaniards. 
 
 The patient and fubmiffive fpirit for which 
 the followers of Mahommed were at firft fo con*
 
 SPAIN. 83 
 
 fpicuous, had gradually evaporated ; and the 
 Arabians of Spain were foon divided into feveral 
 hereditary factions. Befides the original con- 
 querors, of whom many were Africans, Abdelaziz, 
 the fon of Mufa, had introduced great numbers 
 of Moflems from Africa during his viceroyalty. 
 The Arabians from the Eaft were alfo extremely 
 numerous. The immenfe riches which Mufa 
 had carried to Damafcus had excited the avarice 
 of the people of Syria and Arabia, who came in 
 fhoals into Spain ; and numerous colonies of 
 the faithful were eflablifhed by the policy of the 
 itate and the fpirit of private adventure. 
 The royal legion of Damafcus was planted at 
 Cordova, that of Emefis at Seville, that of 
 Paleftine at Algeziras and Medina Sidonia. The 
 natives of Arabia and Perfia were diffufed round 
 Toledo and throughout Caftile ; and the fertile 
 Province of Grenada was beftowed on ten 
 thoufand horfemen of Syria and Irak, defcend- 
 ants of the moft noble of the Arabian tribes. 
 Colonies of Moflems, from Egypt, were alfo 
 eftabliihed in Murcia and Lifbon. But the 
 victorious bands of Tarik and Mufa, though 
 competed of a promifcuous crowd of Arabians 
 and Africans, affumed the name of Spaniards, 
 and regarded themfelves with juftice as the 
 original conquerors. A rancorous enmity arofe 
 between thole different races, whichj together 
 
 L 2
 
 4 HISTORY OF 
 
 with the ambition and jarring interefts of their 
 Viceroys, in a country where the diftant authority 
 of the Caliph was not, at all times, fcrupuloufly 
 refpecled, at laft produced the moft dangerous 
 commotions. During the fpace of fix years a 
 A. D. 740 to feries of civil wars and revolts, in 
 7-i 6 - which feveral of the viceroys perifh- 
 ed, had rent the Arabian government in Spain, 
 and tranquillity had not been long reftored 
 \vhen a more important revolution in the Eaft 
 extended its effects to that country.* 
 
 The conteft between the two rival Houfes of 
 
 Ommijah and Abbas, which had convulfed the 
 
 Caliphate, terminated in the triumph of the 
 
 Abaffides. Mervan, the fourteenth and laft 
 
 Caliph of the dynafty of the Ornmiades, perifhed 
 
 in battle on the banks of the Nile, 
 
 and left his antagonift, Abdallah, in 
 
 pofTc-flion of the fceptre of Damafcus, which, 
 
 during the fpace of ninety-one years, had been 
 
 i'waycd by the Houfe of Ommijah. 
 
 The Mahornrnedans of Spain were at a peace- 
 ful and happy diftance from the fcene of this 
 bloody revolution ; but their connexion with 
 the aclors and fufierers involved them in its 
 confequences. The elevation of the Houfe of 
 
 For a detail of thcfc commotions, vide Cnrdonne, Hift. 
 ljKiqnc, &c. tom, i. p. 13-, ro i.j,-,.
 
 SPAIN. 85 
 
 Abbas was followed by a bloody profcription 
 of the Ommiades. One royal youth named 
 Abdalrahman, efcaped from the general mafTacre. 
 Having with great difficulty eluded the diligence 
 and celerity of his purfuers, he gained the 
 diftant region of Africa, and for fome time 
 flickered himfelf in the receffes of Mount Atlas. 
 After a variety of difficulties and dangers, he 
 received an invitation from the Arabians of 
 Spain, the majority of whom were attached to 
 the Ommiades, and regarded the Abaffides as 
 the murderers of the legitimate Caliph, and 
 the ufurpers of the fceptre of Mahommed. The 
 hopes of Abdalrahman revived : animated by 
 the ambition of reigning, and the defire of re- 
 venging the wrongs of his family, he 
 A LJ* 755* 
 
 landed in Andalufia. The white 
 
 flandard, the enfign of the Ommiades, was 
 unfurled : a violent conteft between the two 
 factions enfued; and the blood of the Ommiades, 
 in the Eaft, was avenged on the Abaffides in the 
 Weft.* The victorious Abdalrahman creeled 
 
 his independent throne at Cordova : 
 A. D. 759. | 
 
 and Spain, after having been forty- 
 five years annexed to the throne ofDamafcus,was 
 for ever feparated from the Eaflcrn Caliphate. 
 
 * For the particulars of t'.e uar between the Ommiades and Abaffides 
 Spain, vide Cardonne. Mill, d<- I.'F.lpa^nc, &c, torn, i. p. 179 to 190^
 
 86 HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. r. 
 
 Reign of Alphonfo the Catholic. Occupies the cities of Leon and 
 Aftorga. Reign of Froila.- His affaflination. Reign of Selo. His 
 death and character. Ufurpation of Mauregato Death of Abdal- 
 rahman the firft Spanifli Caliph. His character. Acceffion of 
 H.iffem I. Reign of Bermudo. Bloody defeat of the Mahomme- 
 dans. Death of the Caliph HafTem His character. Acceflion of 
 Hachem or Haflem II. His character.- Revolts of the Arabians. 
 Reduction of Toledo Revolt and reduction of Cordova. OfMerida. 
 Death of Haflem II. His Character. His magnificence. Accef- 
 fion of Abdalrahman II. Civil wars among the Arabians. Revolt 
 of Toledo and Merida. SuccefTes of Alphonfo. His death. Tur- 
 bulent reign of Ramiro.- Inroads and repulfe of the Danes. Bloody 
 defeat of the Mahommedans. Death of Ramiro. Death of the 
 Caliph Abdalrahman II. Character of thofe two Princes. Accef- 
 fion of Orthogno I. to the throne of Oviedo. Tempeftuous reign of 
 the Caliph Mahommed. Revolts of the Arabian Governors. 
 Reign of Alphonfo III. Is expelled from his capital by Froila, who. 
 ufurps the throne.- AfTaflmation of Froila. Alphonfo returns to hii 
 capital. Quells a revolt in Bifcay. Succeffive defeats of two 
 Mahommedrn armies. Death of the Caliph Mahommad. Accef- 
 fion of the Caliph Alinoufir. His unhappy and turbulent reign. 
 Revolt of Toledo. Death of Almoufir. Reign of Abdoullah. 
 Shuts himfeli up in Cordova. Dies of chagrin.- Misfortunes of 
 Alphonfo. Rebellion of his fon Garcias. Alphonfo refigns his 
 crown to Garcias. Reign of Garcias. His victories. His feverity. 
 His <V;!th. Acceflion of the Caliph Abdalrahman III. He reduces 
 the rei.'.-ls. Reftores the tranquillity of the Caliphate. Acceflion of 
 Orthogno II. Two bloody hut indecifivc battles between the Chrif- 
 tiani and the Mahcmmrdani. The feat of the Chriflian kingdom
 
 SPAIN. 8J 
 
 removed from Oviedo to Leon. Death of Orthogno II. Short and 
 tyrannical reign of Froila II. Reign of Alphonfo IV. Reign of 
 Ramiro. He takes Madrid. Infults Toledo. Befieges SaragofTa. 
 Exertions of Abdalrahman. His defeat at Simancas. Ramiro 
 defeats the Mahommedans and ravages their territories. Death of 
 Ramiro. Reign of Orthogno III. SupprefTes the revolt of his 
 brother Sancho. SupprefTes another infurreftion in Gallicia. Abdal- 
 rahman invades Ca(Ule,is defeated and expelled. Death of Orthogno 
 III. Reign of Sancho. He is expelled from the throne by the Count 
 ofCaflile. Reign of Orthogno IV. Sancho reftored by the aid of 
 Abdalrahman. Sancho repulfes the Normans. His death. Death 
 of the Caliph Abdalrahman III. His characler. General view of 
 the Spanifh Caliphate. Flourifhing flate of fcience and letters among 
 the Arabians. Defcription of the Mofque of Cordova. Wealth 
 and magnificence of Abdalrahman III. Defcription of the city and 
 palace of Zehra. Abdalrahman's eftimate of regal felicity. Obfer- 
 vations on the fubjeft. General picture of Spain in that age. Splen- 
 dour and magnitude of Cordova. Crowded population and wealth of 
 the Caliphate. Its commerce and revenues. Literature and libraries. 
 - Comparifon of the Caliphate with the other countries of Europe. 
 
 THE modern monarchy of Spain, formed amidft 
 the crags of Afturia, and confined at firft to a 
 narrow diftrift, like that of Rome on the Palatine 
 Mount, gradually increafed its power and ex- 
 tended its boundaries. Mention has already 
 been made of the acceffion of Alphonfo the 
 Catholic to the throne of Pelagius. In his reign, 
 which commenced A. D, 739, and ended in 758, 
 happened the memorable revolution which fepa- 
 rated Arabian Spain from the Caliphate of the 
 Eaft. This important event afforded to Alphonfo 
 a favourable opportunity of enlarging and 
 confolidating his kingdom. Taking advantage
 
 88 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the civil war which preceded the eftablifhmefit 
 of Abdalrahman, he penetrated into Gallicia, 
 captured Lugo, ravaged Leon and Caftile, and 
 made himfelf matter of Aftorga, Saldagua, and 
 Victoria. At the conclufion of each campaign 
 he retired into the craggy diftricl: of Afluria. 
 His retreat was marked with devaftation ; and 
 he cautioufly interpofed a wide and defert fron- 
 tier between his own contracted territory and 
 the populous dominions of the Arabians. The 
 fame of his exploits and the liberal diftribution 
 of his fpoils drew from all parts of Spain num- 
 bers of bold and needy Chriftians, who joined 
 his ftandard with a'acrity. The Modems, dif- 
 tracled by the rival pretenfions of the Houfes of 
 Ommijah and Abbas, and agitated by civil com- 
 motions, were unable to oppofe his progrefs, and 
 towards the conclufion of his reign he ventured 
 to quit his faftncfies in the mountains and to 
 occupy the cities of Leon and Aftorga. 
 
 Alphonfo was fuccecded by his fon 
 Froila, whofe reign was marked by a 
 rigid regulation of the church, and fignal fuccefle* 
 in war. Amidfl the commotions of thofe times, 
 the authority of the church had been weakened ; 
 and many of the clergy had contracted marriage 
 in contempt of the ecclcfiaftical canons. The 
 laity reprobated their conduft.; and the aufterity 
 of the monarch correfponding with the preju-
 
 SPAIN. 89 
 
 dices of his fubjccts again confined the miniflers 
 of religion to celibacy. 
 
 This ecclefialticul reform, as it was called in 
 that age, is extolled by the Monkifh hiilorians : 
 the military atchievements of Froila morejuflly 
 claim the applaufe of pofterity. In twodecifive 
 battles in the Province of Gallicia, and among 
 the mountains of Old Caftile, he defeated the 
 forces of Abdalrahman, the firft Spanifh Caliph : 
 in the fir (I of thefe actions fifty-four thoufand of 
 the Mahommedans are laid to have fallen : in 
 ihe latter their whole army was almoit annihi- 
 lated. But ihe difpoliiion of Froila was flern 
 and fanguinary: he was not lefs the tyrant of his 
 fubjeds than the terror of his enemies. His 
 brother, Bimarano, who poffefled the public 
 efteem, was the victim of his jealoufy, and in a 
 perfidious interview he was (tabbed by the hand 
 of the monarch. This unnatural murder, added 
 to a variety of other tyrannical acts, excited 
 among the nobles an abhorrence and alarm 
 '.vhich occalioned the dellruclion of the tyrant; 
 
 only ;i fliort time clapfed before he 
 
 A. 0.768. 
 
 perifhed by affaffination, 
 
 As Froila had lived unbeloved he died un- 
 lamentt'd. Mis infant (on, Alphonfo, who after- 
 wards arofe the father and glory of his country, 
 was let afidc (or Aurelio, the couiin of the late 
 Kin>'. The reign of this Prince is marked by no 
 
 V OL. I, M
 
 90 HISTORY OF 
 
 event of importance. He died without ifTiie, 
 
 and the fuffrages of the people raifed 
 A. D. 774. 6 
 
 Silo, his kinfman, to the throne. 
 
 The adminiftration of Silo juftified the national 
 choice : his reign was peaceful and profperous ; 
 and he prefided with a generous care over the 
 education of the youthful Alphonfo. On the 
 death of Silo that Prince was declared 
 his fuccefibr, but the fceptre was fnatch- 
 ed from his hand by Mauregato, the fon of 
 Alphonfo the Catholic, by an Arabian captive. 
 The conduft of Mauregato was derogatory to 
 the honour of the crown and the memory of his 
 father. In order to fupport his doubtful title 
 he introduced into his dominions the enemies 
 of his religion and his country ; and kept on foot 
 an army of Arabians to overawe thedifcontents of 
 hisfubjefts. His reign was defervedly unpopular; 
 and his death was regarded as a national 
 
 A r\ -QQ O 
 
 A. J_>. ,88. 
 
 deliverance. 
 
 The year preceding that event, being the 
 ySyth of the Chriftian sera, and the lyift of the 
 Hegira, was marked by the death of Abdalrah- 
 man, the firft Caliph of the Arabians in Spain. 
 During the fpace of twenty-eight years he had 
 fwayed the fceptre of the Ommiades with a bene- 
 ficent hand, and encouraged the purfuits of 
 agriculture and commerce. The ruin of his 
 family in the Eaft had opened his way to a
 
 SPAIN. 91 
 
 <hrone in the weft; and his talents for govern- 
 ment and war maintained him in his high eleva- 
 tion againft all the efforts of the Eaftern Caliph 
 and the frequent revolts of his own fubjecls, 
 which appear to have been the caufe of his ill 
 fuccefs againft the Chriftians. It is certain that 
 the violent commotions which agitated his reign 
 greatly contributed to confolidate and extend 
 the infant monarchy of modern Spain. Abdal- 
 rahman was fkilful in every kind of manly exer- 
 cife, and particularly in the ufe of arms : he was 
 intrepid in danger and indefatigable in labour 
 and application; and to all thofe qualities he 
 joined a fweet and infmuating eloquence. He 
 cultivated the fciences and letters, and fome 
 (pecimens of his poetry, which yet remain, prove 
 the delicacy of his tafte.* This Prince died in 
 the 6oth year of his age, univerfally regretted. 
 His iffue confided of eleven fons and nine 
 daughters, and he had fo firmly eftablifhed his 
 throne that he tranfmitted it peaceably to his 
 defendants. HafTem, his third fon, was, by his 
 defignation, appointed his fucceffbr, and recog- 
 nifed by the Modems as their fovereign. 
 
 TheSpanifh Chriftians, in order to fupply the 
 place of their late King, Mauregato, with a more 
 \vorthy fucceflbr, drew Bermudo, the brother 
 
 * Cardonne, torn. i. p. 211, 
 M 2
 
 92 HISTORY OF 
 
 of Aurelio, from a cloiflcr, to exchange the 
 cowl for a crown. His fubfequent conduft 
 fhowed him worthy of his elevation. He intro- 
 duced Aiphonfo into his council^, and intruded 
 him with the command of the army. Attended 
 by the youthful hero, Bermudo marched again ft 
 the forces of the Caliph Haffem, whom ambition 
 had excited to invade his territory. The neigh- 
 bourhood of Burgos was the fcene of a bloody 
 encounter. The Mahommedans were totally 
 defeated, and the victory was chiefly afcribed 
 to the valour of Aiphonfo. The generous 
 Bermudo, feizing the moment of public admira- 
 tion and gratitude, refigned the crown ; and 
 Aiphonfo. from the purity of his manners, fur- 
 named the Chaile. was. by the fuffrages of a free 
 
 people, elected their fovereign. The 
 A- D. 791. 
 
 reign of Aiphonfo II. was difiinguifhed 
 
 by his fucccffes againftthe Arabians. Theirfirft 
 defeat was near Lodos in Gallicia, where fixty 
 thoufand of them perifhed in a morafs, or were 
 flaughtered by the Chiiltians. In the fifth year 
 A D _ 6 f tllc re 'g n f Aiphonfo, the Caliph 
 Haffem died in the fortieth year of his 
 age. He had inherited the political, military, 
 and fcientific genius of his father Abdalrahman I. 
 lie was fond of magnificence, and extremely 
 attached to the cultivation and encouragement 
 
 to 
 
 of architecluie. The great Mofque of Cordova 3
 
 SPAIN. 93 
 
 begun by Abdalrahman, his father, and com- 
 pleted by Haffem, remained a fplendid monument 
 of Arabian grandeur. 
 
 The reign of Haffem, however, like that of his 
 father, was conftantly harraffed by revolts, moft 
 of which were excited by his elder brothers, 
 Abdoullah and Suleiman, who were indignant 
 at feeing themfelves let afide from the fucceffion. 
 About four years before his death, he difpatched 
 his general, Abdoulvahed, with a numerous army 
 on a marauding expedition acrofs the Pyrenees. 
 The Arabians, on this occafion, pillaged the 
 country as far as Narbonne ; but againft the 
 warlike Chriftians of Spain the arms of Maflem 
 were generally unfuccefsful. 
 
 His fon, Hachcm, or Haflem II. had a formid- 
 able rival in Alphonfo the Challe. His reign 
 was more ternpcfttious than that of his father ; 
 being harrafled by revolts, following one 
 another in conftant fucceffion ; and his two 
 uncles, Abdoullah and Suleiman, were his avow- 
 ed enemies. Of all the Mahommedan cities of 
 Spain. Seville and Toledo were the moft prone 
 to revolt. The former had cxcrcifcd the arms 
 of Abdoulrahman I. and the latter had long 
 refilled the efforts of Haflem I. his fucceftor. 
 But Toledo experienced, in a dreadful manner, 
 the perfidious feverity of Ha Hem II. Being 
 fu fie red to enter the city under the mafk of
 
 9-i HISTORY OF 
 
 friendfhip, he invited the chief of the Arabian 
 citizens to a fplendid feaft, where they were all, 
 to the number of five thoufand, involved in a 
 general maffacre, from which not one of them 
 efcaped.* By this horrible meafure he extirpated 
 the feeds of rebellion in Toledo; but they fprung 
 up afrefh in Cordova, his capital, which, after 
 repeated infurreftions, was obliged to fubmit to 
 the mercilefs hand of the viclor. The fuburbs 
 were levelled to the ground, their inhabitants 
 banimed, and new caftles and forts overawed the 
 rebellious city. Mcrida alfo, and feveral other 
 cities, revolted againft the authority of their 
 fovercign, and being reduced by his arms, ex- 
 perienced the weight of his vengeance. Haffem 
 II. died A. D. 822, in the 541!! year of his age. 
 He was a man of great abilities and valour : 
 liberal in his rewards, but fevere in his punifh- 
 ments. Perhaps the inceffant revolts, which 
 agitated his reign, might occafion the cruelty 
 imputed to his character. He cultivated and 
 encouraged learning. PafTionately fond of great- 
 nefs and all its oftentatious appendages, he was 
 the fir ft of the Spanifh Caliphs who placed a 
 guard at the gate of the palace, and purchafed 
 flavcs, of whom he is faid to have kept 5,000 ; 
 but his Mahommedan fubjecls vverefcandalizedat 
 
 Sec the detail of this affair in Cardonne, torn. i. p. 24 1, 2
 
 SPAIN. 95 
 
 the liberty which he took of drinking wine, a 
 liquor prohibited by the Koran. 
 
 HafTem II. was fucceeded by his fon, Abdal- 
 rahman II. His reign, like thofe of his pre- 
 deceflbrs, was agitated by revolts. His great 
 uncle, Abdoullah, who had fo often attempted 
 to dethrone his grandfather and his father, again. 
 had recourfe to arms, but being again defeated, 
 he died, worn out by grief and difappointment. 
 Toledo and Merida creeled the ftandard of 
 revolt under popular leaders, and exercifed the 
 arms of the Caliph, who, notwitbftanding tbe'e 
 domeftic troubles, made himfelf matter of Barce- 
 lona ; but like his predecefibrs he had little 
 fuccefs againft the Chriftians of Spain, 
 
 The inceffant revolts and inteftine commo- 
 tions of the Arabians afforded Alphonfo II. a 
 favourable opportunity of pillaging their terri- 
 tories and extending the fway of the Spanifh 
 fceptre. He repaired the walls and re-peopled 
 the city of Braga, and penetrating through 
 Portugal to the mouth of the Tagus, made 
 himfelf matter of Lifbon. In order to fecure 
 his advantages, he concluded an alliance with 
 Charlemagne, who marching into Spain to 
 reinftate an Arabian Emir, that had been ex- 
 pelled from Saragofla, eftablifhed his own power 
 from the Ebro to the Pyrenees. Alphonfo 
 foon after deftroyed another army of Arabian
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 plunderers, who had ravaged the country round 
 Burgos ; and another total defeat, in which 
 they are faid to have loft fifty thoufand men, 
 convinced the enemies of Alphonfo that if age 
 had impaired his (trength It had not chilled his 
 ardour nor abated his courage. This was the 
 laft military exploit of Alphonfo. After fifty 
 years fpent amidft wars and commotions, he 
 refigned the fceptre to Ramiro, the eldeft fon 
 ofBermudo, and enjoyed four years of private 
 tranquillity. The victories which he gained 
 have immortalized his valour, and the churches 
 which he creeled are monuments of his piety. 
 
 He died in the 78th vear of his age, 
 A. D. 845. . 
 
 univerfally regretted by his people. 
 
 The death of Alphonfo was followed by civil 
 difcord. The reign of Ramiro was fhort and 
 ftormy, but glorious. After having quelled 
 two fucceflive revolts, and too cruelly punifhed 
 their leaders with lofs of fight and perpetual 
 confinement within the walls of a monaftery, he 
 was called to repel a predatory invafion of the 
 Northern Barbarians, who, under the different 
 names of Saxons, Normans,* and Danes, ravaged, 
 in that age, all the maritime parts of Europe. 
 Thefe marauders had moored their veflels in 
 
 * The Normans took Lifbon, Siville, and Cadiz: They were ex- 
 pelled by the Arabians, but they carried off immenlc fpoils. Vide 
 CaiJonnr, turn. i. p. 275, 277.
 
 SPAIN. 97 
 
 the harbour ofCorunna,and fpread terror and de- 
 vaftation through the adjacent country. Ramiro 
 marched againft this new enemy. The invaders 
 were defeated : part of their fleet was deftroyed, 
 and for a confiderable time their predatory 
 fquadrons fhunned the inaufpicious coaft. The 
 Pagans being thus repelled, the Chriftians and 
 the Mahommedans again began to difpute the 
 dominion of Spain, and Abdalrahman II. was an 
 adverfary worthy of Ramiro. But the arms of 
 the Caliph were unfuccefsful. In a bloody en- 
 gagement the Arabians are laid to have loft no 
 fewer than fixty thoufand combatants. Super- 
 flition imagined, or policy pretended, that in one 
 of thofe bloody contefts, between the Chriftians 
 and the Mahommedans, St. James, the patron of 
 Spain, mounted on a milk white fteed, animated, 
 by his prefence, the warriors of Chrift. His 
 afliftance was rewarded by the endowment of 
 the church of Compoftella, which was long 
 afterwards celebrated as a place of pious pil- 
 grimage. 
 
 After a reign of fix years, Ramiro paid the 
 debt of nature, and within the fpace of twelve 
 months his illuftrious adverfary, Abdalrahman 
 II. was called to follow him to the tomb. 
 Both their reigns were turbulent, but both 
 of them were glorious. _Both thcfe Princes 
 were illuftrious in arms ; but Abdalrahman 
 
 VOL, J, N
 
 9S HISTORY OF 
 
 II. was alfo diftinguifhed by his tafte for 
 fcience and letters, and in particular for 
 mufic and poetry. His political abilities 
 equalled or perhaps furpafled his military talents. 
 Wealth and plenty were the effefts of his ad- 
 miniftration; and had it not been for their prone- 
 nefs to revolt, the Arabians of Spain might have 
 been happy under his government. He died at 
 the age of fixty-two, in the thirty-fecond year 
 of his reign, and was fucceeded by his eldeft fon, 
 Mahommed. 
 
 On the death of Ramiro, the fceptre 
 A. 0.851; 
 
 of Afturia had devolved on his fon, 
 
 Orthogno, who, according to fome accounts, 
 commenced his reign by a fplendid viftory over 
 the forces of the Caliph ; but Cardonne afferts 
 that the Arabians had the advantage.* But what- 
 ever might be the event of a fingle aftion, the 
 inteftine commotions, which fhook the throne of 
 Cordova, tended to ftrengthen that of Oviedo. 
 
 The reign of the Caliph Mahommed was, if 
 poflible, more tempeftuous than thofe of his 
 predeceflbrs. The ambition of the governors of 
 the different provinces defpifed a delegated 
 authority, and openly afpired to independence. 
 Muza, the governor of SaragofTa, a man of an 
 
 * La guerre recommenca avec plus de fureur cntre les deux nations 
 L'an 851. II y cut une battaille (anglante et la vitoire deracura aux 
 Aubcs. Cardonne, torn, i, p. 281.
 
 SPAIN. 99 
 
 cnterprifing fpirit and daring courage, was the 
 firft who creeled the flandard of revolt. This 
 rebel, after making a fuccefsful inroad into 
 France, turned his arms againft the kingdom of 
 Afturia, but was defeated by Orthogno with the 
 lofs of 10,000 men. Orthogno alfo repulfed 
 the Normans, who had ventured again to ravage 
 the mores of Gallicia. The policy of this Prince 
 fomented the divifions of the Arabians by alter- 
 nately aiding the different factions. By his 
 fagacityin the ufe of opportunities, as well as by 
 valour, he extended his conquefts or his ravages 
 beyond the Douro; and the fpoils of Salamanca 
 and Coria enriched the city of Oviedo. Or- 
 thogno I. died in pofleflion of the efteem and 
 admiration of his fubje&s, and the 
 national aflembly committed to the 
 hand of his fon, Alphonfo, the fceptre which he 
 had fwayed with fo much vigour and fuccefs. 
 
 Alphonfo III. who, from his atchievements, 
 obtained the furname of Great, was in the 
 eighteenth year of his age when he afcended 
 the throne of Oviedo. The dawn of his future 
 glory was obfcured by the clouds of misfor- 
 tune. Soon after his acceflion he was driven 
 from his capital by Froila, the rebel governor 
 of Gallicia, and with a few faithful adherents 
 was obliged to take refuge among the moun- 
 tains of Caftile. Froila immediately aflumed 
 N 2
 
 100 HISTORY OF 
 
 the regal dignity. The fuccefs of the ufurper 
 had been rapid ; but his reign was tranfient. 
 His arrogance and tyrannical abufe of power 
 excited a general difguft, and he fell by affaffina- 
 tion. 
 
 On the death of the ufurper, Alphonfo quitted 
 his retreat and entered Oviedo amidft the ac- 
 clamations of his fubjefcis. But his prefence 
 \vas foon required in Bifcay to quell another 
 revolt. The rebels were crufhed by his celerity 
 and vigour; and from the fuppreflron of domeftic 
 commotion, he turned his viclorious arms againft 
 the common enemy of his religion and country. 
 Two Mahommedan armies, from Cordova and 
 Toledo, having attempted to penetrate, by 
 different routes, into his dominions, were fuc- 
 ceflively defeated. Alphonfo having ravaged 
 the Mahommedan territory as far as Merida 5 
 enriched his foldiers with the fpoils of his 
 enemies, and. after a number of bloody con- 
 flicts, eitablifhed his dominion over that diftrift 
 of modern Portugal, which lies between the 
 Minho and the Douro. 
 
 In the twenty. fourth ye^r of the 
 
 A. D. 886. . ' 
 
 reign of Alphonfo the Great, the 
 
 Caliph Mahommed died at Cordova, after having, 
 for the fpace of thirty-three years, grafped, with 
 a vigorous hand, a fccptre which was every 
 moment in danger of being wreftcd from him by
 
 SPAIN. 101 
 
 the efforts of rebellion. Never was a reign 
 more tempeftuous than that of Mahommed : 
 hiftory dcfcribes it as a continued feries of 
 formidable revolts. Notwithstanding their bloody 
 wars againft the Chriftians, the force of the Ara- 
 bians in Spain feemed to be chiefly employed 
 againft one another in oppofite factions, and the 
 rebellious city of Toledo was always among the 
 firft to refift the authority of the fovereign. The 
 reign of this Caliph was alfo harrafTed by the 
 Normans, who, arriving with a fleet of fixty fail, 
 re-commenced their depredations on the coaft 
 of Gallicia, and being repulfed by the Chriftians, 
 ravaged the maritime parts of the Arabian terri- 
 tories in Spain, from whence proceeding to the 
 Balearic Ifles and the coaft of Africa, they re- 
 duced to afhes all the towns and villages near 
 the fliore, and returned to their own country 
 with an immenfe quantity of plunder.* 
 
 Mahommed was fucceeded in the Caliphate 
 by his fon, Almouzir, whofe fhort reign was 
 turbulent and unhappy. Ibu Haffoun, a daring 
 and artful rebel, who had fuccefsfully refifted 
 the authority of the father, continued in arms 
 againft his fon; and the citizens of Toledo, 
 ever ready for revolt, attached themfclves to 
 his party. Departing fuddenly from Cordova, 
 
 * Ciidonne, torn, l. p. 296.
 
 102 HISTORY OF 
 
 Almoufir advanced with his army to Toledo, and 
 having laid fiege to that city, expired of ficknefs 
 before its walls, in the third year of his reign, 
 and the forty- fix th year of his age. 
 
 Abdoullah, his brother, next afcend- 
 ed the throne. He immediately raifed 
 the fiege of Toledo, and returned to Cordova. 
 But his retreat to the capital was the fignal for a 
 general revolt in the provinces. Toledo, Seville, 
 Medina Sidonia, Lifbon, and mod of the principal 
 cities of the Caliphate embraced the party of 
 Ibu Haffoun. The capital alone remained faith- 
 ful to its fovereign. This tremendous revolu- 
 tion did not difcourage Abdoullah : he levied an 
 army of forty thoufand men in Cordova, and 
 marched againfl Ibu HafToun. The artful chief- 
 tain retired with his forces into the mountains. 
 The Caliph imprudently refolving to purfue him 
 into his retreat, was furprifed by the rebel 
 troops, who pillaged his camp and captured all 
 his baggage. This difafter difcouraged the royal 
 army, and the (oldiers tumultuoufly infifted on 
 returning to Cordova. Abdoullah was obliged 
 to accede to their demand, and to fhut himfelf 
 up in his capital. As the provinces were re- 
 volted, the taxes no longer poured wealth into the 
 royal treafury. The unfortunate Caliph faw his 
 revenues as well as his authority nearly annihi- 
 lated : the fortitude of his mind was overcome by
 
 SPAIN. 103 
 
 the gloomy afpeft of his affairs, and he 
 A.D. 912. . 
 
 died of grief at Cordova, in the feventy- 
 
 firft year of his age, and the twenty-third of a 
 moft unprofperous reign. 
 
 Hiftory will not refufe to Alphonfo the tribute 
 due to thofe qualities which procured him the 
 furname of Great; but the fagacious reader will 
 obferve that the perturbed reigns of the three 
 Caliphs, his contemporaries, contributed in no 
 fmall degree to his fucceHes. During this 
 period, however, Chriftian as well as Mahomme- 
 dan, Spain was a theatre of inteftine commo- 
 tions. After the death of Froila, three fucceflive 
 revolts in Gallicia, and two in Caftile, were 
 fupprefled by Alphonfo. But his declining years 
 were expofed to a more difagreeable ftruggle. 
 The magnificence of his buildings, and his almoft 
 continual wars, had obliged him to impofe new 
 taxes, which excited the murmurs of his fubjefts. 
 Garcias, his eldeft fon, encouraged the general 
 difcontent, and creeled the flandard of rebellion. 
 His revolt was fupported by Xiniene, his 
 mother, and by Nugnez Fernandez, one of the 
 moft powerful nobles of Caftile ; and a civil war 
 was kindled in the kingdom. Alphonfo dif- 
 played his prudence in terminating an unnatural 
 conteft which might have proved fatal to his 
 Houfe, and muft have been deftruclive to his 
 people, After a long and glorious, although
 
 104 HISTORY OF 
 
 turbulent reign of forty-eight years, he refigned 
 
 the crown to his fon in the national 
 A. D.9io. . 
 
 council at Oviedo. 
 
 In the poflefiion of the throne Garcias dif- 
 played that affeclion and reverence for his father 
 which he had before neglefted ; and Alphonfo 
 aflifted his fon in the council and in the field. 
 The country beyond the Douro was fwept by 
 their united arms, and the cities on its banks 
 were ftrengthened with new fortifications. Death 
 clofed the long and glorious toils of Alphonfo 
 foon after his refignation. Garcias did not 
 long furvive his father. Bold and enterprifing 
 in the field, he was the terror of his enemies, 
 but fevere and inexorable in his adminiftration, 
 he never gained the affeclion of his fubjefts, and 
 
 after a fhort reign of three years, he 
 A.D. 9 i3. ... . ' 
 
 died without exciting their regret. 
 
 The year preceding had been diftinguifhed by 
 the death of the Caliph Abdoullah, and the eleva- 
 tion of Abdalrahman III. to the throne of 
 Cordova. This Prince was the nephew of his 
 predecefTor, and fon of the Caliph Mahommed, 
 being the firft inftance of deviation from lineal 
 defcent fince the eftablifhment of the throne of 
 the Omrniades in Spain. At his acceflion the 
 Provinces of the Caliphate were, as already 
 obferved, in a ftate of general revolt ; but 
 Abdalrahman difllpated the factions, reduced
 
 SPAIN* 105 
 
 the rebellious cities, humbled the feditious chief- 
 tains, and restored the majelty of the throne. 
 Mis firit operations were directed againft the 
 famous rebel Ibu Haffoun, whom he defeated with 
 great (laughter in a general engagement. The 
 victory was fo complete, and the martial talents 
 of Abdalrahman were, in this battle, fo confpicu- 
 ous, that all the cities acknowledged his authority, 
 and the prudence and vigour of his adminiftra- 
 tion retained them in their obedience. On the 
 
 death of Garcias, his brother, Orthogno 
 
 A " D -9 1 3- fr , , f r rr c , 
 
 II. was, by the free luttrages or the 
 
 people, elccled King of Afturia. In this Prince 
 Abdalrahman found a contemporary and rival 
 not unworthy of the greateft of the Caliphs of 
 Spain. Orthogno, foon after his acceffion, 
 made an irruption into New Caftile, where he 
 defeated the armies of Abdalrahman, took Tala- 
 vera by a (fault, razed the city to the ground, 
 carried off in chains the governor arid principal 
 inhabitants, and returned to Oviedo covered 
 with glory and laden with fpoils. Abdalrahman, 
 being fcarcely yet eftablifhed on his throne, 
 folicited afli fiance from the Arabian Princes 
 of Africa, and obtained a body of troops. But 
 the united armies of Cordova and Africa being 
 totally defeated, with the lofs of two of their 
 ableft generals, Orthogno ravaged the open 
 country of Portugal, putting all to fire and fword, 
 
 VOL. I. O
 
 106 HISTORY OF 
 
 and having penetrated as far as Merida, plun- 
 dered and deftroyed the cities on the banks of 
 the Guadiana. Such an accumulation of mif- 
 fortunes obliged the Arabians to agree to a 
 fufpenfion of arms, on conditions dictated by 
 the victor. But the reign of Orthogno was not 
 invariably gilded with fuccefs. Abdalrahman 
 refolved to break a difhonourable truce which 
 nothing but neceflity could have induced him 
 to fign. He put the whole force of the Caliphate 
 in motion. The chriftian monarch met him in 
 the field ; and an aftion took place in which the 
 viftory was doubtful. After this battle Abdal- 
 rahman ravaged the kingdom of Navarre.* 
 Orthogno flew to the affiftance of its King. 
 Another action took place as bloody as the 
 former, and of which the iffue was equally indeci- 
 five. The war between the Chriftians and the 
 Mahomedans was afterwards confined to deful- 
 tory enterprifes, and the Saft days of Orthogno 
 were clouded by domeflic uneafinefs. This 
 monarch removed the feat of his government 
 from Oviedo to Leon, and from that period the 
 name of the kingdom of Afturia was loft in 
 
 * Charlemagne in an expedition into Spain, A. D. 771, had feized 
 Xavarrc, which, %\'ith part of Bifcay and Catalonia, afterwards con- 
 (litutcd a French province. But on the diffolution of his vaft empire, 
 the governors had affumed the independent fovereignty, firft with th<? 
 t:tle of Count, and attcrwards of King of Navarre,
 
 SPAIN. 107 
 
 that of the kingdom of Leon. Orthogno 
 
 A. D. 923- , . 
 
 expired at his new capital, and the 
 
 national council, fetting afide his two fons, 
 Alphonfo and Ramiro, elected Froila, his brother, 
 to the fucceffion. Thus the three fons of 
 Alphonfo the Great fucceffively wore his crown. 
 But the laft of the number was unworthy of his 
 glorious progenitor. His reign was ftained by 
 the murder of the nobles who had oppofed his 
 election ; but his cruelty was arrefted by difeafe, 
 and a year of tyranny was terminated by his 
 
 death. His nephew, Alphonfo, the 
 A. D. 924. 
 
 eldeft fon of Orthogno II. was raifed 
 
 to the throne of Leon, which, within lefs than 
 a year, he refigned to his brother Ramiro. But 
 repenting foon after, he took the advantage of 
 Ramiro's abfence to refume the fovereign 
 authority. This inconftancy occafioned his 
 ruin. Alphonfo was befieged in Leon, and 
 reduced by famine to implore the mercy- of his 
 brother. His coufins, the three fons of Froila, 
 had alfo creeled the ftandard of revolt in Afluria. 
 But the fuperior genius or fortune of Ramiro 
 prevailed. His coufins and his brother fuffered 
 the fame punifhment, being condemned to lofs 
 of fight, and confinement within the walls of a 
 monaftery. In that facred feclufion the unfor- 
 tunate Alphonfo, from that circumftance fur- 
 named the Monk, by an exemplary piety, 
 
 O 2
 
 108 HISTORY OF 
 
 atoned for bis indifcretion, and at his death 
 was honoured with royal obfequies. 
 
 No fooner were the flames of civil difcord 
 extinguished, than Ramiro prepared for foreign 
 hoftilities. Having entered the Arabian terri- 
 tory, he carried by affauh iMadrid, the prefent 
 capital of the Spanifh monarchy, and after razing 
 its fortifications, preferred himfelf before the 
 walls of Toledo, the ftrongefl city of the Cali- 
 phate. In order to revenge thefe lofTes and 
 infults, the Mahommedans from Arragon ravaged 
 that part of Caftile which belonged to the Chrif- 
 tians. But Ramiro gave them a total defeat, 
 and having laid fiege to Saragoila, obliged the 
 Arabian chief, who reigned in Arragon under 
 the paramount fovereignty of the Caliph, to 
 acknowledge himfelf the vaffal of the crown of 
 Leon, and confent to the payment of tribute, 
 Abdalrahman, indignant at a (tipulation fo dif- 
 graceful to the throne of Cordova, compelled 
 the Arragonian chief to violate the treaty, and 
 rcfolved to bring; the conteft between the 
 
 O 
 
 Mahommedans and the Chriilians to a fpeedy 
 decifion. 
 
 The pride of Abdalrahman flimulatcd him to 
 exertions worthy of the ancient power and 
 renown of the Arabians. A modern hiftorian 
 relates that a hundred and fifty thoufand Mof- 
 Icmr, excited by zeal for religion, or avidity
 
 SPAIX. 109 
 
 .of plunder, marched under the banners of the 
 Caliph. This numerous and formidable hod 
 ravaged Old Caftile, and penetrated into the 
 kingdom of Leon. The plains of Simancas, near 
 the confluence of the Puifcrga and the Douro, 
 were the theatre of a bloody encounter between 
 the Chriftians and the Mahommedans. Ramiro 
 gained a fignal viQory, and the great Abdalrah- 
 man, after lofing thirty thoufand of his foldiers, 
 mr.de a difficult efcape from the enfanguined 
 field. This memorable battle is placed by 
 Mariana in the year 934 of the Chriftian asra ; 
 but it is dated four years later by the Arabian 
 hiftorians, whole authority feems to be preferred 
 by M. deCardonne. 
 
 The King of Leon having triumphed over an 
 enemy, worthy of his own renown in arms, aban- 
 doned the hope of foreign conqueft to extin- 
 guifh the flames of inteftine commotion. His 
 vaffal, the Count of Caftile, afpired to indepen- 
 dence. Ramiro, with a veteran army, marched 
 into that province, which he foon reduced to 
 obedience, and having feized the Count, with 
 the other chiefs of the hoftile confederacy, 
 carried them prifoners to Leon. But his policy 
 or clemency preferved their lives, and at lafl 
 reftored them to freedom, and the public union 
 wascemcntcd by themarriage of his fonOnhogno 
 with Urraca, the daughter of the Lord of Caftile,
 
 110 HISTORY OF 
 
 With the return of internal tranquillity 
 Ramiro refumed his preparations for external 
 hoftilities. At the head of a numerous and 
 veteran army he puffed the mountains of Avila, 
 and defeated the Mahommedans, of whom 
 twelve thoufand were left dead on the fkld. 
 After this important viclory he ravaged New 
 Caftile, and with an immenfe booty returned to 
 Leon. Being warned, by a mortal difeafe, that 
 his end approached, he refigned the crown to 
 his fon, Oithogno, whofe accefllon received the 
 unanimous approbation of the national council. 
 The martial exploits of Ramiro had equalled 
 thofe of his moil illuflrious predeceffors ; and 
 after a glorious reign of twenty feven years, 
 
 he expired amidft the applaufe and 
 
 A. D. 952. 
 
 lamentations of his fuhjefts. 
 
 The brilliant career of Ramiro II. had receiv- 
 ed additional luftre from being oppofed to the 
 genius and power of the great Abdalrahman, 
 and Orihogno III. had the honour of contending 
 with the fame formidable adverfary. But his 
 firfl trophies were creeled on the fuppreffion of 
 domcltic revolt. Immediately after his acceffion 
 a civil war was kindled by his brother, Sancho, 
 whofe pretenfions were fupported by his uncle, 
 the King of Navarre ; and Orthogno beheld, 
 with furprilo and indignation, his own father-in- 
 law, Gonzalez. Count of Caftile, afTociated with
 
 SPAIN. Ill 
 
 his rival. But the formidable preparations of 
 Orthogno awed the confederates into fubmiffion, 
 and the public tranquillity was preferved without 
 the effufion of blood. A new infurre&ion in 
 Gallicia was alfo fuppreifed by his fudderv 
 appearance in arms, and his offer of a general 
 pardon. Having fuccefsfully refifted the com- 
 binations of his domeftic foes, the King of Leon 
 turned his arms againft the foreign enemies of 
 his throne and religion. He ravaged the whole 
 country of Portugal ; and Lifbon was a fecond 
 time taken and plundered by a Chriftian army. 
 Abdalrahman, at the fame time, fent a force of 
 eighty thoufand men to invade Caftile; but all 
 the inhabitants who were able to bear arms having 
 joined the ftandard of their Count Ferdinand, 
 defeated the Modems, and by the affiftance of 
 Orthogno expelled them from ihe country. 
 
 After a reign of five years, the 
 A.D. 957- , f r^ u 
 
 glorious career or Orthogno was 
 
 arrefted by death. He left only one fon who 
 was yet in his infancy; and the national council 
 raifed Sancho to the throne of Leon. But the 
 new monarch, who had formerly attempted to 
 wreft the fceptre from the hand of his brother, 
 found himfelf incapable of retaining it when in 
 his pofleflion. Gonzalez, Count of Caftile, re- 
 volted againfl his authority, compelled him to 
 fcek an afylum in the court of his uncle, the
 
 112 HISTORY OF 
 
 King of Navarre, and placed the crown of Leofi 
 on the head of Orthogno IV. This Prince was 
 the fon of the unfortunate Alphonfo the Monk, 
 and nephew of Ramiro II. but he neither in- 
 herited the mild virtues of his father, nor the 
 elevated genius of his uncle; and his tyranny- 
 excited the difafteclion of his fubje&s. Sancho, 
 in the mean while, repaired to the court of 
 Cordova; and his vifit was productive of two 
 great advantages. Me had long laboured under 
 a dropfical complaint : his health was reftored 
 by the (kill of the Arabian phyficians, and his 
 caufe was efpoufed by the geuerofity or policy 
 of the Caliph. The forces of Abdalrahman were 
 joined by thofe of the King of Navarre; and on 
 the approach of the combined armies of the 
 Mahommcdans and Chriftians, Orthogno fought 
 refuse with the Arabian chief of Arraon. The 
 
 O O 
 
 Count of Caftile hazarded the event of a battle, 
 was vanquifhcd and made prifoner : his difaflcr 
 extinguifhed the hopesof his faclion; and Sancho 
 re-afcended the throne of Leon without further 
 oppofuion. His generofuy or policy inclined 
 him to lenity rather than revenge. The turbu- 
 lent Gonzalez was liberated; and fome hiftorians 
 conjeclure that the King of Leon fccured his 
 future fncnclfliip by renouncing all claims of 
 homage from the Counts of Caftile. The tran- 
 quillity of his reign was loon after interrupted
 
 SPAIN. 113 
 
 by the piratical defcents of the Normans, whom 
 Sancho repulfed with prodigious (laughter. But 
 after the public tranquillity was every where 
 reftored, the King of Leon fell a viftim to his 
 own magnanimity. He met with his death by 
 eating a poifoned apple pref^pted to him by a 
 traitor, whom he had pardoned and 
 
 A. D. 967- ' . r 
 
 received into favour. 
 
 In the year 961 of the Chriftian aera, and the 
 fourth of the reign of Sancho, King of Leon 
 Abdalrahman III. the greateft and mod mag- 
 nificent of the Caliphs of Spain, defcendedto the 
 tomb, at the age of feventy-three, after having, 
 for the fpace of near fifty years, adorned, by his 
 political and military talents, the throne of Cor- 
 dova. His reign a which was equally warlike 
 and fplendid, fhevvs the greatnefs of his political 
 as well as military talents. Having firft fubdued 
 the rebels of his own kingdom, he turned his 
 arms againft the Chriftians, and feveral times 
 carried the flames of war into the heart of their 
 dominions. Though repeatedly defeated he 
 was never difcouraged : his avidity of glory 
 fupported him under every reverfe of fortune ; 
 and when he faw himfelf difappointed of making 
 conquefts in Spain, he directed his views towards 
 Africa, and annexed Cetita and Seldjemefle to 
 his dominions.
 
 114 HISTORY 6 
 
 Yet amidft a feries of almoft continual wars, 
 the profperity and wealth of his dominions, and 
 his judicious management of the finances, fup- 
 plied him with conftant refoui'ces for an almoft 
 incredible expenditure. Some allowances may 
 be made for the exaggerations of hiftorians ; but 
 it is certain that the fplendour of his court, and 
 the magnificence of his ftruftures, were the admi- 
 ration of the age, a circurnftance which naturally 
 leads to a retrofpe6l of the ftate of commerce, 
 letters, and arts, among the Arabians of Spain, 
 from the time of their eftablifhment in that 
 country. 
 
 While Spain remained under the dominion of 
 the Caliphs of the Eafl, and was governed by 
 their viceroys, the wealth of the country only 
 ferved to enrich the royal treafury of Damafcus ; 
 and during that period the Arabians of the Weft 
 were more diftinguifhed for their enterprifing 
 valour than for their opulence, their fplendour, 
 or their (kill in the arts. But no fooner was the 
 independent throne of the Ommiades creeled 
 at Cordova, than the immenfe fums of money 
 arifing from the tribute of the Chriftians. the 
 imports on merchandife, and other branches 
 of finance, which the Eaftern Caliphs ufed to 
 draw from Spain, centered and circulated in the 
 country where they were produced.
 
 SPAIN. 115 
 
 The reign of Abdalrahman I. the illuftrious 
 founder of the throne of Cordova, was the com- 
 mencement of the age of Arabian magnificence. 
 The tribute which he impofed on his Chriftian 
 fubjecls was moderate ; and Spain afTumed, 
 under his impartial governmAt, the afpeft of 
 wealth and profperity. Cordova became the 
 centre of induftry, of politenefs, of genius, and 
 the arts. Tilts and tournaments were the 
 favourite amufements of the noble and the 
 brave; and Spain was the only country of the 
 Weft were the fciences of rnufic, aftronomy, 
 geometry 5 and phyfic, were regularly culti- 
 vated. 
 
 Hachem, or Haflem I. the fon and fucceflbr 
 of Abdalrahman, equalled his father in his love 
 of the arts, and efpecially in his tafte for archi- 
 tecture. The fpoils of war contributed to the 
 magnificence of his erections. His fhare of the 
 plunder of the fouthern provinces of France 
 amounted to forty-five thoufand pieces of gold ;* 
 and this immenfe fum was applied to the holy 
 purpofe of completing the great mofque of 
 Cordova which had been begun by his prede- 
 ceflbr.t This fuperb edifice, which furpaffed 
 
 * Among the Arabians the fifth part of the booty taken in war 
 belonged to the Caliph. Cardonne, torn. 1. p. 220. 
 
 t The expedition here alluded to is that under the conduct of the 
 Arabian general, Abdoulvahed, A. D. 792, Cardonne, torn! i. p. 219, 
 
 P 2
 
 116 HISTORY OF 
 
 in fplendour all the mofques of the eaftern Cali- 
 phate, was fix hundred feet in length, and two 
 hundred and fifty in breadth, and fupported by 
 1083 columns of marble. The entrances were 
 by twenty-four doors or gates of bronze of 
 admirable workWianfhip ; and the principal of 
 thefe was covered with plates of gold. The 
 fummit of the dome was decorated with three 
 golden balls, furmounted with a promgrenate 
 and a flair de luce of the fame rich material. 
 During the night this mofque was illuminated 
 by four thoufand feven hundred lamps, which 
 annually confumed near twenty thoufand pounds 
 of oil; and fixty pounds of the wood of aloes, 
 with the fame quantity of ambergris, were ufed 
 every year for perfumes. Haflem not only 
 patronifed but cultivated the arts. The great 
 mofque was completed under his direction ; 
 and the bridge of twenty-feven arches, which he 
 planned and threw over the Guadalquiver, re- 
 mains to this day a monument of his (kill. 
 
 The reign of Abdalrahman II. notwiihflanding 
 the frequency of civil commotions and foreign 
 wars, was not lefs favourable to the arts, particu- 
 larly to that of architecture ; and a variety of 
 new ftruclures augmented the magnificence of 
 Cordova. A perpetual fupply of pure water 
 was brought by an aqueduft, and diftribmed by 
 pipes into every part of the city ; and the
 
 SPAIN. 117 
 
 crcclion of a new mofque difplayed the piety or 
 the oftentation of the monarch. The leifure 
 hours of Abdalrahman were fpent in converfation 
 \vith philofophers and poets; and mufic was one 
 of his chief delights. His munificence attracted 
 from the Province of Babylon^, and the neigh- 
 bourhood of Bagdad, to the capital of the Ommi- 
 ades, that celebrated mafter of melody, All 
 Zeriab, whofe name was immortalized in Afia 
 by having been the inftruftor of Ifhac Mouflbli, 
 the greateft mufician that ever appeared in the 
 Eafl. Ali Zeriab fixed his refidence at Cordova, 
 \vhere he was loaded with riches and honours, 
 and formed feveral pupils who equalled the 
 moil famous muficians of Bagdad. 
 A.D. 91210 But the moft fplendid sra of Ara- 
 bian magnificence was the reign of 
 Abdalrahman III. whofe pomp and profufion 
 excited the wonder of his contemporaries, and 
 have almoft furpafied ihe belief of pofterity. 
 The almoft incredible number of fix thoufand 
 perfons, confiding of his wives, his concubines, 
 and his black eunuchs, compofed his feraglio ; 
 and in the field he was attended by a guard of 
 twelve thoufand horfemen, whole belts and 
 fcymeters were richly ornamented with gold. 
 The ambaflador of the Byzantine Emperor, Con- 
 flantine IX. witnefled the magnificence of Abdal- 
 rahman, on being admitted to an audience of
 
 118 HISTORY OF 
 
 that monarch in the royal palace of Cordova. 
 Several corps of cavalry and infantry, in fuperb 
 uniforms, were drawn up before the palace. 
 The floors of the courts, &c. through which the 
 ambafiudor paflcd, were covered with the fined 
 Perfian carpets{pmd the walls with hangings of 
 cloth of gold of the richeft fabric. The Caliph was 
 feated on a fuperb throne : on the right and left 
 were the Princes of the blood, and beneath them 
 the Hadjeb. the Viziers, and the other great 
 officers of the court, placed according to their 
 rank.* But the magnificence of Abdalrahman was 
 not confined within the walls of Cordova. Three 
 miles from that capital the city and palace of 
 Zehra, conftru&ed in honour of his favourite 
 Sultana, arofe as it were by magic, and difplayed 
 ail the luxuriance of Arabian architecture. 
 This new city was built at the foot of a moun- 
 tain, from whence iffued numerous fprings of the 
 pureft water, which being fkilfully diftributed, 
 kept the ilreets conftantly clean, and diffufed 
 in the hottcft feafons a refrefhing coolnefs. 
 But the palace of the Caliph was the chief orna- 
 ment of Zehra, and the wonder of the age. 
 The moft celebrated architecl of Conftantinople 
 was invited to draw the plan and to fuperintend 
 the execution ; and the moft fkilful artifts of 
 
 * Cardonnc, torn, i. p. 325*
 
 SPAIN. 119 
 
 tbe age were employed in its decoration. This 
 fupcrb edifice was fupported by a thoufand and 
 thirty-three columns of Spanifh, African, Italian, 
 and Grecian marble, of which a hundred and 
 forty were a prefent from the Emperor of Con- 
 dantinople. The fplendourgMjf the hail of 
 audience furpafTed the bounoTof credibility, 
 and almoft the powers of defcription : the walls 
 were incruded with the fined marble ornamented 
 with gold : in the centre was a bafon furrounded 
 with curious and coftly figures of birds and 
 quadrupeds, all of the fined gold, embofled 
 with a variety of precious ftones. The marbles 
 were wrought and polifhed at Coriftantinople ; 
 and the figures were mafterpieces from the 
 hands of the mod eminent artids of that capital 
 of the Eadern empire. Above the bafon was 
 fufpended a pearl of ineftimable value, which 
 had been prefented to Abdalrahman by the 
 Byzantine Emperor, Leo, as a mark of his 
 friendfhip and alliance. The other apartments 
 were of a correfponding magnificence, and all 
 of them difplayed the wealth and profufion of 
 the Caliph. Over the principal entrance to 
 the palace, the datue of Zebra, the model of 
 perfect fymmetry, dood fplendidly confpicuous, 
 in order to tranfmit to poderity an idea of her 
 elegant form and beautiful features. The narrow 
 prej udice of a bigotted populace might condemn
 
 120 HISTORY OF 
 
 the boldnefs of Abdalrahman, in prefuming to 
 violate the exprefs mandate of the Prophet, 
 which provided againft the danger of idolatry 
 by the interdiction of images ; but wealth and 
 luxury had induced the enlightened fucceffors 
 of Mahommed to deviate from their original 
 flri&nefs in thiswid other particulars ; for in the 
 Eaftern Caliphate, the coins of that age were 
 impreffed with the figure of the fovereign.* 
 
 The gardens of Zehra difplayed the fame 
 elegance and tafle as the palace. In the middle 
 of thefe arofe a magnificent and lofty pavilion, 
 which commanded a view of the country. This 
 detached ftrutlure was fupported by columns 
 of the fined white marble. Plates of burnifhed 
 gold and fteel compofed the floors, and their 
 dazzling polifh feemed to vie with the luftre 
 of the precious ftones with which they were 
 enamelled. Among the reft of its curiofities was a 
 bafon replenifhed not with water but quickfilver, 
 which, when ftruck by the rays of the fun, 
 dazzled the eyes of the beholder. In this fuperb 
 and filent retreat, Abdalrahman ufed to indulge 
 in calm and undifturbed repofe, when fatiated 
 with the delights of love or the toils of the 
 chace. 
 
 * Vide Cardonnc, who defcribes the medals or coins of the Caliphs, 
 om. i. p. 331.
 
 SPAIN. 121 
 
 In our imperfect eftitnate of human felicity 
 Abdalrahman would feem to have been placed 
 on its fumrnit. Yet his name may be placed in 
 the lift of thofe, who, from the time of Solomon 
 to the preferu day, have complained that the 
 poffeffion of a throne couldfcfford no lafting 
 fatisfaclion. An authentic memorial, which 
 ought to temper the ardour of ambiton, was 
 found in the clofet of the Caliph after his deceafe, 
 and carefully preferved as an inftruclive leflbn 
 to pofterity. In his own hand writing the great 
 Abdalrahman makes this declaration of his ex- 
 perience : " From the commencement of my 
 u reign to the prefent moment, I have carefully 
 i; numbered the days of pure and genuine happi- 
 " nefs which have fallen to my lot : they amount 
 i to fourteen. I have reigned fifty years be- 
 54 loved by my fubjecls, dreaded by my enemies, 
 " and efteemed by my allies. Riches and hon- 
 i; ours, power and pleafure, have waited on my 
 c; call, nor does any earthly blc-Ting appear to 
 ;; have been wanting to complete my felicity. 
 -' In this fituation, and during this long fpace of 
 ;i time, I have not been able to enumerate more 
 ' than fourteen days which have pafled without 
 :: - being embittered with trouble and uncafinefs. 
 <l O man! learn to make a jufl eftimate of this 
 " v;orld and of the leafure \vhich it affords."
 
 122 
 
 If the great Abdalrahman could find fo final? 
 a fhare of happinefs on a throne, how great muft 
 be the error of thofe who facrifice peace and 
 eafe, fafety and life itfelf, and what is ftill worfe, 
 perpetrate the moft horrid crimes in order to 
 reach this high elation. Sovereign authority, 
 however, has been, in all ages, the grand objel 
 of human ambition ; and notwithstanding the 
 leffons of fo eminent a moralift, there are few 
 who would not willingly accept the cares with 
 the comforts of royalty. The diflatisfaftion of 
 this celebrated Caliph, indeed, could only have 
 arifen from the infatiable defires of an ambitious 
 and extravagant mind. If his long and fplendid 
 reign could afford only fourteen happy days, 
 how fmall a fhare of felicity muft fall to the lot 
 of the generality of mankind. 
 
 The profufe magnificence of Abdalrahman 
 may amufe the fancy, but the means which fup- 
 plied fo immenfe an expenditure is an intercfting 
 fubjeft of inquiry. The city, the palace, and 
 gardens of Zehra, were the work of twenty-five 
 years; and more than three millions fterling 
 were expended in the conftruftion and em- 
 bellifhment of that favourite rcfidence. Befides 
 the ftruclures of private pleafure or public 
 utility, the numerous armies of the Caliphate, 
 the fplendour of the court of Cordova, the royal 
 houfehold, and the crowded feraglio, could not
 
 SPAIN. 123 
 
 "be fupported without an enormous expence. But 
 the Caliphs reaped the harvcft of a wife and 
 equitable adminiftration ; and if we confider the 
 wealth, the commerce, and population of the 
 ibinhern Provinces of Spain at that period, with 
 the tributes and other taxes paid by the people, 
 we fliall eafily difcover the iburces which fup- 
 plied the demands of public magnificence. 
 
 In thofe times the Chriftians reigned in the 
 north of Spain, and the Mahommedans in the 
 fouth. The whole interior of the country from 
 Madrid and Lifbon to Burgos, and almoft as far 
 as Leon, was the theatre of their incefiant 
 hoftilities, and being every moment expofed to 
 their mutual inroads, might be regarded as a 
 wide and doubtful frontier, which afforded no 
 fecurity to the perfons or property of the in- 
 habitants. That part of the country could not 
 therefore be either wealthy or populous. The 
 nothern and fouthern provinces, efpecially the 
 latter, were frequently harrafTed by inteftine 
 commotions, but were free from thofe fcenes of 
 rapine, defolation, and carnage, which religious 
 and national enmity produced in the parts more 
 expofed to their effcfts. The mountainous dif- 
 tritls of Gallicia, Afturia, Bifcay, and Navarre, 
 however, were rugged and barren ; and the 
 Chriltians were more addicted to war than to 
 either agriculture or commerce. 
 Q 2
 
 124 HISTORY OF 
 
 But the fouthern parts of Spain, which were 
 under the Arabian fceptre, were extremely 
 populous, commercial, and wealthy. The royal 
 city of Cordova contained fix thoufand mofques, 
 nine hundred public baths, and two hundred 
 thoufand houfes.* Eighty-four large cities, and 
 three hundred of the fecond and third rank 
 acknowledged the authority of the Caliph : the 
 banks of the Guadalquiver were embellifhed 
 with no fewer than twelve thoufand villages : 
 every quarter of an hour prefented a new hamlet 
 to the traveller, and in the courfe of a day's 
 journey he might pafs through two or three con- 
 fiderable towns. The villages were inhabited 
 by a numerous and induftrious people, who, in 
 a fertile foil, had carried the theory and practice 
 of agriculture to a degree of perfection unknown 
 in any other part of Europe, while the in- 
 habitants of the towns, by their ingenuity and 
 affiduous application, made a iimilar progrefs in 
 manufactures and commerce. The Spanifh 
 mines, once a fource of wealth to the Romans, 
 were not lefs lucrative to the Arabians, who 
 wrought them with great afliduity, and drew 
 from them large quantities of gold and filver, as 
 
 * M. de Cardonne obferves in a note, that the number would feem 
 incredible if the houfes were fuppofed to have been as large as thofe of 
 Pans. It rather appears that the iame family often occupied different 
 houfes for different purpofes.
 
 SPAIN, 125 
 
 well as excellent iron and deel. All the natural 
 productions of the country were turned to the 
 areateft advantage : foine of thefe were ex- 
 
 o 
 
 ported in their rude date ; but the principal part 
 was ufed in the manufactures, which gave em- 
 ployment to a numerous population, and formed 
 the bafis of an extenfive commerce. Spain 
 abounded in the belt of iron and fteel, in the 
 fined of wool, and in excellent filk. Cordova 
 and Toledo were famous for the fabrication of 
 arms, in which they carried on a lucrative trade; 
 and thefe two cities might be called the arfenal 
 of Africa, as they furnifhed the Moors with their 
 cuirafies, their coats of mail, their helmets, and 
 cimeters. The woollen cloths of Murcia, and 
 the (ilk manufactures of Grenada, were fold at 
 immenfe profits in the port of Condantinople. 
 The policy of the Ommiades, and of the Byzan- 
 tine Emperors, was difplayed by a friendly inter- 
 courfe: each regarded the other as the drongcd 
 barrier againd the ambition and enmity of the 
 Aba0ides ; and the Arabians of Spain found in 
 the ports of the Eadern empire the bed and 
 readied market for the productions of their in- 
 dudry. Their traders carried to Condantinople 
 rich cargoes of merchand-fe adapted to the con- 
 fumption of that feat of opulence and luxury ; 
 and in this advantageous commerce, attracted to 
 Spain the treafures of the Ead.
 
 126 HISTORY or 
 
 The revenues of the crown of Cordova cannot 
 be afcertained. As a great part of the impofts 
 were paid in kind, it is impofiible to make any 
 eftimate of their amount; but as this depended 
 on the quantity and value of produce, it is 
 certain that among an induftrious and numerous 
 people, who cultivated the foil to the greateft 
 advantage, it mutt have been very confiderable. 
 The royai fhare of the fpoils of war was a branch 
 of the revenue ftill lefs fufceptible of computa- 
 tion, as its fource was precarious : from various 
 instances, however,itappears that itoften brought 
 confiderable fums into the treafury. But the 
 taxes, levied in money, might be eafily afcer- 
 tained, and their annual amount, in the reign of 
 Abdalrahman III. is dated at near fix millions 
 fterling,* a luni which, allowing for the difference 
 of the value of (i ver between that age and the 
 prefent, exceeds in a fixfold proportion the 
 revenues of modern Spain, and in the tenth 
 century probably furpaffed the united revenues 
 of all the other European monarchs, if we except 
 the Byzantine Emperor. 
 
 A mid ft the fplendour and wealth of the 
 Caliphate, icicnce and letters were cultivated as 
 well as the arts. The reign of Abdalrahman 
 
 * Cardonre has given this fhtcment from an Arabian hiftoiiar., 
 I cm. i. p. 338, at 12,045,000 dinars, or 1305000,000 livres.
 
 SPAIN. 12 
 
 -r 
 
 was the reign of Arabian magnificence : that of 
 Hakkarn or Alkaham, his fon, was the Auguftan. 
 age of Arabian literature. The celebrated 
 library of Cordova, which was collected, or at 
 lead completed during his reign, is faid to have 
 contained fix hundred thoufand volumes, of 
 which forty-four were occupied by the catalogue.* 
 The name of Hakkam is dear to learning : an 
 univerfity was founded at Cordova by his 
 munificence; and the light of fcience and litera- 
 ture flione on the capital of the Ommiades, in 
 an age when the clouds of ignorance over- 
 fhadovved all the reft of Europe, except Con- 
 ftantinople and its dependences. t 
 
 * Gibbon Dec. Rom. Emp. vol. 10. cap. 52. p. 44. 
 
 t The Arabian writers in Spam were very numerous, and Gibbon 
 fays that, in Cordova, Malaga, and the other cities of the Caliphate, 
 there were not lefs than feventy public libraries. Gibbon, vol. lo. 
 cap. 52. For an account of the learning of the Arabians, fee alfo Bruck 
 Hid. Philofophy, vol. 3, and Murat. Antiq. Ital. vol. 3, p. 932, &c,
 
 128 HISTORY or 
 
 CHAP. VI. 
 
 Reign of Ramiro III. War between the Chriftians and the Mahout* 
 mcclans. The Normar.s repulfed and their fleet deftroyed. Revolt 
 of Bermudo. Bloody civil war among the Chriftians. Death of 
 Ramiro. Acceffion of Bermudo. Acceffion of Hakkam to the 
 Caliphate. He befiegcs Leon and ravages Caftile. His magnifi- 
 cence. His patronage of fcienceand letters. His profperous reign. 
 His death. Reign of the Caliph HafTem. Power and military fuc- 
 cefs of his Vizier Almanzor. War between the Chrifiians and the 
 Mahommedans. The Chriftians totally defeated by Almanzor. 
 Almanzor takes Leon by affault. Deftruftion of Leon. Rapid 
 fucceffes of Almanzor. Confederacy of the Chriftian Princes of 
 Spain. Memorable battle of Ofma. Terrible defeat and carnagr 
 of the Mahommedans. Death of Almanzor.- Death of Bermudo 
 King of Leon- Reign of Alphonfo V. The city of Leon rebuilt. 
 Death of Alphonfo. Reign of Bermudo III. Ferdinand, firft King 
 of Caftile. Death of Sancho King of Navarre.' Divifion of hi? 
 dominions. War between the Kings of Caftile, Leon, and Navarre. 
 Death of Bermuda III. Accefiion of Ferdinand, King of Caftile. 
 to the throne of Leon. Decline of the power of the Ommiadcs.- - 
 Civil wars of the Caliphate. The throne of the Caliphs fucceffively 
 ufurped by Almahadi, by Suleiman, and by Ali-ben-Hamond. 
 Mortcda elected to the Caliphate. Murdered by his foldiers. Ali- 
 ben-Hamond fuffocated. Cafim, his brother, eleflcd to the throne, 
 Expelled by Jaiah. Cafim re-afcends the throne. Again e>;- 
 pelk-d by Jaiah, Moftahzar clefted. Death of Jaiah. AlLfllns-
 
 129 
 
 tion of Moftahzar. Elmuftick-Sibillah ufurps the Caliphate. His 
 death. Acceffion of Mutamed-al-Allah. He and his Vizier perifh in 
 a popular tumult at Cordova, Extinction of thedynafty of the Ommi- 
 ades. Ufurpations of the Arabian governors. The Caliphate 
 divided into the different kingdoms of Cordova, Toledo, Seville, 
 Grenada, &c. 
 
 IN the pifture juft given of the fcience, the 
 literature, the manufactures, the commerce, 
 and wealth of the fubjecls of the Caliph, it is 
 pleafing to view in thofe times of hoftile depre- 
 ciation and carnage, the tranquil purfuits and 
 beneficial effefts of peaceful induftry. Wemuft 
 now turn to the bloodftained hiftory of war and 
 politics, and obferve the gradual turn of the fcales 
 in which the fate of Spain was fo long fuf- 
 pended. 
 
 Sancho. King of Leon, was fucceeded 
 
 <"V U. Q J7* 
 
 by his infant fon, Ramiro III. Till 
 ibis period the Chriftians had, in the choice of a 
 fovereign, fought the qualities of wifdom and 
 valour; and during the fpace of almoft two 
 centuries and a half the fceptre of Pelagius had, 
 with few exceptions, been fwayed by a fuc- 
 ceflion of warriors and ftatefmen. Veneration 
 for the memory of Sancho, and confidence in 
 heir own ftrength, or fome other reafons, 
 induced them to relax from this falutary caution. 
 A child of five years old was placed on the throne; 
 and the reins of government were committed 
 
 ' OI.. T.
 
 130 HISTORY OF 
 
 to the hands of his mother, the dowager Queen. 
 An infant reign, and a female adminiftration, 
 v/ere, during the fpace of twelve years, dif- 
 tinguifhed by prudence and vigour. The rapa- 
 cious adventurers of Norway, having again 
 commenced their depredations, were defeated : 
 their fleet being deftroycd, their retreat was 
 intercepted ; and thofe who efcaped the {word 
 were fold into flavery. 
 
 During his minority the reign of Ramiro was 
 profperous ; but no fooner had he affumed the 
 exercife of the regal authority than he fhowed 
 his incapacity for the bufmefs of government. 
 His adminiflration was difgracecl by the follies 
 of youth, and his conduct excited a general dif- 
 guft. In this (late of popular difcontent, Ber- 
 mudo, the fon of Orthogno III. was inverted 
 with the enfigns of royalty, and having erecled 
 his flanclard in Gallicia, a fanguinary conteft 
 enfued. The battle of Monterofa was fought 
 with doubtful fuccefs ; and the Chriftians had 
 reafon to deplore the madnefs of civil war; for 
 the number that perifhed in that bloody conflict 
 was greater than of thofe who had fallen in any 
 engagements with the Mahomrnedans. But while 
 Ramiro was recruiting his forces, his death for- 
 tunately put an end to the conteft ; and Bermudo 
 II. being left without a competitor, afcended the 
 throne. Before we proceed to relate the tranf-
 
 SPAIN. 131 
 
 aftions of his reign, it is requifite to caft a 
 glance at the Caliphate. 
 
 On the death of Abdalrahman III. his fon, 
 Ilakkam, or Alkaham, fucceeded to the throne of 
 the Ommiades. The arms of Abdalrahman had 
 rc-cftablifhed Sancho on the throne of Leon ; 
 but a few years after the death of the Caliph the 
 alliance was diffolved. In the year 965 the 
 generals of Alkaham, having made an irruption 
 into the kingdom of Leon, and laid fiege to the 
 capital, were repulfed with great lofs by the 
 bravery of the garrifon and the inhabitants. 
 In order to retrieve this misfortune, the Caliph 
 took the field in perfon, and ravaged Caftile. 
 Several itrong towns fell under the efforts of his 
 arms; but the capture of Zamora, in the minority 
 of Ramiro, was the laft of his martial exploits. 
 Preferring the fvveets of peace to the horrors of 
 war, he confccrated the remainder of his reign 
 to the happinefs of his people, and the improve- 
 ment of his mind. The vigorous adminiftration 
 of his father, Abdalrahman, had extinguished 
 the fpirit of revolt; and the reign of Alkaham 
 was not agitated by the intrigues offaclion, and 
 the violence of civil commotion, like thofe of 
 his predccclTors. In oftentatious magnificence 
 and taltc for architecture, he refembled his 
 father: his prudent and equitable adminiftration 
 rendered him the idol of his fubje&s : hisaflidu- 
 
 II 2
 
 132 HISTORY OF 
 
 ous culture and munificent patronage of fcience 
 and letters, immortalized his name as a promoter 
 of intellectual improvement. His reign was the 
 moft tranquil and happy period in the hiflory of 
 the Weftern Caliphate. 
 
 Alkaham died A. D. 976, in the fixfy-third 
 year of his age, and the fifteenth of his reign; 
 Hakkanij or HafTem, his fon, a youth of eleven 
 years of age, afcended the throne of Cordova. 
 During his minority the Hate was governed by 
 his Vizier, the famous Muhammed-Ibu-Abi-Amer, 
 who, from his martial atchievements, was fur- 
 named El-Hadjeb-el-Manfour, or the defender, 
 and is defignated in our hiftories by the con- 
 tra&ed name of Almanzor. When the Caliph 
 had attained the age of maturity he might have 
 aflumed the reigns of government ; but long 
 habits of luxury and inattention to public affairs 
 had rendered him incapable of fhaking off the 
 yoke of his minifter, and Mill lefs that of his own 
 paflions and pleafures. All his moments were 
 fpcnt within the precincts of his feraglio, where, 
 fliut up amongft women and eunuchs, he remain- 
 ed totally ignorant of every thing that palled 
 in the kingdom ; and the minifter fuffered none, 
 except his own creatures, to approach the perfon 
 of the monarch. During the fpace of twenty- 
 three years Almanzor fwayed the fceptre of the 
 Ommiades, in the name of the Caliph, whole
 
 SPAIN. 133 
 
 only marks of fovereignty were that the money 
 was coined in his name, and his title was acknow- 
 ledged in the public prayers. Almanzor's ad- 
 miniftration, however, was marked with prudence 
 and vigour ; and during the time that he lived 
 the internal tranquillity of the fiate was pre- 
 ferved, and its glory maintained. 
 
 In the ninth year of the reign of Hakkam, 
 Bermudo afcended the throne of Leon. 
 
 A. D.gSj. 
 
 His abilities for government and war 
 
 are acknowledged; but they were baffled by the 
 difficulties of his fituation. His conteft with 
 Ramiro had didblved the ilrength of the mo- 
 narchy, and the Arabians were conducled to 
 conqueft by the renowned Almanzor. The 
 Kins; of Leon beheld, with indignation and grief, 
 
 o * o o * 
 
 the devastation of his territories; but his courage 
 never deferted him. Having, with difficulty, 
 collected an army fufficient to face the enemy, 
 he tried the fortune of war in a defperate en- 
 gagement on the banks of the Ezla. The Chrif- 
 tians made an attack worthy of their ancient re- 
 nown. TheMoflems were thrown into a dreadful 
 confufion ; but the courage and abilities of 
 Almanzor re-called victory to his itandard : he 
 rallied his troops, and led them on to the charge. 
 The Chrifiians were overpowered : the grcateit 
 part of their army fell by the {'word of the enemy, 
 and the King, with only a fmull number of his
 
 13-1 HISTORY OF 
 
 troops, retired, with precipitation, to the capital. 
 Almanzor, without lofs of time, marched to 
 Leon ; but the heavy rains and the advanced 
 feafon having prevented him from undertaking 
 the fiege. he returned to Cordova covered with 
 glory and laden with fpoils. Bermudo. how- 
 ever, fufpecling that Ahmnzor would renew his 
 attempt in the fpringr- ordered the inhabitants to 
 retire with their nioft valuable effecls ; and 
 having placed in Leon a ftrong garrifon, com- 
 manded by the Count de Gonfalvez, he with- 
 drew with the reft of his troops to Oviedo. 
 
 The enterprifing fpirit of Almanzor realized 
 the apprehenfions of the Cbriftian monarch. 
 After a long and murderous ficge, Leon was 
 carried by affault and levelled with the ground. 
 The governor and his foldiers bravely fell with 
 their (words in their hands, after having immo- 
 lated an incredible number of the affailants. The 
 Arabian general vigoroufly purfued his advan- 
 tages : in three fucceffive campaigns he reduced 
 Ofma, Berlanga, and feveral other cities, and de- 
 molifhed the walls of Aftorga, Coimbra, Vifeo, 
 and Lamago. Braga was razed to its founda- 
 tions, and its inhabitants carried into flavery. 
 Difeafe, however, interrupted his victorious 
 career, and obliged him to return to Cordova, 
 while the King of Leon harraffed his retreat by 
 frequent attacks on his rear; and the Chriflians
 
 SPAIN. l;)j 
 
 loft no opportunity of avenging the fuffe rings 
 of their brethern of Braga and Leon. 
 
 The rapid fuccefs of the arms of Almanzor 
 had fpread a general alarm among the Chriftian 
 Princes of Spain. The Kings of. Leon and 
 Navarre, and the Count of Caftile, united their 
 forces againft the common enemy. Almanzor, 
 far from being intimidated by this formidable 
 confederacy, fet out from Cordova with a numer- 
 ous army, flu Hied with former fuccefles, and 
 confident of viftory. In the fpacious plains of 
 Ofma the Chriftian and Mahommedan banners 
 \vaved in bold defiance. Bermudo, though 
 afflicted with the gout, animated, in perfon, his 
 foldiers. Almanzor difplayed an equal ardour 
 to affcrt his former claims to renown, and main- 
 tain the glory of the Arabian arms. The two 
 armies rufhed to the encounter with equal 
 alacrity, and with all the animofity which national 
 nvalfhip and religious enmity could infpire." 
 The conflict, one of the moft obftinate and 
 bloody that Spain had ever witnefled, continued 
 long after the clofe of day; and the Chriftians 
 were ignorant of their victory till the enfuing 
 morning difcovercd the precipitate retreat of 
 the Arabians, who had abandoned their camp, 
 and, according to the Spanifli hiftorians, left the 
 field ftrewed with a hundred thoufand of
 
 136 HISTORY OF 
 
 their dead.* The number is, perhaps, ex 
 acraerated ; but the viclory was certainly com- 
 plete and decifive. The renowned Almanzor, 
 \vhofe name had fo long been the terror of the 
 Chriftians, and who from fix fucceffive campaigns 
 had returned victorious, might, by the remem- 
 brance of his former triumphs, have confoled 
 himfelf for the lofs of one battle ; but in feeing 
 the Arabian force broken by fo bloody a defeat, 
 pride or defpair overcame his fortitude. From 
 the difaftrous field of Ofma he retired to the 
 valley of Bogal-Coraxo. near Medina Celi, where 
 grief or fuicide terminated his brilliant career. 
 The defeat and death of Almanzor may be re- 
 garded as the critical moment in the hiftory of 
 Spain, which gave a decided and lading fupe- 
 riority to the Chriftian over the Mahommedan 
 power in that country. 
 
 The death of the Arabian general was foon 
 followed by that of the King of Leon. About 
 
 a year after the viftory of Ofma, 
 A. D. 999. . , n . 
 
 Bermudo expired ; and the lurrrages 
 
 of the nation raifed his infant fon, Alphonfo, to 
 the throne. The adminiftrution was committed 
 ro the care of his mother, Elvira, who, in that 
 arduous ftation, acquired the public efteem. The 
 
 * Cardonne defcribrs the battle ', but docs not mention the number 
 A n.iin.
 
 SPAIN. 137 
 
 mod important of her cares was to form the mind 
 of the young Alphonfo, on whole qualities the 
 happinefs or mifery of his fubje&s was in a great 
 meal lire to depend -, and his future conduct did 
 not difappoint her hopes and her wifh.es. During 
 the fpace of twelve years that he fwayed 
 From 1014 to lne fceptre, he laboured, and not 
 unfuccefsfully, for the glory and 
 felicity of his kingdom. Under his aufpices the 
 walls of Leon were reftored and made ftronger 
 than before their deflrutlion, and the capital, 
 rifmg from its ruins, refumed its former mag- 
 nificence. The new fortifications of Zamora 
 protected the Chriftian and awed the Mahom- 
 rncdan frontier. But the reign of Alphonfo, 
 though fufficiently long for his own glory, was 
 too fhort for the happinefs of his fubjecls. 
 Iluvifig crofTed the Douro, and inverted the 
 itrong town of \ r ifeo, the heat of the weather 
 tempted him to throw o(F his cuirafs, and in 
 liding round the walls he was mortally wounded 
 by an arrow. Shortly after he expired in his 
 lent, and left an only fon, about ten or twelve 
 
 years of aac, who (ucceeded to his 
 A. D. 1026. ' 
 
 crown, and inherited his virtues. 
 
 After four years of minority, Bermudo III, 
 .ook the reins of government. The defeat of 
 Ofma had humbled the pride and damped the 
 cmcrp.rifing fpirit of the Mahommedans ; but the
 
 138 HISTORY OF 
 
 Chriftians of Spain, no longer awed by the com- 
 mon enemy, began to turn againfl one another 
 thofe arms which had often and fuccefsfully op- 
 pofed the formidable power of the Caliphs. 
 Sancho, King of Navarre, had wrefted the Pro- 
 vince of Arragon from its Arabian chief, who 
 appears to have previoufly cad off his depen- 
 dence on the Caliph of Cordova. Having an- 
 nexed this extenfive and fertile territory to his 
 paternal dominions, he refolved on a further 
 aggrandizement of his power. Under the pre- 
 text of avenging the murder of Garcias, Count 
 of Caftile, who had fallen a viftim to confpiracy, 
 he entered that country with an army, and 
 having feized and executed the confpirators, 
 converted to his own advantage their crime, by 
 retaining poffefTion of the dominions of Garcias. 
 Thefe new acquifuions rendered the kingdom of 
 Navarre a formidable neighbour to that of 
 Leon. Ambiguous claims to the city of Valencia, 
 on the frontiers of Afluria, kindled a war be- 
 tween the two Chriftian but rival monarchs; and 
 the ftrong city of Aitorga was, after a long fiege, 
 compelled to furrender to the united forces of 
 Navarre and Caftilc. Bermudo collected a 
 formidable army, and pitched his camp within 
 n.:;ht of the King of Navarre. The effufion of 
 Chriftian blood, however, was happily prevented 
 by negotiation. Through the mediation of the
 
 SPAIN. 139 
 
 Bifhops of Leon and Navarre, a treaty of peace 
 was concluded. The King of Navarre refigned 
 Caftilc to his fecondfon, Ferdinand, who efpoufed 
 the lifter of Bermudo, and was recognifed as 
 the full King of Caftile. 
 
 The death ofSancho produced anotherdivifion 
 of his territories; and diflblved that power which 
 had appeared fo formidable to Leon. His eldeft 
 fon, Garcias, fucceeded to the kingdom of 
 Navarre : Ferdinand was already in poffeffion 
 of Caftile : to his third fon, Gonzalez, he align- 
 ed the diftrifts of Sobranza and Ribargon, in- 
 clofed between the borders of Navarre, Arragon, 
 and Catalonia ; and his fourth fon, Ramiro. had 
 Arragon for his inheritance. Ferdinand foon 
 felt the confequences of a divifion which paternal 
 affection had fuggefted ; but which mtift be con- 
 demned by found policy. Bermudo, with a 
 numerous army, entered his dominons, and cap- 
 tured the city of Palantia. The King of Caftile, 
 unable to contend alone with the fuperior force 
 of Leon, called to his affiftance his brother of Na- 
 varre. The hoftile armies met ; and the obfcure 
 village of Carrion, near Fromifta, was rendered 
 illuftrlous by a decifive encounter. The King of 
 Leon, with greater ardour than caution, rufhed 
 into the thickeft ranks of the enemy, and being 
 tranfpierced with a lance, fell lifelefs on the 
 ground. His troops being left without a general 
 
 S 2
 
 140 HISTORY OF 
 
 were thrown into confufion, and threatened whit 
 deflruftion. The King of Caftile, at this critical 
 moment, difplayed a prudent and merciful 
 policy. He commanded the carnage to ceafe, 
 and the crown of Leon was the recompenfe of 
 his moderation. The male line of the defcen- 
 dants of Pelagius, after reigning three centuries, 
 was extinguifhed in Bermudo III. The claims 
 of his brother-in-law were acknowledged in a 
 national council, arid the crowns of Caftile and 
 
 Leon were united on the head of 
 
 A. D. 1037. 
 
 rerdmand. 
 
 About the time of this revolution in the North, 
 another of ftill greater importance took place in 
 the fouth of Spain. Within a year after the ex- 
 tinction of the line of Pelagius. the throne of the 
 Ommiades was fubverted, and the Caliphate 
 difmembcred, not bv foreign hoftility but by in- 
 teftine revolt. The fate of this once powerful 
 family, and its flourifhing empire, may be added 
 to the numerous instances of the inftability of 
 human greatnefs. In the plenitude of wealth 
 and power. Abdalrahman III. had, according to 
 his own confeffion, been difappointed of happi- 
 ncfs ; but he might have indulged a hope^hat a 
 throne protected by numerous and warlike 
 armies, and fupported by opulent provinces, 
 would be long filled by his defendants, and tha:. 
 his magnificence would be perpetuated in the
 
 SPAIN. 141 
 
 fplendour of his edifices : yet, in lefs than half a 
 century after his death, the fceptre was \vifftcd 
 from his pofterity ; and thirty years more did 
 not elapfe before the Houfe of Ommijah was 
 finally overwhelmed, and the kingdom of Cor- 
 dova diilolved : nor do his fumptuous ftrufture 
 appear to have been of much longer duration : 
 the glories ofZ-ehra have long fince been anni- 
 hilated ; and not a veflige remains to mark 
 the fpot where once flood the palace creeled at 
 fo enormous an expence. 
 
 The battle of Ofma and the death of Almanzor 
 terminated the glory of the Caliphate. That 
 minifrer had eftablilhed an authority fimilar to 
 that of the Mayors of the palaces of France, 
 under the Merovingian Kings, but produ^ive 
 of different effects. In France it overturned the 
 dynafty, but. rclufcitatcd and aggrandized the 
 monarchy : At Cordova it not only overwhelmed 
 the Houfe of Ommijah, but diffolved the Cali- 
 phate. Abdoulmelik, the fon of Alrnanzor, 
 fucceedcd to his father's authority, but did not 
 inherit his abilities. lie died A. D. icc6, and 
 his ofiice was filled by his fon Abdouirahman, 
 a man of a limited capacity, and wholly addicted 
 to his pleafures. Ilakkam, the grandfon of the 
 great Abdalrahman, yet enjoyed the title of 
 Caliph, while his miniRcr poflefled the authority ; 
 and both immerfed in luxury, neglecled the
 
 342 HISTORY OF 
 
 affairs of government. Muhammed Almahadij 
 or Mchedi, a Prince of the royal blood, con- 
 fidered it as no difficult tafk to wrefl the fceptre 
 from fuch feeble hands. He took arms, drove 
 the minifter from Cordova, feized the perfon 
 of the Caliph, and ufurped the fovereign 
 authority. Judging that the prefervation of 
 liakkam might poffibly be ufeful to his defigns, 
 he caufed a perfon greatly refembling him to be 
 publicly executed; and the Arabians, believing 
 that the Caliph was dead, fubmitted to the 
 ufurper. 
 
 This revolution, which happened A. D. 1009, 
 was immediately followed by a long train of 
 civil wars. Suleiman, a near kinfman of Hakkam 3 
 pafTed over from Africa into Spain, to avenge 
 the death of the Caliph, or rather to afcend his 
 throne. A battle was fought near Cordova : 
 the ufurper was defeated, and took refuge in 
 the capital. Seeing himfelf about to be aban- 
 doned by the inhabitants, he drew Hakkam from 
 the prifon where he had kept him concealed, 
 and fhowed him to the people. The citizens, 
 however, being terrified at the approach of a 
 victorious army, opened the gates pf Cordova; 
 and Mehedi retired with great difficulty to 
 Toledo. Mahari, his general, ably fupported 
 his caufc, and gave Suleiman a total defeat. 
 This turn of iifuirs. which happened A. D. 101^
 
 re-eftablifhed the authority of Mehedi, or rather 
 
 of his general, Mahari, who pofiefTed the 
 
 lovercignty under the name of the ufurper. 
 
 Mahari, however, was afterwards induced to 
 
 airaffinate Mehedi, and to replace Hakkam 
 
 on the throne. Suleiman, in the mean while, 
 
 afpiring to the Caliphate, refufed to accede to the 
 
 arrangement made at Cordova. The intrigues 
 
 of his party at length enabled him to furprife 
 
 the capital ; and the unfortunate Caliph, in order 
 
 to avoid immediate death, was obliged to refign 
 
 to Suleiman his right to the throne. But the 
 
 elevation of the ufurper was only a prelude to 
 
 hisdeftruclion. Two brothers, who were officers 
 
 in his army, one named Cafitn, the other Ali- 
 
 ben-Hamond, aflerted, in quality of defcendants 
 
 of AH, their pretenfions to the Caliphate of 
 
 Spain. Ali, who was governor of Ceuta and 
 
 Tangier, came over from Africa with an army 
 
 of Moors, and advanced towards Cordova. 
 
 Suleiman marched out againft him, but was 
 
 defeated and compelled to retreat into the 
 
 capital. The inhabitants exafperated by his 
 
 avarice, his cruelty, and the licentious conduct 
 
 of his troops, opened their gates, and delivered 
 
 Suleiman to his rival, who, with his own hand, 
 
 immediately (truck off his head. The father, 
 
 the brother, and the fons of Suleiman, were 
 
 involved in his fate ; and perifhed by the hand
 
 144 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the executioner. Thefe cruelties excited a 
 general indignation : even thofe who had placed 
 AH on the throne revolted againft him. Abdoul- 
 rahman-el-Morteda, of the family of the Ommi- 
 ades, was elefted to the Caliphate ; but he foon 
 experienced the precarious nature of his eleva- 
 tion, being fhortly after murdered by thofe who 
 had chofcn him for their fovereign. Ali- ben- 
 Hammond, after a reign of a year and ten 
 months, was fuffocated in a bath by the foldiers 
 of his guard; and the troops elefted Cafim, his 
 brother, in his place. Cafim had fcarcely 
 afcended the throne of the Caliphs before he was 
 expelled by his nephew faiah, the fon of Ali. 
 Jaiah made bimfelf mafter of Cordova : that 
 capital, however, was foon after recovered by 
 Cafim ; but the inhabitants, irritated at the 
 cxccfTes committed by his foldiers, expelled him 
 again from the city. After wandering about 
 for fome time, Cafim fell into the hands of his 
 nephew, who immediately put an end to his reign 
 and his life. 
 
 The inhabitants of Cordova, taking advantage 
 of the abfence of Jaiah, elefted to the throne of 
 the Caliphs, Abdoulrahman-el-Moftahzar, a 
 Prince of the Houfc of Ommijah. Jaiah. on 
 receiving intelligence of this tranfaftion, levied 
 an army of Africans, and having laid fiege to 
 Seville, perifhed before its walls. Abdoulrah-
 
 foon experienced the fate of his predecef- 
 fors, being afTaffinatcd by his kinfman, Mehem- 
 med-Elmuftick-Sibillah, who placed himfelf on 
 the throne. This ufurper did not long enjoy the 
 fruits of his crime : within the fhort fpace of ten 
 months he was driven from Cordova, and after 
 being obliged formally to abdicate the throne, 
 terminated his life by poifon. 
 
 El-mutemed-al-Allah, the lad of the Spanifh 
 Caliphs, afcended the throne of Cordova A. D. 
 1027. His indolence caufed the fubverfion of 
 his throne and the ruin of his family; he left 
 the management of public affairs to Aboul Afli, 
 his Vizier; and the vices of the minifter render- 
 ed the government odious to the people. A 
 general infurreclion took place at Cordova, 
 A. 1). 1038, and both the monarch and the 
 miniller fell in the tumult. In Mutemed-al-Allah 
 the dynaRy of the Ommiades of Spain was 
 extinguifhed, after having reigned two hundred 
 and eighty-two years fince Abdalrahman I. 
 erecled his throne at Cordova. 
 
 The extinction of the Houfe of Ommijah 
 entirely changed the face of Arabian Spain. 
 The governors of the different cities afTumed 
 :he regal authority and title ; the Caliphate 
 was fplit into a number of diftinft kingdoms, of 
 which thofe of Toledo, Cordova, Seville, and 
 Grenada, were the moft confiderable, 
 VOL, i, r
 
 146 HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. I'll. 
 
 Extent of the Chrifiian and Mahommedan territories in Spain. Death 
 of Ferdinand. War between his fons, Sancho and Alphonfo. The 
 latter defeated and condemned to confinement in a monaftery. 
 His efcape. -Death of Sancho. Alphonfo afcends the throne and 
 re-unites the kingdoms of Leon and Caftile. Seizes the perfon arid 
 dominions of his brother Garcias. Seizes Bifcay. Memorable fiege 
 and capture of Toledo. Roderigo, furnamed the Cid, captures 
 Valentia. Union of the Arabian kingdoms of Seville and Cordova. 
 That kingdom attacked by Alphonfo. The King calls to his 
 affiflance JuffelT, King of Morocco. Bloody battle and total defeat 
 of the Chriflians. Origin of the kingdom of Portugal. The Kinf 
 
 o o o o 
 
 of Morocco invades Spain, and feizes Grenada. Invades Spain a 
 lecond time. Takes Seville and alTumes the title of " Prince of the 
 Modems of Spain." Retreat of the King of Morocco. His death. 
 Invafion of Spam by his fucccflbr All. Bloody defeat of the 
 Chriflians. --Magnanimity of Alphonfo. His death. Reign of 
 Alphonfo VII. Siege and capture of Saragofla by the Chriflians. 
 The King of Arragon killed in battle againft the Moors. Siege and 
 capture of Almeria.- Alphonfo takes Andujar. Defeats the Moov ' s 
 near Jaen. His death. --The Moors recover their pofremon 5< ~ 
 Reign of Sancho. His death.- Reign of Alphonfo VIII. R< jvolu - 
 tion in Africa. Abi Jakoub, King of Morocco, invades Spai-^ 1 ' " 1S 
 rt treat. --Invades Spain a fecond time. Is defeated and f' llain - I- 1S 
 Ion, J.ikoub, invades Spain.- Total defeat of the Chry c --'tians. Death 
 of Jakoub. -His fuccelTor, Mahommcd, invade - s P ail1 - Is tota!1 X
 
 SPAIN. 147 
 
 defeated nnd lofes all his conquefts. Death of Alphonfo. Reign 
 of Henry I. His death. AccefTion of Ferdinand the Saint. His 
 furcclles ngainft the Moors. Final union of the kingdoms of Caftile 
 and Leon. 
 
 AT the period marked by the union of the 
 kingdoms of Leon and Caftile, and the diflblu- 
 tion of the Caliphate of Cordova, the Chriftian 
 power had regained the afcendency in Spain; 
 but the country was almoft equally divided 
 between them and the Mahommedans. The 
 Chriftian provinces acknowledged the authority 
 of Ferdinand and his brothers, whofe different 
 territories have been already defignated. The 
 tribes of Arabia poffefled the whole coaft of 
 the Mediterranean from the Pyrenees to the 
 Rock of Gibraltar, and that of the Atlantic 
 from Gibraltar to the mouth of the Tagus, with 
 the whole country to the fouth of Madrid, 
 including a great part of the modern kingdom 
 of Portugal. A long tracl of fea coaft afforded 
 them numerous and commodious harbours for 
 commerce, and the grateful foil of Grenada and 
 Andalufia amply repaid the labours of agricul- 
 ture. But thefe phyfical advantages were coun- 
 terbalanced by a train of political evils. Ambi- 
 tion and jealoufy were fertile fources of difcord. 
 While the Mahommedans of Spain turned againft 
 one another thofe arms, which policy would 
 have directed againft the Chriftians, their ftrcngth 
 
 2 T
 
 148 
 
 was exhaufted, and their boundaries gradually 
 receded. 
 
 The martial and enterprifing fpirit of Ferdi- 
 nand prompted him to extend his dominions at 
 the expence of the common enemy. Having 
 palled the Douro near Zamora, he carried, by 
 affault, the cities of Zena and Vifeo, and in a 
 fecond campaign reduced Coimbro by famine. 
 His war with Garcias, his brother, although 
 equally fuccefsful, redounded lefs to his glory. 
 The origin of their quarrel is doubtfully related ; 
 but the event was fatal to Garcias : about nine 
 miles from Burgos he fell in battle againfi 
 Ferdinand, who ufed his victory with fingular 
 moderation. He immediately put an end to 
 hoftilities, and fuffered the fon of Garcias to 
 afcend the throne of Navarre. 
 
 The crowns of Leon and Caftile, which had 
 been united by the arms of Ferdinand, were 
 fcparatcd by his death. By an erroneous policy, 
 which, though congenial to parental affetlion, 
 has often proved fatal to monarchies, he made 
 a divifion of his dominions among his children, 
 and procured its ratification in a national aficm- 
 bly. To his eldeft fon, Sancho, he affigned 
 Caftile : to his fecond fon, Alphonfo, Leon and 
 theAfturias: Gallicia, with that part of Portugal 
 which he had conquered from the Moors, being 
 creeled into a kingdom, was beftowed upon
 
 SPAIN. 149 
 
 Garcias, the youngeft : and on his daughters, 
 Urraca and Elvira, he conferred the fovereignty 
 of Zarnora and Toro, two cities on the banks 
 of the Douro. 
 
 The death of Ferdinand was the 
 A. D. 1067. 
 
 fignal of hoftilities between his chil- 
 dren. Sancho confidering his right of primogeni- 
 ture as violated by the diftribution, invaded 
 Leon with a formidable army. The fraternal 
 quarrel was decided by a long and bloody en- 
 gagement: Alphonfo was defeated and defpoiled 
 of his dominions, and falling into the hands of 
 his unnatural brother, was condemned to im- 
 prifonment in a monaftcry. 
 
 Sancho did not long enjoy his new acquisitions. 
 The efcape of Alphonfo awakened his fears, and 
 a fufpicion that his fillers had furnifhed the 
 means, excited his refentment. Toro was terri- 
 fied into fubrniffion ; but Zamora made a vigor- 
 ous refiflance ; and Sancho, at the moment when 
 he flattered himfelf with foon becoming mailer 
 of the place, fell into an ambufcade and was 
 (lain. 
 
 Alphonfo was at Toledo when he 
 A. D. 1072. 
 
 received intelligence of the fate of 
 
 his brother. His own fituation might appear 
 precarious; but his apprehenfions were diflipated 
 by the generofity of Ali Maimon, the Arabian 
 King of that city, who honourably difmiifed him
 
 150 HISTORY OF 
 
 to improve the return of fortune. At Zamora, 
 Alphonfo VI. received the congratulations of 
 the nobles of Leon and Afturia; and on his head 
 the crowns of Leon and Caftile were again 
 united. 
 
 Alphonfo being reftored to power, indulged 
 that ambition of which he had fo lately been 
 the victim. Garcias had alfo been expelled 
 from his dominions by Sancho, and, like his 
 brother, had found an afylum among the 
 Mahommedans. At the fame time that Alphonfo 
 departed from the court of Toledo, Garcias 
 emerged from his retreat at Seville. But he had 
 no fooner arrived in Gallicia, than his brother, 
 having invited- him to a conference, feized his 
 perfon, and annexed his dominions to thofe of 
 Leon and Caftile. Alphonfo alfo availed him- 
 fclf of a revolt of the inhabitants of Navarre, 
 to take pofTeffion of Bifcay ; and having thus 
 aggrandized his power at the expence of his 
 kindred and Chriftian neighbours, he prepared 
 to attack the difunited dominions of the Mof- 
 lems. 
 
 His friend, Ali Maimon, King of Toledo, was 
 no more ; and in lefs than a year the fceptre had 
 paffed from the hand of Haffem, his eldeft, to 
 that of Hiaga, or Jaiah, his youngefl fon. The 
 citizens, or at lead the difaffecled party, are 
 faid to have invited the Chriftian monarch to
 
 SPAIN. 151 
 
 deliver them from the tyranny of their new 
 fovereign. Four campaigns, however, were 
 confumed, and many bloody encounters took 
 place before Alphonfo could approach the walls 
 of Toledo. In the fifth year of the war the 
 fiege of that capital was commenced, and its 
 vigorous refinance for feveral months (hows that 
 if itsKing hadloft the affections of the citizens, he 
 had at lead fecured the attachment of the foldiers. 
 The natural and artificial ftrength of the city, 
 together with a numerous garrifon, infpired the 
 Arabian Prince with a hope that the Chriftians 
 would fail in their enterprife. Toledo is 
 fituated on a lofty and rugged eminence, and 
 furrounded by high and craggy rocks, among 
 which the Tagus winds its devious and precipi- 
 tous courfc. Numerous precipices render the 
 city almoil inaccefiible, except from the north, 
 and on that fide the lo. f ty and double walls 
 feemed to defy the attacks of an enemy. 
 Alphonfo, having diftributed his army into feven 
 divifions, formed feven camps round the city 
 and kept it clofely blockaded, while the walls 
 were aflailcd by the battering rams, and all the 
 other engines of war, which art had, at that 
 time, invented. The news of this famous fiegc 
 attracted, to the (landard of Alphonfo, a great 
 number of volunteers, among whom was the 
 King of Navarre at the head of his troops, The
 
 152 HISTORY OF 
 
 French nobility came in crowds to {hare the 
 perils and glory of the war, and valiant knights 
 from Italy and Germany fought under the ban- 
 ners of Leon and Caftile. Alphonfo had need 
 of thefe reinforcements, for although a part of 
 the walls was demolished by the battering 
 machines, the city was ftill defended by its 
 craggy fuuation and the valour of its garrifon. 
 The furroimding country being laid wafte, the 
 befiegers had all their provifions to fetch from 
 a diftant quarter ; and ficknefs began to make 
 its ravages in the Chriftian camps. 
 
 Toledo, in the mean while, experienced all 
 the horrors of famine. The horfes and mules, 
 for fome time, ferved the people for food; but 
 this refource having failed, a general infurre.c- 
 tion took place in the city. The inhabitants 
 furroundcd the royal palace, and tumuhuoufly 
 infifted on a fpeedy furrender. A negotiation 
 was immediately begun, and the King feeing 
 himfelf unable to reiift the outrageous fury of 
 die people, confented to a capitulation. The 
 principal articles were that the King, with thofe 
 who choofed to follow his fortunes, might retire 
 with their efFefts : that the Mahommedans, who 
 were defirous of remaining in Toledo, mould 
 be protected in the poffefTion of their property 
 and the cxercife of their religion : that they 
 fliould retain their principal mofque, and pay
 
 SPAIN. 153 
 
 the fame taxes as under their former government. 
 
 Thus did the city of Toledo, after re- 
 
 A - D - 8 5- ,' , , , r 
 
 maining three hundred and ieventy- 
 
 two years in the hands of the Modems, fall again 
 under the power of the Chriftians. Alphonfo 
 made this city the capital of Caftile, as it once 
 had been of all Spain :* he (Irengthened the 
 fortifications, and in order to counterbalance 
 the numbers of the Arabian or Moorifh popula- 
 tion, he conferred great privileges on the 
 Chriftians that were willing to make it their 
 refidence. Hiaga or Jaiah, its former King, 
 retired to the Mahommedan city of Valemia, 
 where he was foon after ailaflinated. The famous 
 Spanifh captain, Rodrigo, furnamed the Cid, 
 whofe name has been immortalized by the elegant 
 pen of Corneille, undertook to avenge his fate.t 
 At the head of his own followers, with a fmall 
 reinforcement from Alphonfo, he captured 
 Yalentia, fixed his refidence in that city, and, 
 during the remainder of his life, maintained his 
 pofuion againft the armies of the Modems ; but, 
 after his death, Alphonfo abandoned that diftant 
 and precarious conqueft. 
 
 * Toledo was the capital of Spain under the monarchy of the 
 Vifigoths. 
 
 1 Cid is a corruption of the Arabic term El-Scid, fignifying Lord. 
 .Through the cloud of tradition and fable it may be difcerned that he was 
 i;i intrepid and fkilful warrior ; but his exploits have been too much 
 adorned and exaggerated, by a poetical fancy, to be a. fit lubjeft for 
 mftory. 
 
 VOL. I. U
 
 154 HISTORY OF 
 
 The reduction of Toledo, while it damped the 
 fpirits of the Moors, infpired the Chriftians with 
 new courage and ardour. Aiphonfo imagined 
 that nothing could arrefl the progrefs of his 
 arms, and meditated nothing lefs than the con- 
 queft of all theMahommedan poffeflions in Spain. 
 The different kingdoms, which had rifen on the 
 ruins of the Caliphate, were agitated by num- 
 berlefs revolutions, and amidft thole inceffant 
 chanp.es the King of Seville had made himfelf 
 mailer ofCordova. The two kingdoms of'Seville 
 and Cordova were thus united, and their Sovereign 
 Mehemmed-ben-Abad was the moft powerful 
 of all the Arabian Princes of Spain. Aiphonfo, 
 therefore, refolved to attack his dominions, not 
 doubting but the fubjugation of the King of 
 Seville and Cordova rnuft be followed by the 
 conqueft of all the other Mahommedan king- 
 doms. 
 
 Mehemmed-ben-Abad, in order to prevent 
 the effects of the florin which he law ready to 
 burft on his dominions, adopted the dangerous 
 meafure of calling to his afliftance Juflef-Tasfin, 
 the Arabian monarch of Africa. Juffef paffed 
 over into Spain : Aiphonfo entered the territory of 
 the Kingof Sevilleand Cordova. Adecifive battle 
 was fought between Bajadoz and Merida; but the 
 
 iffiie was unfavourable to the Chrillians, 
 A. 0.1087. 
 
 who were compelled to retire with the
 
 SPAIN 1 ". 155 
 
 iofs of twenty thoufand men.* Alphonfo him- 
 felfwas wounded, and with difficulty efcaped to 
 Toledo. But the Arabians and Africans, although 
 they could boaft of the vi6lory, had purchafed 
 it with the lofs of thirty thoufand of their braveft 
 foldiers, and were unable to carry on offenfive 
 operations, while the fpirit of Alphonfo, rifing 
 fuperior to misfortune, revived the courage of 
 his troops byafuccefsful incurfion into Portugal. 
 Both parties, however, being exhaufted by de- 
 feat or by victory, were inclined to peace. The 
 heart of Alphonfo was captivated by the extra- 
 ordinary beauty and accomplifhments of Zaida, 
 the daughter of the King of Seville ; and that 
 Princcfs, to mare the throne of Caftile and 
 Leon, was willing to renounce the faith of her 
 anceftors. Their marriage was the feal of peace; 
 and Spain enjoyed a tranfient gleam of tran- 
 quillity. The war being ended, Alphonfo rc- 
 figned that part of Portugal which was in his 
 poflcflion to Henry of Befancon, a Prince of the 
 blood royal of France, who had joined his 
 ftandard, and received the hand of his daughter. 
 This ccfTion was the origin of the prefent king- 
 dom of Portugal. 
 
 o 
 
 * The loft of this battle, is afcribed to the fright which the Spanifh 
 horfcs took at the African dromedaries. Cardonnc, vol. 2. p. 194. 
 
 U 2
 
 156 HISTORY OF 
 
 The marriage of Alphonfo with the Princefs, 
 of Seville feemed to have extinguished 
 the flames of war; but a new ftorm arofe 
 from Africa, and burft upon Spain with 
 tremendous violence. After the defeat of 
 Alphonfo, the King of Seville had invited the 
 African monarch to vifit that city, and repofe 
 himfelf after the toils of the campaign. JuiTef 
 and his courtiers were charmed with the climate 
 of Spain, the fplendour of Seville, and the fertility 
 of its environs, watered by the Guadalquiver. 
 From that moment the African Prince and his 
 followers concurred in their defire of poffeffing 
 fo delightful a territory. But his ftrength was 
 then infufficient for the attempt ; and he re- 
 turned into Africa to mature his project, and 
 make the neceffary arrangements. 
 
 Having completed his preparations 
 
 A. D. lob"- IT r 
 
 juflef returned into Spain, and feiz- 
 ing Grenada by treachery, carried Abdoullah, 
 the King of that city, prifoner to Africa. The 
 ftorm was gathering but had not yet burft upon 
 Seville; and JuiTef, for reafons not developed 
 in hiflory, appears to have delayed for the fpace 
 of nearly three years before he undertook his 
 next expedition. In the year 1089, having 
 levied a formidable army, he landed the third 
 time in Spain, and marched direclly to Seville, 
 which, after a long and murderous fiegc,
 
 SPAIN. 357 
 
 compelled to fubmit to the arms of the Africans. 
 The contradictory relations of hiflorians render 
 it uncertain whether the fate of Seville was 
 decided by afFault or by capitulation ; but the 
 King, Mehemmed-el-Abad, and all the royal 
 family, were carried priioners into Africa. 
 JufTef having thus rendered himfelf matter of the 
 united kingdom of Seville and Cordova, as well 
 as of Grenada, aiTumed the title of ;i Prince of 
 the Modems in Spain." This monarch was of 
 the race of the Almoravides, a tribe of Arabian 
 extraction, who, amidft the innumerable revolu- 
 tions and difmemberments which took place in 
 the empire of the Caliphs, had acquired the 
 fovercignty of Africa. JufTef was the fecond 
 Prince of this dynafty : he built the city of 
 Morocco, in an extenfive plain about fifteen 
 miles from Mount Atlas, and made it the capital 
 of his dominions. Although the King and pro- 
 bably moft of his courtiers and generals were 
 of Arabian dcfcent, the mafs of his armies 
 undoubtedly confided of Africans. From this 
 period the Arabians of Spain were under the 
 domination or influence of Morocco, and being 
 mixed with a continual influx of adventurers 
 from that country, they have fincc been more 
 generally known by the appellation of Moors. 
 
 The Mahommedans were oblfged to fubmit 
 to the domination of Jullef; and the Chriftians
 
 138 HISTORY OF 
 
 were greatly alarmed at the rapid fuccefles of a 
 Prince who was mafler of Africa and a great 
 part of Spain. Alphonfo ordered a levee en 
 waffe of his fubjecls, and fo great was the general 
 ardour that the priefts and the monks put on 
 the cuirafle. A number of martial foreigners, 
 efpecially from France, flocked to his ftandard, 
 which was alfo joined by the King of Navarre, 
 who, with all the fire of a youthful warrior, 
 came to fhare the perils and glory of the cam- 
 paign. 
 
 By thefe means Alphonfo muttered a numer- 
 ous and formidable army, and marched into 
 Andalufia. The King of Morocco being obliged 
 to retreat from the fuperior forces of the Chrif- 
 tian monarch, embarked with the chiefs of the 
 Almoravides for Africa. The KingofAragon 
 continued a vigorous war againft the Moors, who 
 bordered on his territory, and made himfelf 
 mafter of feveral places of importance. 
 
 JufTef died of a dyfentery, A. D. 1106, after 
 having reismed thirty years in Africa, and twelve 
 
 O O s * J 
 
 years over the Modems of Spain. Ali his fon 
 and fucceffor, refolving to fignalize the beginning 
 of his reign by a brilliant enterprife, prepared 
 to attack the dominions of the King of Caftile. 
 The fpoils brought home by the former adventu- 
 rers, and their reports of the wealth of the 
 country, inflamed the minds of their brethren ;
 
 and the rapacious myriads of Fez and Morocco, 
 excited by the promife of Paradife, and the hope 
 of plunder, readily obeyed the voice of their 
 monarch. A numerous army being collected, 
 was loon conveyed by a favourable wind to 
 Spain, and being joined by the garrifon of 
 Seville, advanced into Caftile. The country was 
 ravaged, the towns and the villages were reduc- 
 ed to allies, and the general devaftation was 
 carried almoft to the gates of Toledo. Age and 
 infirmity had rendered Alphonfo incapable of 
 taking the field in perfon : in order to animate 
 his troops he placed at their head Sancho, his 
 only fon and prefumptive heir, whofe feeble 
 youth and inexperience were compenfated by 
 the abilities of Don Garcias, who acted as com- 
 mander in chief. The Chriftians had fcarcely 
 quitted the environs of Toledo, when they del- 
 cried the banners of Mahommed and the warriors 
 of Africa. With confidence, however, they 
 advanced to the conteft. On both fides the 
 battle was begun with equal ardour; and the 
 victory was long and obftinately difputed. At 
 length the fquadrons of the Almoravides over- 
 whelmed the ranks of the Chriftians. Sancho and 
 Don Garcias, with feven of the moft illuftrious 
 nobles of Spain, were left dead on the field, and 
 above thirty thoufand Chriftians fell in this 
 diiaitrous conflict. The lofs of the victors.,
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 however, is faid to have exceeded that of the 
 vanquished; and the aflertion does not appear 
 improbable, as they declined to make any 
 attempt on Toledo, or even to continue offen- 
 five operations. 
 
 The character of Alphonfo never appeared to 
 greater advantage than amidft the ftorms of 
 adverfity. On a bed of ficknefs, broken by the 
 infirmities of age, he difplayed the fame vigour 
 of mind as in the days of youth and in the field 
 of battle. He had no longer a fon to inherit 
 his crown ; but his private lofs was forgotten 
 in the public calamity and danger : he levied 
 new forces, flrengthened the fortifications of 
 Toledo, and in the moment of defeat and difafler 
 ftill appeared formidable. About eighteen 
 months after the overthrow of his army and 
 
 the death of his fon, Alphonfo died in 
 A. D. 1109. 
 
 the thirty-feventh year of his reign, 
 
 which had been almoft a continued fccne of 
 warfare ; and the dates of Caflile and Leon 
 rccognifed the rights of his daughter Urraca to 
 the united crowns. 
 
 Urraca was married to Alphonfo, King of 
 Navarre and Arragon, who flattered himfelf that 
 he mould reign in the name of his conlbrt. His 
 expectation, however, was disappointed. Urraca 
 rejected his authority : their domellic diflcntions 
 ripened into a civil war ; which was followed by
 
 SPAIN. 161 
 
 4 divorce. Bat this did not reftore the public 
 tranquillity. The nobles of Gallicia acknow- 
 ledged as their fovereign the young Alphonfo, 
 the iflue of Urraca, by her firft marriage with 
 Raymond, Count of Burgundy. The Queen, who 
 had held the fceptre againft the grafp of a 
 hufband, refifted, with equal vigour, the pre- 
 tenfions of her fon. During the fpace of ten 
 years Caftile and Leon were di drafted by the 
 rival faclions. But at length the death of his 
 mother left Alphonfo without a competitor. 
 
 While Caftile and Leon were agitated by the 
 diflentions of the Royal Family, the King of 
 Navarre and Arragon carried on a vigorous 
 and fuccefsful war againft the Moors. Till this 
 lime the Chriftian Kings of Arragon had pofTeffed 
 only the open and mountainous parts of that 
 country. A Moorifh or Arabian Prince reigned 
 in SaragofTa, as a vaffal of the King of Morocco ; 
 and other Mahommedan chiefs held Huefca, 
 and feveral other ftrong cities. Alphonfo, King 
 of Navarre and Arragon, having made himfelf 
 mafter of Tahufte, a ftrong place, near the 
 banks of the Ebro, added new fortifications to 
 Caftellar, a fortrefs fituated on the fame river, 
 at no great diftance from Saragoffa, and began 
 his preparations for the fiege of that city. Num- 
 bers of the martial nobility came from the 
 different countries of Europe to difplay their 
 
 kOL, I, X
 
 162 HISTORY OF 
 
 valour at the fiege of Saragoffa, as they had 
 done about thirty-five years before at the fiege 
 of Toledo. Among thofe of France were the 
 Counts of Beam, Bigorre, and Perche, who, at 
 the head of their vaflals, eroded the Pyrenees to 
 fight under the banners of Navarre. The Moors, 
 convinced that the lofs of SaragofTa muft be a 
 fatal blow to their empire in Spain, were deter- 
 mined to make the moft vigorous efforts for its 
 prefervation. Temim, one of the fons of Ali, 
 King of Morocco, haflened with a felecl: army 
 from Africa, and advancing into Arragon ap- 
 proached Saragoffa. But finding his forces in- 
 ferior to thofe of the Chriftians, the Moorifh 
 Prince was obliged to retire without hazarding 
 a battle. The city, in the mean while, began to 
 experience the horrors of famine; and the batter- 
 ing machines of the Chriftians had already de- 
 molifhed part of the walls, when Alphonfo re- 
 ceived intelligence that another of the fons of 
 the King of Morocco was on his march from 
 Cordova, with orders to rifle every thing for the 
 relief of Saragoffa. Alphonfo did not hefuate 
 a moment.* Leaving a part of his troops to 
 continue the blockade, he marched with the 
 reft to meet the Moorifh army. An engagement 
 
 * in order to prevent any miftake in names, the reader will obferve 
 that this Alphonfo was King of Arragon and Navarre, and contemporary 
 vith Alphonfo VL and Alphonfo VII, Kings of Caflile and Leon,
 
 SPAIN. 163 
 
 took place : the conteft was foon decided : the 
 Moors were defeated ; and Alphonfo returned 
 triumphant to his camp before the walls of 
 A. D.I 1 19 or SaragofTa. After a fiege of eight 
 months the city furrendered by 
 capitulation; and its example was followed by 
 fevcral other places of inferior importance. 
 From this period SaragofTa became the capital of 
 the Chriftian kingdom of Arragon. 
 
 Alphonfo VII. King of Caftile and Leon, was 
 in the 2oth year of his age when he received the 
 iceptre. The ardour of the youthful monarch 
 concurred with that of his warlike fubjefts : in 
 order to efface the memory of their difgrace at 
 the bloody field of Ucles, near Toledo, the 
 nobles, at the head of their vaffals, repaired to 
 the royal ftandard. The army marched in two 
 columns, the right commanded by Don Rodrigo 
 Gonzalez, the left by the King in perfon. In 
 this invafion the Chriftians retaliated on the 
 Moors the calamities which they had formerly 
 inflicted on Caftile : the mofques were levelled 
 with the ground : the villages abandoned to the 
 flames, and the miferable inhabitants carried into 
 flavery. The crops were deftroyed on the 
 ground, and the vines and olives pulled up by 
 the roots. The country prefcnted one entire 
 fcene of devaftation as far as the fuburbs of 
 Seville, The want of battering machines pre- 
 
 X 2
 
 164 HISTORY OF 
 
 vented Alphonfo from undertaking the fiege of 
 that city ; but he continued his defolating pro- 
 grefs to the rock of Gibraltar ; from whence he 
 returned to Toledo laden with fpoils. 
 
 But the arms of the Chrillians were not every 
 where attended with equal fuccefs. The aged 
 King of Arragon, not fatisfied with the capture 
 ofSaragoffa, had reduced Jaen andMequinentia; 
 but while he was ravaging the territory of the 
 Moors, and, with a corps of only three hundred 
 cavalry, had feparated himfelf from the main 
 body of his army, he fell into an ambufcade. 
 Preferring death to difgrace, he rufned amidlt 
 the hoftile ranks, and after his fword had immo- 
 lated many of his enemies he fell overwhelmed 
 with numbers and covered with wounds. His 
 fmall troop, following his example, performed 
 prodigies of valour; and a few of his attendants 
 were fo fortunate as to make their efcape by 
 opening a paffage with their fvvords through the 
 ranks of the enemy. Thus fell Alphonfo I. 
 of Navarre and Arragon. after 
 
 A. D. 1134. 
 
 having reigned thirty years, and been 
 
 victorious in twenty-nine battles fought againft 
 the Mahommedans. The kingdoms of Navarre 
 and Arragon, which had been united by his arms, 
 were feparated by his death : the fir ft was con- 
 ferred on his kinfman Garcias : the fecond 
 recognifed the claims of his brother Ramiro.
 
 SPAIN. 16> 
 
 After his fuccefsful expedition into the South, 
 Alphonfo, King of Caltile and Leon, had, by the 
 general voice of the Princes of Spain, been 
 faluted with the title of Emperor. Refolving to 
 merit that honour, by his fubfequent as well as 
 his pafl exploits, he made, in conjunction with 
 Garcias, King of Navarre, a dreadful irruption 
 into Andalufia. The two Chriftian Kings plun- 
 dered and burned the towns and the villages, 
 and converted that fertile country into a defert. 
 The ftrong fortrefs of Oraja, on the frontiers of 
 Caltile and Grenada, was taken after a fiege of 
 fix months, Coria was alfo obliged to iubmit to 
 their arms; and Mora, which had been recently 
 taken by the Moors, was recovered by the 
 Chriftians. After thefc fncceffes, the Kings of 
 Caftile and Navarre, with the afiiftance of the 
 French, Genoefe, and Pi fan fquadrons, inverted 
 the ftrong town of Almeria on the coaft of 
 Grenada. The army affailed the walls by land : 
 the fleet commanded by Raymond, Count of 
 Barcelona, blockaded the harbour by fea, and 
 prevented the accefs of iuccours from Africa. 
 After a vigorous refinance the city was carried 
 by affault; but the garriion, confid- 
 ing of 20.000 men, retired to the 
 citadel, and obtained a capitulation. Thus was 
 Almeira obliged to acknowledge the authority of 
 the King of Caltilc, and her treafures, the fruit
 
 166 HISTORY OF 
 
 of piratical adventure, rewarded the toils of his 
 foldiers. 
 
 From this fuccefsful expedition Alphonfo re- 
 turned in triumph into Caitile ; but he did not 
 Jong indulge in repofc. He traverfed again the 
 mountains of Sierra Morena, and reduced the 
 ftrongand important fortrefs of Andujar. After 
 a fhort vifit to Toledo, he again took the field in 
 the hope of completing the conqueit of Andalufia. 
 In a bloody engagement, near Jaen, he defeated 
 a numerous hott of the Moors, and his laft days 
 were cheered by victory. A violent dyfentery 
 arrefled his brilliant career ; and he expired 
 in an obfcure village on his return towards 
 Toledo. 
 
 Alphonfo difplayed the impartial 
 fondnefs of a father rather than the 
 policy of the monarch in the divifion which he 
 made of his dominions. He appointed his eldeft 
 fon, Sancho, his fucceffor in the throne of 
 Caflile, and to his youngefl fon, Ferdinand, he 
 adigned the kingdom of Leon. During his life 
 a national affembly had ratified this arrange- 
 ment; and after his death the refpe&ive claims 
 of the two monarchs were recognifed. The 
 conduct of the fons of Alphonfo VII. exhibited 
 one of the very few examples of fraternal 
 affection, unimpaired by ambition or jealoufy. 
 The Moors, taking advantage ol the death of
 
 SPAIN. 167 
 
 Alphonfo, had recovered all his conquefls in 
 Aridalufia, and again planted the ftandard of 
 Mahommed on the towers of Andujar. But the 
 King of Caftile foon checked their progrefs, and, 
 by a bloody defeat, convinced them that he 
 inherited the martial abilities of his father. His 
 death, however, foon followed his victory, and 
 (hatched him from the wifhes of his fubjefls. 
 But the memory of his virtues, and the influence 
 of his faithful minifler, Don Guiterez de Caflro, 
 promoted the election of his fon, Alphonfo, an 
 
 infant of three years old, to the throne 
 A. D. i I5 8. ' 
 
 of Caftile. 
 
 The minority of Alphonfo VIII. was dif- 
 turbed by the rival pretenfions of the families of 
 Lara and Caftro to the regency. Thefe difTen- 
 tions at length broke out into a civil war. The 
 family of Caftro were expelled, and declared 
 rebels, and Nugnez de Lara, for fome time, 
 governed Caftile with abfolute fway. Under 
 his adminiftration a marriage was concluded be- 
 tween Alphonfo and Eleanora, the daughter of 
 Henry II. King of England. But Ferdinand de 
 Caftro, being fupported by the King of Leon, 
 returned with an army and defeated Nugnez de 
 Lara, who was made prifoner. On this change 
 of affairs, Alphonfo took into his own hands the 
 reins of government.
 
 168 HISTORY OF 
 
 Alphonfo f \vaycd the fceptre with an unfteady 
 hand: he engaged in a feries of unfuccefsful 
 hofli'ities againil the Chriftian Kings of Leon 5 
 Arragon,and Navarre; but at length the formid- 
 able preparations of the Moors obliged him to 
 iblicit the afliftance of thefe monarchs. By fome 
 hiftorians it lias been aflerted that Alphonfo, 
 actuated by jealoufy and pride, and dcfirous of 
 monopolizing the glory of conqueft, anticipated 
 the diligence of his allies, rufhed to the battle, 
 and was defeated with great lofs by the Moors : 
 others are iilent refpefting this event, and a flu re 
 us that this monarch, in concert with the King 
 of An agon, made a fucceliiul campaign; and it 
 appears certain that they made ihemfelves mailers 
 of the ftrong town of Cuenza. Ferdinand. King 
 of Leon, in the mean \vhile, carried on a fuc- 
 cefsful war againit the Moors, and his fon, 
 Sancho.at the head of a formidable army ravaged 
 their territories. 
 
 One of the moft beneficial tranfatiions of the 
 reign of Alphonfo VIII. was the marriage of his 
 daughter Berengara with his coufin, Alphonfo, 
 fon and fucceflbr of Ferdinand, King of Leon : 
 it effected an immediate alliance between the 
 two crov/ns of Caftile and Leon, and ultimately 
 produced their union. Never, indeed, was 
 concord more nccefl'ary to the Chriftians of
 
 SPAIN. 169 
 
 Spain. From A. D. 1129 to 1149, Africa 
 been the theatre of a bloody revolution. The 
 Almohades, a fanatical tribe, inhabiting the 
 mountainous regions of Atlas, but of Arabian 
 defcent, had extinguifhed the dynafly of the 
 Almoravides. After a fanguinary conteftall the 
 (trong places were reduced, and in the year 
 1149, Morocco, the capital, was taken, and the 
 greatefl part of the inhabitants perifhed in the 
 liege and attault. Ifhak, the laft African monarch 
 of the race of the Almoravides, was put to death 
 by the conqueror. Abdoulmoumen, of the 
 tribe of the Almohades, afcended the throne of 
 Morocco, and after a vigorous and fplendid 
 reign, in which he fupprefled numerous revolts, 
 overwhelmed all oppoiition in Africa, and re- 
 duced, under his fceptre, the kingdom of 
 Grenada, which was pofTeHed by a Prince of 
 the Almoravides, the hand of death arrefled 
 his career at the moment when he was meditating 
 the entire conqueft of Spain. This Prince was 
 endowed with a fagacious and comprehenfive 
 mind as well as an enterprifing genius, and 
 pofleffedall the qualities that form the ftatefman 
 and the warrior: he fpared no expenfe or atten- 
 tion in the education of his children : he en- 
 rragrd the ablefi ma tiers to inftruft them in letters 
 and the fcienccs, while he himfelf formed them 
 *o the arts of government and war. His charac- 
 
 O 
 
 voi,.
 
 170 HISTORY OF 
 
 ter would have been perfect had it not been 
 tinftured with cruelty.* 
 
 Abdoulmoumen was fucceeded in 
 A. D. 1160. 
 
 the throne of Morocco by his fon Abi- 
 
 Jakoub, who, from the moment of his acceflion, 
 adopted his father's defign of fubjugating Spain. 
 With an army of a hundred thoufand men, he 
 landed on the coaft of Andalufia, and reduced 
 the Moorifh kingdom of Seville. New troubles 
 in Africa re-called him to that continent ; but as 
 foon as thefe were fuppreffed, he landed a fecond 
 time in Spain, A. D. 1184, and was defeated and 
 flain in battle againft the Chriftians. 
 
 On the death of this monarch, his eldeft fon, 
 Jakoub, afcended the throne of Morocco. The 
 troubles which again agitated Africa for fome 
 time, prevented him from undertaking any thing 
 againft the Chriftians of Europe. But no fooner 
 was tranquillity reftored to his dominions than 
 he paffed over into Spain, and obtained fome 
 advantages. Alphonfo implored the fuccours 
 of the Kings of Navarre and Arragon ; but it is 
 faid that an inordinate defire of monopolizing 
 the honours of victory, induced him to hazard 
 a battle before he could be joined by his allies. 
 A total defeat of the Chriftians was 
 
 A. D. 1195. 
 
 the confequence of his prefumption ; 
 
 * For this African revolution, vicl-j Cardonne, vol. 2. liv. 4'
 
 SPAIN. y 
 
 and, after performing prodigies of valour, 
 Alphonfo himfelf narrowly efcaped with his life. 
 The Spanifh and Arabian hiflorians differ greatly 
 in regard to feveral circumftances relative to 
 this battle, and particularly in their account of 
 the lofs of the Chriftians, which the Arabians 
 exaggerate to an incredible number; but they 
 agree in regard to the total defeat of the King 
 of Caftile, as well as in the date of the battle.* 
 
 Alphonfo, however, levied frefh troops; and 
 Jakoub fent for reinforcements from Africa; 
 but a fecond battle was equally fatal to the 
 Chriftians ; and the King of Morocco, after 
 ravaging Caftile, laid fiege to Toledo. The 
 natural and artificial ftrength of that capital 
 baffled all his efforts. At the end of ten days 
 he raifed the fiege, and after having defolated 
 the environs marched back into Andalufia. In 
 1198 he again took the field, and penetrated 
 through Spain as far as Afturia ; but new troubles 
 requiring his prefence in Africa, he was willing 
 to conclude a peace with the Chriftians; and 
 about twelve months after, he died in the 49th 
 year of his age and the fifteenth of his reign. 
 
 Jakoub was fucceeded in the throne of Morocco 
 by his fon Mehemmed-el-Nafir, who, lefs fortu- 
 
 * Vide Cardonne, vol. 2. p. 315, who feems to have accurately 
 invefligated the matter. 
 
 Y 2
 
 172 HISTORY OF 
 
 nate or lefs fkilful than his predeceffbrs, loft, 
 in one moment, all the provinces which they 
 had acquired in Spain. This monarch, defirous 
 of rendering his reign illuftrious by the conqueft 
 of that country, refolved to pour upon Europe 
 the myriads of Africa. The numbers which he 
 led into Spain are ftated, by the Arabian hif- 
 torians, at fix hundred thoufand combatants, 
 and all agree that this grand expedition exhauft- 
 ed the warlike population of Fez and Morocco. 
 The Chriftians faw the necefiity ofoppofinga 
 flrong mound to this overwhelming torrent. 
 The Kings of Caftile, of Navarre, and Arragon, 
 entered into a ftrift alliance ; and hiftory has 
 not clearly developed the reafon which pre- 
 vented the monarchs of Leon and Portugal 
 from joining the honourable and patriotic con- 
 federacy. 
 
 The eleventh and twelfth centuries were the 
 age of the crufades; and the fpirit of religious 
 fanaticifm and military adventure, which had 
 carried a million and a half of Chriftians to perifh 
 in the plains of Afia, was, on this occafion, 
 converted to the more falutary purpofe of pro- 
 te6ling the kingdoms of Europe. Rodrigo, 
 Archbifhop of Toledo, traverfed Italy and 
 France, and reprefented in fo pathetic a manner 
 the dangers of Spain, that his pious eloquence, 
 affifted by the animated exhortations of Pope
 
 SPAIN. 173 
 
 Innocent III. enabled him to bring fifty thoufand 
 foot and twelve thoufand horfe to the defence 
 of his country. The King of Arragon alfo 
 arrived with his troops. The King of Caftile 
 ordered a levee en majje of his fubjecls; and 
 Toledo was the general rendezvous of the com- 
 bined armies. 
 
 On the 2oth of June, 1210, the Chriftians, in 
 three divifions, marched from Toledo. The 
 rirft effort of their arms fell on the town of Mala- 
 con, \vhich was carried by afiauh, and the 
 inhabitants were put to the fword. Thofe of 
 Calatrava, in order to avoid the fame fate, 
 capitulated, on condition of being permitted to 
 retire with their effefts. The French and Ger- 
 man crufadcrs, being difappointed of the plunder 
 which they had expccled, could not conceal 
 their difcontent ; and it required all the firmnefs 
 of the King of Cailile to reftrain them from 
 violating the treaty. Their ardour for an enter- 
 prife, which did not feem to realize their hopes 
 of enriching themfelves by the fpoils of the 
 infidels, rapidly fubfided ; and in fpite of remon- 
 ftranccs and intreaties, they quitted the Spanifh 
 camp and marched back to the Pyrenees. Of 
 the chiefs of France and Germany, Arnauld, 
 Archbifhop of Narbonne, and Thibaud dc Bla- 
 con, alone remained beneath the ftandard of the 
 crofs. But the Spaniards, though defertcd by
 
 17-4 HISTORY OF 
 
 their allies, ftill prefled forward to viclory, and 
 reduced the town of Alarcon, where the King 
 of Navarre joined the army with a body of 
 troops more formidable by their courage than 
 their numbers. 
 
 The Moors, being informed of the march of 
 the Chriftian army, had occupied the paffes of the 
 Sierra Morena. By this manoeuvre the King of 
 Morocco expected to compel the Chriftians to 
 make a difgraceful retreat, orexpofe themfelves 
 to a certain defeat, by engaging under great 
 difadvantages. The dreadful alternative, how- 
 ever, was fortunately avoided. Under the 
 direction of a fhepherd they explored a new 
 route acrofs the mountains, from the fummit 
 of which they beheld the country near the 
 Guadalquiver, toward Andujar and Jaen, cover- 
 ed with the innumerable tents of the Africans. 
 Having difcovered an advantageous pofition, 
 they fixed and fortified their camp ; and the 
 Moors having fuppofed that the Chriftians had 
 retreated, were aftonifhed to fee them in their 
 front. Two days were allotted to the Spaniards 
 to recruit their ftrength, exhaufted by the 
 toilfome march over the Sierra Morena : on 
 July iG, the third they advanced in order of 
 12101 battle againft the enemy. Don Diego 
 dc Tlaro commanded the van. and Don Gonfalvo 
 dc Xuinie/. the main bodv : the rear was under
 
 SPAIN. * 
 
 the immediate direclion of the King of Caftile; 
 and the Kings of Navarre and Arragon were 
 placed on the wings. Near Tolofa, the Moors, 
 in firm order, with a mafFy chain of iron ftretch- 
 ed in the front of their lines, awaited the charge. 
 The Miramolin, or King of Morocco, held in 
 his left hand the Koran, and with the right he 
 wielded the fabre : The King of Caftile alfo 
 employed religion as an incentive to courage : 
 the Crofs was exalted in the front of the Chrif- 
 tians by the Archbifhop of Toledo; and both 
 the monarchs reminded their foldiers that 
 this day muft inevitably decide the deftiny of 
 Spain. 
 
 The centre of the Chriftians began the charge, 
 which was vigoroufly fupported by the wings 
 under the Kings of Navarre and Arragon. Three 
 times they endeavoured to break the compact 
 line of the Africans ; but in every attack they 
 were vigoroufly repulfed ; and being incefTantlv 
 affailed by frefh fquadrons they began to give 
 way. The battle now appeared to be loft. The 
 King of Caftile furveying the field, and feeing 
 his army on the verge of deftruftion, exclaimed 
 that a glorious death alone remained ; and the 
 Archbifhop of Toledo, who reprefentcd the 
 fafety of the troops as depending on his preferva- 
 don, could fcarcely reftrain him from plunging 
 into the ranks cf the enemy. His generous
 
 176 HISTORY OF 
 
 contempt of life, however, contributed to furn 
 the fcale of victory. The Spaniards, ftimulated 
 by the dcfpair of their monarch, made a laft and 
 irrefiftihle effort. They broke through the 
 thickefl ranks of the Africans, and on every fide 
 fcattered difmay and death. The Moors were 
 thrown into a dreadful confufion : the field of 
 battle was converted into a fcene of ma fiacre : 
 each one confulted his own perfonal fafety by 
 (light; and the King of Morocco, efcapingwith 
 difficulty, took refuge in Jaen. 
 
 The battle of Tolofa was one of the moft 
 dccifive and fanguinary in the annals of war. 
 The Spaniards, according to the general cuftom 
 of all nations, robbed themfelves of a part of 
 their glory by extenuating their lofs. The 
 leader, indeed, muft turn with a fmile of con- 
 tempt from thofe hiftorians, who, defirous of 
 cftablifliing the miraculous interpofition of 
 heaven, would perfuadc us that in fo hard fought 
 a battle, between two fuch numerous hods of 
 combatants, there fell only twenty-five of the 
 victorious army.* The lofs of the Moors is 
 dated, by the Spanifh writers, at one hundred 
 and eighty-five thoufand, and the number fcems 
 not to be exaggerated; for the Arabian hiftorians 
 
 * This number is <;ivcn in the letters of Alplionfo to the Pope ; and 
 C.rdoiiiic juilly coi.Hdcr.s it as inntcliM'-. Vide- Caixlonnc, vol. 2. 
 P. 327-
 
 SPAIN. 177 
 
 bitterly deplore this defeat, which they regard as 
 one of the chief caufes of the depopulation of 
 Africa, and of the downfal of the Mahommedan 
 empire in Spain. And without entering into 
 particular details, they afTert that of fix hundred 
 thoufand men, who compofed the army of the 
 King of Morocco, only a very fmall number re- 
 turned into Africa. 
 
 On the bloody field of Tolofa the power of 
 the Alrnohades of Morocco was for ever broken ; 
 but the immediate conquefts of the Chriflians 
 were not of great importance.* They led back 
 toToledo anarmy thinned by famine and difeafe. 
 In that city they difplayed their triumph and 
 divided their fpoils ; and after figning a treaty 
 of mutual defence, the Kings of Navarre and 
 Arragon returned to their own dominions. 
 
 The remainder of the reign of Alphonfo was 
 regulated by found policy. A dearth which 
 afflifted Caftile, caft a tranfient gloom over the 
 kingdom, and prevented the progrefs of military 
 operations. But while Alphonfo laboured to 
 relieve the diRrefs of his fubjecls, he faw the 
 flrcno-th of the Moors confumed by domeftic 
 
 O * 
 
 diflentions. Soon after the defeat of Tolofa, the 
 King of Morocco departed for Africa ; and a 
 
 * The inactivity of the Chriflians, after fo clecifive a viftory, is a; 
 iroof of its not being gained with a trifling lofs. 
 
 VOL. [.
 
 178 HISTORY OF 
 
 number of petty chiefs, erecting the flandard of 
 revolt, feized all his Spanifh dominions. One 
 of his brothers, named Zeid, affumed the regal 
 authority and title in Valentia. Mehemmed, his 
 uncle, was proclaimed King of Cordova. Seville 
 and its territory entirely fhook off the yoke of 
 the Almohades, and became the portion of an 
 Arabian chief, who had no other claims than 
 thofe of ambition. 
 
 Thefe diffentions of the Moors afforded to the 
 Chriftians a favourable opportunity of extend- 
 ing their conquefts. The Kings of Caftile and 
 Leon took the field and made themfelves mafters 
 of Alcantara ; but death put a flop to the future 
 defigns of Alphonfo, who, after having appointed 
 his fon Henry for his fucceffor, and the Oueen 
 
 Eleonora for regent, expired in the 
 A. D. 1214. 3 
 
 fifty-ninth year of his age, and the 
 fifty-fixth of his reign. 
 
 The ftates of Caftile ratified the will of their 
 deccafed monarch, and his fon, Henry, at eleven 
 years of age, afcended the throne. He was loon 
 deprived of the protection of his mother, who, 
 in a fhort time, followed his father to the grave; 
 and his minority was agitated by the oppofue 
 pretenfions of his fifter Berengara, and of the 
 Houfe of Lara, to the vacant regency. The 
 intrigues of the latter prevailed ; and in a 
 national affembly the reins of adminiftradon
 
 SPAIN. 179 
 
 were committed to the hand of Don Alvaro de 
 Lara. But the fudden and unexpected death of 
 Henry, occafioned by the ftroke of a tile, thrown 
 
 in fport by one of his youthful com- 
 A.D. 1217. . 
 
 pamons, put an end to the ambitious 
 
 views of the minifter. 
 
 Berengara, daughter of Alphonfo VIII. and 
 fifter of the late monarch, had, as already ob- 
 ierved, been married to the King of Leon. The 
 imperious fentence of the Roman Pontif had 
 diflblved the marriage ; but the dates of Caftile 
 declared their iffue legitimate ; and placed the 
 crown on the head of her fon Ferdinand, who 
 was then in the flxteenth year of his age. 
 
 Ferdinand, on whom, after the lapfe of four 
 centuries, the gratitude of pofterity conferred 
 the title of Saint, afcended the throne amidft the 
 acclamations of his fubje&s. But the com- 
 mencement of his reign was agitated by the tur- 
 bulence of the late regent, Alvaro de Lara, who 
 had fled to the court of Leon, and excited 
 the King to take arms againft his fon. The 
 coronation of Ferdinand was interrupted by 
 the difagreeable intelligence, that his unnatural 
 father and his rebellious fubjects were ad- 
 vancing againft him in hoftile array. But the 
 martial nobles of Caftile refolved to fupport their 
 King : a numerous body of cavalry was haftily 
 affernbled : the King of Leon abandoned his dif- 
 
 7. 2
 
 180 HISTORY OF 
 
 graceful enterprife : a reconciliation between 
 the father and the fon was effected, and the 
 death of the turbulent Alvaro, which happened 
 foon after, rendered it permanent. 
 
 The maniage of their monarch with Beatrix, 
 daughter of Philip, Duke of Svvabia, who had 
 been elected to the imperial throne of Germany, 
 gratified the pride of the Caftilians ; and Ferdi- 
 nand rcfolved, by warlike atchievements, to 
 merit the honour of fo high an alliance. His 
 firft campaign, however, neither eflablifhed his 
 fame nor extended his dominions, and after n 
 cor.fiderable part of his army had periflied by 
 ficknefs and famine, at the fiege cf Requena, he 
 was obliged to defifl from the inaufpicious cuter- 
 
 O l 
 
 prife. The difgrace. however, was foon effaced 
 by a train of the mod brilliant fucctffcs. The 
 Mootifii King of Valencia, and ieveial chiefs of 
 Andalufia, fubmiticd to become his vaffals ; ar:d 
 for the fpace of ten years ipcni in ravaging the 
 kingdoms of Grenada. Murcia. and the adjacent 
 parts, at the conclufion o! each campaign, he led 
 back his troops enriched by the pillage of the 
 Mahommedan territories. 1'he fortiilcaiions of 
 Jean, however, refilled his cdorts; and \\ith, great 
 reluclance he raited the fiege. In the mean while, 
 his father, the King of Leon, gained a fignal 
 victory over the Moors, near Meiida, and foon 
 alter breathed his Li't in a p;lg;;;nage to the
 
 SPAIN. 181 
 
 fiirine of St. James, at Compoftella. Ferdinand 
 had, in an allembly of the,.ftates, been declared 
 his fucccifor ; but Alphonfo had bequeathed 
 his domininons to his two daughters, Sancha 
 and Dulcia. All competition, however, \vas ex- 
 tinguifhed by the prudent moderation of the 
 two PrincefTes : they renounced their claims to 
 royalty for the calm tranquillity of a private 
 
 Ration ; and the crown of Leon was 
 ^. D. 1230. 
 
 placed on the head of Ferdinand, 
 
 Kins of Caflile.
 
 182 HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. Fill. 
 
 State of the Mahommedan power in Spain. Chivalry of Spain. Arra- 
 gon defolated by the Moors, and Valentia by the Chriftians. Cordova 
 captured by the Chriflians. A.bou Said ufurps the throne of Grenada. 
 Siege and Capture of Seville by the Cliriflians. Death of Ferdi- 
 nand. His character. Reign of Alphonfo the Wife. Heroifm 
 of Don Garcins de Gomez. The King of Morocco invades Spain. 
 Don Nugnez de Lara defeated and {lain. Similar fate of the Arch- 
 bifhop of Toledo. Misfortunes of Alphonfo. Rebellion of his fou 
 Don Sancho. Reign of Sancho. Tariff taken from the Moors. 
 Magnanimity of Don Gufman. -Death of Sancho. His character. 
 Reign of Ferdinand. Gibraltar taken from the Moors. Death of 
 Ferdinand. Reign of Alphonfo XI. Convulfions of Grenada. 
 Delolating wars between the Chriftians and the Moors. Gibraltar 
 betrayed to the Moors. Abi Haflan, King of Morocco, invades Spain. 
 His army defeated and his fon {lain. The King of Morocco defeat- 
 ed, and two other of his fons killed in the battle. Aigefiras taken 
 from the Moors. Death and characler or Alphonfo XL 
 
 M the final union of the Kingdom of Caftile 
 and Leon, under the fceptre of Ferdinand, may 
 be dated the future greatnefs of Spain. More 
 than five centuries had elapfed fince the Chrif- 
 tians, in the craggy retreats of Afturia, had 
 ranged ihemfelves under the banners of Pelagius,
 
 SPAIN. 133 
 
 who di reeled their fteps to viftory. The defcend- 
 ants of the Arabian conquerors had ruined 
 themfelves by their divifions, and fallen under 
 the control of African Princes : the limits of 
 their empire had been gradually contracted ; 
 and when Ferdinand united the crown of Leon 
 to that of Caftile, the pofleffions of the Mahom- 
 medans of Spain were confined to the kingdom 
 of Grenada, the Provinces of Murcia and Valen- 
 tia, and part of Andalufia. 
 
 In this age the fpiritof chivalry was in its full 
 vigour; and it flourifhed in no country more 
 than in Spain. The perpetual wars, rapine, and 
 anarchy, congenial to the feudal fyftem, and 
 the enthufiafm excited by the crufades had con- 
 curred to its production, and brought it to its 
 maturity in the different countries of Europe. 
 The limited power of the fovereign could not 
 proteft from infult and injury the weak and 
 unarmed. The valour and generofity of private 
 perfons afforded the mofl effeclual defence 
 againft violence and oppreffion. Valour, 
 humanity, courtefy, juftice, and honour, were 
 efteemed the charafteriflics of chivalry. The 
 fword of the knight was bleffed by the minifters 
 of religion : his folemn inauguration waspreceded 
 by fafts and vigils ; and he was inverted with 
 the honours of knighthood in the name of God, 
 of St. George, and St. Michael the Archangel.
 
 184 HISTORY OF 
 
 His duties were to check the infolence of 
 oppreffors, to protect women, orphans, and 
 ecclefiaftics who could not bear arms in their 
 own defcncce, and to make war againft infidels. 
 Modern times regard chivalry as a wild and 
 extravagant inftitution ; but the manners of 
 different ages, as well as of different nations, 
 are formed by circumftances ; and our anceftors, 
 as well as ourfelves, had rcafons for their aftions 
 and cuftoms. The diforders of the feudal ages 
 furnifh an apology for chivalry; and in no 
 country was the power of the Sovereign more 
 limited, or the licentioufnefs of the fubjeft lefs 
 under legal control than in Spain. Amidft the 
 fcenes of war and depredation. difFufed through 
 every part of the country, during a long fuccef- 
 fion of ages, each warrior confidered himfelf as 
 indebted only to his own fword for the land which 
 he feized or the fpoil that he fhared. Dif- 
 regarding the authority of the fovcreign and the 
 control of the laws, he confidcred the meafure 
 of his own power as fixing the limits of his 
 aclions.* The. country was overfpread with 
 armed depredators, and the Chriftian, as well as 
 the Mahornmedan robber, not unfrequently 
 plundered his own brethren as well as the 
 
 * For the origin and effects of chivalry, vide St. Palaye Mem. fur 
 1'ancienne C'livaiciie.
 
 SPAIN. 185 
 
 enemies of his faith. Amidft fuch fcenes of 
 anarchy it was highly neceflary that Tome inftitu- 
 lions fhould be formed that might infpire ienti- 
 ments of humanity, politenefs, and juftice. 
 
 In feveral of the countries of Europe afibcia- 
 tions of knights had been formed, and had 
 obtained he appellation of orders. They were 
 generally diftinguifhed by the name of the Saint 
 whom they had chofen for their patron, by that 
 of fome myftery of religion, or of the place where 
 they had fixed their residence. Thofe of Spain 
 were the orders of St. Jago, Calatrava, and 
 Alcantara : the firft had been inftituted towards 
 the clofe of the twelfth century, under the 
 aufpices of Alphonfo IX. and confirmed by 
 Pope Alexander III. The grand object of 
 chivalry being to oppofe the infidels, and all 
 difhirbers of the public peace, fuch an inftitu- 
 tion, while the open country was not only ravaged 
 by the Mahommedan enemy? but opprefled by 
 the depredations of Chriftian banditti, could 
 not fail of popularity and public patronage. In 
 the thirteenth century, the wealth and importance 
 of this order had become fo confiderable that it 
 had, in its pofieffion, eighty commanderies, two 
 hundred priories, and a variety of other bene- 
 fices, and was capable of bringing into the field 
 a thoufand men at arms, who, with their fol- 
 lowers, compofed a formidable body of cavalry. 
 
 VOL. I, 2 .\
 
 186 HISTORY OF 
 
 From the diftribution of fo ample a revenue s 
 and the difpofal of fo confiderable a force, the 
 grand mafter of the order of St. Jago was re- 
 garded as the perfon of the greateft power and 
 dignity next to the King. The orders of Calatrava 
 and Alcantara, though neither fo honourable 
 nor fo opulent as that of St. Jago, were numerous 
 and richly endowed. Religious and military 
 enthufiafm, the prominent features of the age, 
 characterized thefe institutions. To recover 
 Jerufalem from the hands of the Mahommedans 
 was the pious objeft of moft of the knights of 
 Europe ; but thofe of Spain might exercife their 
 valour within their native boundaries ; and that 
 enthufiaftic ardour which had animated the 
 Arabians, who marched under the banners of 
 Tarik and Mufa, feemed to have pafled from 
 their bofoms to thofe of their adverfaries, whom 
 it infpired with an energy which the feeble and 
 divided defcendants of the firft conquerors were 
 totally unable to refill. 
 
 The aclive and penetrating genius of Ferdi- 
 nand did not fail to convert the fpirtt of chivalry 
 to the publicadvantage; andtheirrefiftible charge 
 of thefe chevaliers, mounted on their fpirited 
 horfes, overturned the feeble battalions and 
 light fquadrons of the Moors. In Andalufia a 
 (mall body of knights, under Don Antonio, the 
 King's brother, being furroundcd by the infidels.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 jwt them to the route and killed their general. 
 Ferdinand, in order to avail himfelf of the ardour 
 of his fubje&s, took the field and captured 
 Ubeda ; but domeftic grief allayed the exulta- 
 tion of conqueft, and checked the operations 
 of war. While Ferdinand was prefling the fiege 
 of Ubeda, his confort, Beatrix, expired at Toro ; 
 and during a whole year his forrow refifted the 
 calls of glory. But his temporary inaction only 
 ferved to render more confpicuous his future 
 exertions, and in the beginning of January, 
 A. D. 1236, he formed, in perfon, the fiege of 
 Cordova. 
 
 Meutewekul-Ben-Houd, King of Grenada, 
 who had conceived the project of reducing, 
 under his dominion, all the Moorifh poffeffions 
 in Spain, and to unite them in one compaft 
 empire, capable of refilling the force of the 
 Chriftians, was then, with a body of his army, at 
 Ecija. The Arabian Emir or Prince of Valentia 
 had made an incurfion into Arragon, and ren- 
 dered the country a fcene of defolation. The 
 King of Arragon retaliated on the territories of 
 Valentia, and approached the capital. Ben- 
 Houd refolved to attack the Arragonefe, and 
 had advanced as far as Almeira, when he was 
 murdered by confpirators. The death of this 
 Prince was an irreparable lofs to the Moors, 
 who had no other chief that was able to ftem 
 
 2 A 2
 
 188 HISTORY OF 
 
 the torrent of calamities which was rufhing on 
 their empire. 
 
 By this event hopes of the citizens of Cordova 
 were extinguifhed. The city was clofely befieg- 
 ed, the walls were battered by the military 
 engines, every poft in the environs was occu- 
 pied, and every fupply intercepted. Famine 
 within, and the fword without, menaced them 
 with deftruftion; and the double danger induced 
 June 29, them reluctantly to furrender by 
 A. D. 1236. ca pi tu i at i on> * Thofe who refufed 
 
 to live under a Chriftian government were per- 
 mitted to retire with their effecls ; but the 
 majority acquiefced under the dominion of their 
 new matters. Thus was the city of Cordova 
 reduced under the power of the Chriftians, after 
 it had been five hundred and twenty-two years 
 in the hands of the Mahommedans. The cathe- 
 dral was folemnly purified from the profanation 
 of the difciples of Mahommed ; and within lefs 
 than three centuries after its ere&ion, the King 
 of Caftile and Leon repofed in the magnificent 
 palace of the great Abdalrahman. 
 
 It is eafier to conceive than exprefs the con- 
 fternation of the Mahommedans on the furrender 
 of Cordova. That city had long been the capital 
 of their empire in Spain. Its grandeur and vaft 
 
 * Cardonne, torn. 3. p. 96,
 
 SPAIN. 189 
 
 population have been already defcribed, and 
 though with the vvaining ftrength of its pofleffors 
 iis fplendour had gradually declined, yet it was 
 ftill large, populous, and opulent ; and the 
 fuperltitious minds of many of the Arabians 
 regarded the duration of their dominion as 
 attached to its confervation. But the lofs of 
 Cordova was not the only misfortune which 
 they had to lament. The King of Arragon 
 having defolated the Province of Valencia, 
 defeated the Emir, and made a confiderable 
 (laughter of his troops. After this fuccefs he 
 laid fiege to the city of Valentia, and was joined 
 by a body of forces from France, under the 
 conduct of Pierre Aimille, Bifliop of Narbonne, 
 and a troop of Englifh cavaliers, whom the 
 news of fo important a fiege had attracled into 
 Spain. The Chrittians having received thefe 
 reinforcements commenced their operations: the 
 ditches were filled up, and the battering machines 
 began to thunder againft the walls, while the 
 Moors, at the fame time, were conftrufting new 
 fortifications within the place. A fleet from 
 Africa made an unfuccefsful attempt to throw 
 troops and provifions into the city ; and after 
 fuftaining a long and terrible fiege, and experi- 
 encing all the horrors of famine, the inhabitants 
 of Valentia agreed to a capitulation, which gave 
 them permifTion to retire with their effecls.
 
 190 HISTORY 01 
 
 After the capture of Cordova, the fecond 
 marriage of Ferdinand, with the daughter of the 
 Countde Ponthieu, was celebrated at Bourdeaux; 
 and the operations of war were fufpended by a 
 feafon of feflivity. The infolence of a factious 
 and powerful fubjeft fummoned Ferdinand 
 from the arms of his bride; but no fooner had 
 that monarch vanquifhed and pardoned Don 
 Diego de Haro then he took the field againit 
 the Mahommedans. After the afTafTination of 
 Meutewekul-Ben-Houd, King of Grenada, Me- 
 hemmed-Abou-Said of the Arabian tribe of 
 Alhamares, which had paiTed into Africa and 
 from thence into Spain, at the time of the con- 
 queft, artfully induced the inhabitants of Jaen, 
 Cadiz, and fome other cities, to proclaim him 
 their fovereign. Thofe of Grenada followed 
 their example ; and the new monarch fixed in 
 that city the feat of his government. In order 
 to eflablifh his reputation among his fubje&s, 
 Abou-Said fought an opportunity of wrefting 
 fomething from the Chriftians. On receiving 
 intelligence that the governor of Martos, with all 
 his garrifon, was gone out to ravage the Moorifh 
 territories, the King of Grenada fuddenly pre- 
 iented himfelf before that fortrefs. The sover- 
 
 o 
 
 nor's wife, a woman of courage and resolution, 
 caufed the gates to be fhut, and prepared for a 
 vigorous defence. All the females of the place..
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 Animated by her example, mounted the ramparts, 
 from whence they hurled Hones and poured 
 boiling pitch on the adailants, and fought with 
 fuch refolution and vigour as to give time to the 
 Chriftians to come to their fuccour Abou-Said 
 was obliged to make a difgraceful retreat, and 
 foon after concluded a truce with the King of 
 Caftile and Leon. After its expiration hoftilities 
 recommenced. Ferdinand ravaged Andalufia; 
 but his brother Alphonfo was defeated by Abou- 
 Said, in the territory of Grenada. Ferdinand 
 foon after took the city of Arjona, and Alphonfo 
 having penetrated a fecond time into the king- 
 dom of Grenada, laid fiege to the capital. The 
 King of Caftile followed in perfon to direct the 
 operations ; but the advanced feafon compelled 
 him to abandon the enterprife and return to 
 Cordova. In the next campaign Ferdinand 
 ravaged all the Moorifh frontier, and carried 
 fire and fword to the very walls of Grenada. 
 Jaen, which had often refilled the arms of the 
 Chriftians, was inverted ; but the natural and 
 artificial ftrength of the place, with the valour 
 of its garrifon, rendered the fiege extremely 
 difficult. And the King of Caftile was beginning 
 to defpair of fuccefs, when a fortunate incident 
 gave to the enterprife a favourable termination. 
 A formidable revolt had taken place at 
 Grenada ; <\nd Abou-Said, whofe life was in
 
 192 HISTORY OF 
 
 danger among his rebellious fubjecls, was com- 
 pelled to feek refuge in the camp of his enemy. 
 Heconjurcd Ferdinand toundertake hisdefence; 
 and a treaty was concluded, by which Abou-Said 
 engaged to deliver the city of Jaen, and do 
 homage for the kingdom of Grenada to the King 
 of Caftile. to join with his troops the ftandard of 
 that monarch in time of war, and to cede to him 
 half of his revenue. On thefe conditions Ferdi- 
 nand, after taking pofleffion of Jaen, furnifhed 
 Abou-Said with a body of troops againft: his 
 rebellious fubjefts; and a Chriftian army re- 
 ftored the Mahommedan Prince to his throne. 
 
 This event was of the greateft importance to 
 the Chriftian caufe in Spain. Ferdinand having 
 nothing to fear from the King of Grenada, but, 
 on the contrary, being able to command his 
 affiftance againft the other Mahommedan Princes, 
 refolved to turn his arms againft Seville. That 
 city, fituated in the midft of a fertile plain, 
 watered by the Guadalquiver, and diverfified 
 by numerous corn fields and vineyards, com- 
 prifed, within its walls, twenty-four thoufand 
 Arabian families of twenty-three different tribes. 
 The luxuriant fertility of the fur round ing country, 
 as well as the purity of the air, had recommended 
 it fuccefiwely to the natives and the conquerors 
 of Spain. It had been founded, in a remote age, 
 by ihe Phoenicians; and afterwards extended
 
 SPAIN. 193 
 
 and cmbellifhcd by the Romans: it had been 
 the reiidence of the Gothic Kings before they 
 removed their court to Toledo ; and on the fail 
 of the Ommiades of Spain, it became a feparate 
 kingdom. This was the Hate of Seville when 
 Ferdinand undertook to reduce it once more 
 under the domination of the Chriftians. The 
 Moorifh King, forefeeing the attack, made for- 
 midable difpofitions for refinance. He collected 
 a great number of horfes. and prodigious quan- 
 tities of arms, ammunition, and provifion. The 
 bravelt of his fubjecls took arms, and numerous 
 bodies of the Arabians of Africa came to the 
 affiftance of their brethren in Spain. Ferdinand 
 alfo made immenfe preparations for an enter- 
 prife of which he fore fa w the difficulties as well 
 as the importance. Thirteen large (hips and 
 leveral of inferior fize were confiruded and 
 equipped, under the direction of Raymond 
 Boniface, one of the moil fkilful naval com- 
 manders of the age. Though the moil; confider- 
 ahle of the veflels would, in modern times, have 
 been regarded with contempt, yet their bulk was 
 f'.jtiicient, in that age, to excite the admiration 
 of the Chriilians and flrike the Mahommedans 
 with terror. The armament was not only fanti- 
 iied by the ble flings of the clergy, but pro- 
 moted by their liberality ; and one-third of their 
 revenues was readily granted for the holy pur- 
 
 VOL. I. 2 15
 
 194 HISTORY OF 
 
 pofe of breaking the power of the Infidels. On 
 the 20th Auguft, 1247, l ^ e King f Caftile and 
 Leon prefented himfelf before Seville, and in- 
 vefted the city by land, while his fleet formed 
 the blockade of the river, and prevented the 
 entrance of any fupplies from Africa. The 
 befieged made vigorous forties and feveral def- 
 perate but ineffectual attempts to burn the 
 blockading fleet. At length, however, they 
 fucceeded in deftroying the works of the be- 
 fiegers and burning their battering machines. 
 Sicknefs began to make direful ravages in the 
 bcfieging army : the Spaniards began to be dif- 
 couraged by the difficulties and length of the 
 fiege; and Ferdinand himfelf began to be doubt- 
 ful of the fuccefs of his enterprife. Such was 
 the ftate of things when Abou-Said, King of 
 Grenada, on being fummoned by Ferdinand to 
 join the Caftilian flandard, in purfuance to the 
 treaty concluded at Jaen, arrived at the camp 
 with a ielel body of troops. This reinforce- 
 ment revived the hopes of the Chriflians ; but 
 the inhabitants of Seville beheld with indigna- 
 tion and horror the banners of Chrift and 
 Mahommed difplayed in the fame camp, and 
 combined for their deftruftion. Though affailed 
 by the difciples of the prophet, as well as by the 
 hofts of the Chriflians, they made a long and 
 glorious refiftancc. The autumn was confumed
 
 SPAIN. 19.5 
 
 iti bloody but indecifive attacks; and the people 
 of Seville might have expecled that the in- 
 clemency of the winter would compel the be- 
 fiegers to retire from their walls. But Ferdinand 
 was refolved to make himfelf mafter of the city, 
 and his indefatigable care furmounted every 
 difficulty. A conftant fupply of provifions was 
 poured into his camp, which had the appearance 
 of an immenfe city ftretching over the plain ; 
 and the plenty which reigned in the army of the 
 befiegers was equal to the fcarcity which pre- 
 vailed among the befieged. 
 
 The return of fpring infpiring the troops with 
 frefh ardour, the fiege was pufhed with re- 
 doubled vigour, and the difficulty of a clofe 
 blockade fuggefted a new plan of operations. 
 The vaft circuit of Seville rendered it almoft 
 impoffible to prevent, at all times, the entrance 
 of convoys. TheChriftian Admiral formed the 
 bold defign of breaking the bridge of boats con- 
 flrufted acrofs the Guadalquiver, and of cutting 
 off by that means the communication between 
 the city and the fuburb of Triama. The under- 
 taking, though difficult, was fuccefsfully accom- 
 plifhed. A general aflault was foot) after made 
 on the city : the Chriftians fcaled the walls and 
 overwhelmed all that oppofed them; till the 
 inhabitants, preffing to the point of attack, with 
 a courage unimpaired by famine and unfliaken 
 
 2 B 2
 
 1.9(3 HISTORY OF 
 
 by danger, repulfed the affailants. The conflict 
 was long and fanguinary ; but at length the 
 continued e items of the befieged compelled the 
 Chriftians to retire with great lofs. P'amine, in 
 the mean while, began to increafe to an alarming 
 decree in the city ; and the inhabitants feeing; 
 
 O . ' O 
 
 no hopes of relief, were convinced of the im- 
 poflibility of much longer refiftance. After 
 fome negotiation, they agreed to a capitulation 
 diQated by the viftor: the citizens were per- 
 mitted to retire with their property : the towns 
 of St. Lucar Xiebla and Aznal Farach were left 
 to the Moors : Seville and all the other cities 
 belonging to the kingdom were delivered to the 
 Chriftians. On the 22d December, 1248, after 
 a fieoe of fixteen months, Ferdinand made his 
 
 t5 
 
 triumphant entry into Seville, and moil of the 
 inhabitants, to the number of about one hundred 
 thoufand, difdaining to live under a Chriftian 
 government, relufctantly abandoned the city. 
 Some of them retired to the towns yet poflcffed 
 by the Moors; but the greater number left 
 Spain and patted over into Africa. 
 
 The Chriftians and the Moors being equally 
 weary of the war, no event of importance took 
 place till the year 1250, when Ferdinand again 
 taking the field, made himfelf mailer of Medina 
 Sidonia, and ieveral other places. Having 
 broken the ilrcngth of the Molkms of Spain, he
 
 SPAIN. 197 
 
 conceived the defign of carrying his arms into 
 Africa. He foliated Henry HI- of England, to 
 join the fplendid projcft ; but the refufal of that 
 monarch did not prevent Ferdinand from pur- 
 iuing his defign. He urged the preparations 
 with that indefatigable activity which had ever 
 marked his character, and collected the mod 
 formidable fleet that had yet iflued from the 
 Chriftian ports of Spain. But the conflitution 
 of Ferdinand had been impaired by a life of 
 inceifant care and toil ; and the ftrength of his 
 body no longer correfnonded with the ardour of 
 his mind, which, rifing fuperior to indifpofi- 
 tion, Mill retained its priftine vigour. Being 
 exhaufted by a dropfy. he prepared, like a Chrif- 
 tian and a hero, to meet his approaching diffo- 
 lution, and in his laft moments exhibited an 
 example of piety and fortitude. Of all the 
 Chriftian monarchs, Ferdinand had given the 
 fevered blows to the Mahommedan empire in 
 Spain. His memory was long revered by a 
 grateful people; and above four centuries after 
 his death, his name was, at the folicitation of the 
 King and ftates of Spain, infcribed by the Roman 
 PoritifFin the lift of Saints. 
 
 The fceptre of Ferdinand defcended 
 
 to his fon Alphonfo, furnamed the 
 
 Wife, an epithet which appears to refer to his 
 
 academical attainments rather than to his fupe-
 
 193 HISTORY OF 
 
 rior fkill in political affairs. The Arabians had 
 introduced learning and fcience into Spain, 
 while the reft of Europe was involved in igno- 
 rance and barbarifm : the Chriftians had. in pro- 
 cefsof time, imitated their example and emulated 
 their attainments ; and during the darknefs of 
 the middle ages, the Spaniards, notwithftanding 
 the fanguinary wars in which they were con- 
 ftantly engaged, equalled, or rather furpafied 
 moft of their neighbours in literature. Al- 
 phonfo had dedicated much of his time to fcien- 
 tific purfuits : he was one of the greateft mathe- 
 maticians in Europe, and the tables which bear 
 his name evince his (kill in aftronomy. But the 
 errors of his adminiftration, or the misfortunes 
 by which he was aflailed, have given rife to the 
 obfervation that his attention to the heavens had 
 caufed him to neglecl the earth. His reign, at 
 lead, was far lefs profperous than might have 
 been expecled from the feemingly aufpicious 
 moment of his acceffion, when the brilliant fuc- 
 cefles of his predecefTor had fo completely 
 humbled the enemies of his crown. Ferdinand 
 had held out to his fubje&s the fplendid hope 
 that the throne of Fez and Morocco, which the 
 difciples of Mahommed had creeled in Africa, 
 was to be fubverted by the fwords of the Chrif- 
 tians ; and the fervour of religious enthufiafm 
 had fupported them under their accumulated
 
 SPAIN. 199 
 
 burdens, while the profpecl of plunder animated 
 the fpirits of the foldiery. But the Spaniards 
 beheld, with indignation, the African expedition 
 abandoned, and the royal revenues expended by 
 their fovereign in a vain competition for the 
 imperial crown of Germany. 
 
 The fuccefTes of Alphonfo againft the Moors 
 of Spain fhed a confiderable degree of luflre on 
 the firft years of his reign. Xeres, Arcos, and 
 Lebrixa, opened their gates to the Chriftians. 
 Two years after thefe fuccefTes, Alphonfo made 
 anexcurfion into Algarva, where he feized on 
 feveral towns and fortreifes, which belonged to 
 different Arabian chiefs. Mehemet-Abou-Said, 
 King of Grenada, had ferved Ferdinand as his 
 vaffal, and had joined his ftandard at the fiege 
 of Seville : he alfo renewed the treaty with 
 Alphonfo, who, notwithftanding, invaded his 
 territories. This violent infraclion induced 
 Abou-Said to form an alliance with the King of 
 Murcia, and to folicit his aid. Alphonfo was, 
 at the fame time, preparing to take the field, 
 but was anticipated by the two Moorifh Kings 
 of Grenada and Murcia, who made themfelves 
 matters of Xeres, Arcos, Medina Sidonia, St. 
 Lucar, and Ronda. On this occafion Don 
 Garcias de Gomez, governor of the Citadelle of 
 Xeres, difplayed an uncommon example of 
 daring courage. When all the foldiers 3 who
 
 200 HISTORY OF 
 
 compofed his (mall garrilbn, were killed or 
 wounded, he alone, for a confidcrable time, fuf- 
 taincd all the efforts of the aflailants. The 
 Moors, Rruck with admiration of his valour, 
 rclolved to fave his life : they contrived to drag 
 him, by means of grappling hooks, from the ram- 
 part, and humanely cured him of his wounds. 
 
 Alphonfo hearing of the fuccelles of ihe enemy* 
 entered the kingdom of Grenada, deftroyed 
 fevcral towns, and rendered the country a fcene 
 of deiolation. The two Kings, preffcd on all 
 fides by the arms of the Chriftians, renewed their 
 application at the court of Morocco, but all the 
 fuccours they were able to obtain confiited only 
 of a few light troops ; and the King of Caftile 
 recovered all the places which they had taken. 
 A groundlefs report, however, was circulated 
 that an innumerable army was coming from 
 Africa. The Kings of Caltile and Arragon were 
 equally alarmed, and in order to refill the com- 
 mon danger, entered into a ftritl alliance. The 
 King of Arragon turned his arms againft Murcia, 
 and took feveral places by affault or by capitula- 
 tion, while Alphonfo again dcfolated the terri- 
 tory of Grenada. The Moors implored, in vain, 
 the aififtance of Africa ; and Abou-Said feeing 
 himfeif reduced to extremity, entered into a 
 negotiation with the King of Caftilc. A treaty 
 was concluded on terms dictated bv the vilor.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 The King of Grenada engaged not only to pay 
 to Alphonfo an annual tribute of two hundred 
 and fifty thoufand crowns, but alfo to join his 
 forces to thofe of Caftilc, in order to effeft the 
 conqucft of the kingdom of Murcin. 
 
 After this advantageous treaty, Alphonfo pre- 
 fented himfelf before the city of Murcia, which 
 
 being deftitute of" all hope of fuccour, 
 A. D. 1266. 
 
 was obliged to furrender to the arms 
 
 of the Chriftians. The reigning King was de- 
 pofed, and his brother Mehemmed-Aben-Hout 
 was placed on the throne by Alphonfo, under 
 the condition of rendering homage and paying 
 one-third of his revenues to the crown of 
 Caftile. 
 
 Till this period the reign of Alphonfo had 
 been gilded with the funfhine of fucccfs; but 
 domeltic troubles and difappointcd ambition 
 afterwards call over it a melancholy gloom. 
 The rebellion of his brother, the Infant Don 
 Philip, who, with his adherents, took refuge in 
 the court of Grenada, was a difagreeable rather 
 than a dangerous event ; and after fome time a 
 ,- reconciliation took place. But the difappoint- 
 rnciit of his hopes of afcending the imperial 
 throne of Germany was, to Alphonfo, a fubjeclof 
 fcrious regret. He had lavifhed his wealth in 
 the vain purfuit : his coffers were drained by 
 *he avidity of the German Princes, whofe fup- 
 \"or.. r. 2 c
 
 $02 HISTORY OF 
 
 port he had expefted; and after having con- 
 fumed, in this wild project, the treafures which 
 might have enabled him to effeft the expulfion 
 of the Moors from Spain, his hopes were finally 
 extinguifhed by the election of Rhodolph of 
 Hapfburg, the founder of the imperial Houfe of 
 Auftria. 
 
 While Alphonfo, at a great diftance from his 
 dominons, was confuming in Germany his time 
 and his treafures, the King of Grenada feized 
 the favourable opportunity of throwing off the 
 yoke of Caftile, and invoked for this purpofe 
 the aid of the King of Morocco, who already re- 
 volved, in his mind, the conqueft of Spain. The 
 African monarch equipped a numerous fleet, on 
 board of which he embarked a formidable army, 
 and having caft anchor in the Bay of Gibraltar, 
 took poffeffion of the fortrefles of Tariff and 
 Algefiras, which had been ceded to him by his 
 ally the King of Grenada. With an army of 
 feventeen thoufand cavalry, and a proportionate 
 number of infantry, he ravaged the country be- 
 tween the Guadalquiver and the Guadiana. 
 Don Nugnez de Lara, who was then in Ecija, 
 ru fhed forth at the head of his troops to en- 
 counter the invader; but being opprefled by 
 iuperior numbers, his rath effort only procured 
 him a glorious death ; and his head was fent by 
 the King of Morocco as a trophy to his ally of
 
 SPAIN. 203 
 
 Grenada.* With the fame temerity and the 
 fame fortune, Don Sancho, Archbifhop of 
 Toledo, engaged the forces of the King of 
 Grenada, who was deftroying all with fire and 
 fword in the neighbourhood of Jaen. Having 
 levied an army at Toledo, Madrid, Guadalaxara, 
 and Talavera, he marched into Andalufia; and 
 on his arrival in that province, determined 
 immediately to attack the enemy. In vain the 
 principal officers of his army advifed him to 
 wait till a junction could be formed with Don 
 Lopez de Haro, who was following with a ftrong 
 reinforcement. The Archbifhop unwilling to 
 fhare with another the glory of the aftion, re- 
 jecled their counfel, and gave battle to the 
 King of Grenada. But the valour of the martial 
 prelate could not atone for his imprudence : he 
 perifhed in the conflict ; and his army was 
 totally routed. t Don Lopez de Haro arrived 
 immediately after the aftion, and charged the 
 Moors ; but the approach of night prevented 
 him from retrieving the misfortune of the day. 
 
 The affairs of the Chriftians at this juncture 
 wore a very unfavourable afpecl;. The arrival 
 
 "* Cardone, vol. 3. p. 130. 
 
 + Cardonne (ays that the Archbifhop fell alive into the hands of the 
 enemy, and that the Moors of Africa and thofe of Spain quarrelling 
 for the poHeifion of fo diftinguifhed a prifoner, the prelate loft his life 
 .'.!> the conteft. Cardonne, vol. 3. p. 132. 
 
 2 C 2
 
 204 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the King of Morocco in Spain, and the fuc- 
 cefs which at firft had attended his arms had 
 excited a general ferment among the Mahom- 
 medans. Thoi'e of Valentia revolted againft 
 Don Jaime or Jacomo, King of Arragon, who, 
 in attempting to reduce them to fubje&ion, 
 had the misfortune to fee his armies beaten by 
 
 the rebels, and is faid to have died of 
 A.D. 1276. 
 
 gner after a long and glorious reign, 
 
 in which he had been victorious in thirty battles 
 over the Moors. 
 
 Ferdinand de la Cerda, elded fon of Alphonfo, 
 no fooner received intelligence of the defeat and 
 diftrefs of the Chriitians in Andalufia, than he 
 prepared to march into that province at the 
 head of the chivalry of Caftilc. His death, 
 at that critical junclure, opened to his 
 brother Sancho the career of ambition and 
 glory. That Prince affumed the command of 
 the army, and deriving inftruclion from the 
 recent defeats of the Chriitians, harraffed the 
 enemy with defultory attacks, hut carefully 
 avoided a battle. By a train of fkiiful manoeu- 
 vres he infenfibly weakened the Moors; and 
 the King of Grenada being compelled to retire 
 from the walls of }aen. the fovereign of Morocco 
 concluded a truce and returned to Africa. 
 
 At the return of Alphonfo from Germany the 
 tuicc had expired; and that monarch immedi-
 
 SPAIN. 205 
 
 utdy conceived the dcfign of making himfelf 
 matter of Algefiras. The fiege was conducted 
 by his (on, the Infant Don Pedro, who inverted 
 the place by land and by fea. The enterprife, 
 however, proved unfuccefsful : the Chriftian 
 licet was beaten by that of Morocco ; and Don 
 Pedro was obliged to raifc the fiege. 
 
 But Alphonfo was doomed to experience ftill 
 greater misfortunes. The popular applaufe 
 which followed the fucceffes of Sancho favoured 
 his hopes of royalty ; and in his impatience to 
 afcend the throne, he made no fcruple of vio- 
 lating the duties of a fon and a fubjecl:. In the 
 vain purfuit of an imperial crown Alphonfo had 
 cxhaufted the revenues of his kingdom; and the 
 exigencies of the (late, joined to his own impru- 
 dence, compelled him to adopt the mod danger- 
 ous expedients for recruiting his coffers. The 
 difcoments of the people were favourable to the 
 views of Don Sancho : he fummoned an aflembly 
 of the dates at Valadolid; and having painted, 
 in glowing colours, the diftrelfes of the kingdom, 
 lie was invefted with the royal authority under 
 the title of Regent. 
 
 This event produced a civil war of two years 
 duration. The daring fpirit of Don Sancho had 
 rendered him the idol of the army, and his un- 
 bounded liberality had endeared him to the 
 people. The moil confiderable cities of Cattilc
 
 206 HISTORY OF 
 
 and Leon opened to him their gates, and the 
 principal nobles efpoufed his caufe. Alphonfo 
 being informed of the refolution of the council 
 of Valadolid, and the almoft univerfal defection 
 of his fubjefts, invoked the aid of the King of 
 Morocco. That Mahommedan Prince was 
 induced, by compaffion or policy, to arm in 
 fupport ofaChriftian monarch, and at the head 
 of an army paffed over into Spain. Soon after 
 his arrival the two Kings had an interview, in 
 which they concerted a plan of operations ; and 
 the adherents of Alphonfo united with the forces 
 of Morocco in the fiege of Cordova. The valour 
 of the garrifon and the inhabitants baffled all the 
 efforts of the befiegers : they grew weary of the 
 tedious enterprife ; and the arrival of Don 
 Sancho obliged the King of Morocco to retire 
 into Africa, after his ineffective alliance had 
 rendered Alphonfo ftill more obnoxious to his 
 Chriltian fubjecls. 
 
 But in that age the fiiccefTors of St. Peter were 
 in the zenith of their power; and Alphonfo 
 derived from the authority of the Roman Pontiff 
 that, advantage which he had erroneoufly ex- 
 pected from the arms of the African monarch. 
 Sancho was menaced with the thunders of the 
 Vatican, which he dreaded much more than the 
 engines of war; and he rtfolved to avert their 
 tilccts by fubmiffion. He iolicited and obtained
 
 SPAIN. 207 
 
 pardon from his father; and the death 
 of Alphonfo, which happened foon 
 after, eftablifhed the authority of Sancho over 
 the realms of Caftile and Leon. 
 
 The new monarch was no fooner feated on his 
 throne than his prefcnce was required in the 
 field. The King of Morocco made another 
 attempt on Spain, and prefented hirnfelf before 
 Xeres; but the determined valour of the garrifon 
 and the inhabitants rendered his project abor- 
 tive. Sancho had early acquired the furnamc 
 of Brave, and he fhowed that his prudence was 
 equal to his courage. Relying on the ftrength 
 and fidelity of the befieged city, he remained 
 with his army at Seville without venturing to 
 hazard a battle, which might have proved fatal 
 to his kingdom. At length, after a fiegeoffix 
 months, the Miramolin of Morocco, lofmg all 
 hope of gaining poffcffion of Xeres, raifed the 
 fieee and retired into Africa. His retreat was 
 
 o 
 
 conducted without order, and effected with 
 difficulty : it might probably have been cut off 
 by the Chriftians, who had anticipated the 
 dcftruclion of the Infidel hod; but the fuccefs 
 of Sancho was interrupted by intefiine commo- 
 tions, which endangered his throne, and 
 diminifhed the advantages which his kingdom 
 derived from the martial abilities of its monarch.
 
 .HISTORY OF 
 
 In the elevation of Sancho to the throne of 
 the united kingdom of Caftile and Leon, the 
 rights of the Infants de la Cerda, the fons of his 
 elder brother Ferdinand, had been totally dif- 
 regarded. The laft will of Alphonfo had 
 bequeathed to his younger fon, Juan, the cities 
 of Seville and Badajoz, with their appendages : 
 but Sancho having convened an aflembly of the 
 ftates, reprefented the feparation of thefe cities 
 from the monarchy as injurious both to him- 
 felf and the ftate, and pofuively declared his 
 refolution to refifl every claim that might tend 
 to difmember the kingdom. 
 
 Bon Juan refolved to aflert his pretenfions by 
 arms; and wasfupported by his father-in-law. Don 
 Lopez de Haro, one of the moft illuftrious and 
 powerful nobles of Caftile. The ftandard of 
 revolt was creeled, and the numerous vaffals 
 of the family of Haro obeyed the fummons of 
 :hcir chief. But the confpirators having con- 
 i'entcd to an interview with the fovereign, whom 
 they had infulted, the King required that Don 
 Lopez fhould deliver up his fort re fie s. To 
 this demand the haughty fubje6t anfwered by 
 the expreffive menace of clapping his hand on 
 the hilt of his (word. His infolence was the 
 lignal of his death , a number of nobles, jealous 
 of the dignity of their fovcreign, ftarted from
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 their feats and plunged their weapons in the 
 bread of the daring rebel. Don Juan, who 
 witneffed the fate of his accomplice, was imme- 
 diately feized and immured in a prifon. 
 
 The fate of thefe chiefs did not extinguifh the 
 tlame of rebellion. The brother and the Ion of 
 Don Lopez de Haro efcaped from the territory 
 of Caftile, and prevailed on the King of Arragon 
 to fupport the claims of the Infants de la Cerda. 
 The greateft part of the Province of Andalufia 
 was influenced by Don Diego de Haro to de- 
 clare in their favour : and their numerous ad- 
 herents joined to the forces of Arragon com- 
 pofed an army of a hundred thoufand men. But 
 the courage of Sancho rofe fuperior to danger ; 
 and the (mall number of his troops was compen- 
 fated by his vigour and aclivity. He marched 
 with prompitude to meet the King of Arragonj 
 who retired at his approach ; and Sancho clofely 
 following his (leps, ravaged his territories as far 
 as the Ebro. The reduction of Badajoz ex- 
 tinguifhed the revolt; but the maflacre of the 
 inhabitants, after their furrenderby capitulation, 
 reflects no fmall di (honour on the memory of 
 Sancho, who encouraged or permitted fo flagrant 
 u violation of the laws of war. 
 
 Having chaftifed his rebellious fubjecls and 
 reftored the internal tranquillity of his kingdom, 
 the King of Cadile turned his arms againft his 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 210 HISTORY OF 
 
 foreign and natural enemies. Joufouf, who had 
 recently fucceeded to the throne of Morocco, 
 had made preparations for the invafion of Spain; 
 but his naval armament being totally defeated 
 by the fleet of Caftile, aided by the fquadrons 
 of Genoa, his defign was rendered abortive. 
 Sancho refolving to improve this advantage, 
 immediately inverted the fortrefs of Tariff, which 
 was feated on an eminence at a fmall diftance 
 from Gibraltar; and after a long fiege he w re fled 
 
 that important place from the hands 
 A. D. 1692. r r 
 
 of the infidels. 
 
 This conqueft, however, was, in a fhort time, 
 in great danger of being loft. The magnanimity 
 of the King of Caftile had prompted him to re- 
 leafe his brother Don Juan from his tedious 
 confinement. But four years of imprifonment 
 had not fubdued the ambitious fpirit of that 
 Prince, who was no fooner reftored to freedom 
 than he again creeled the ftandard of revolt, and 
 was foon joined by a band of defperate adven- 
 turers. But the approach of the King diflblved 
 the confederacy ; and Don Juan {'ought an 
 afylum in the court of Morocco. He implored 
 the affiftance of the African monarch, and was 
 intruded with t'r.e command of an army which he 
 landed in Andalufia, and laid fiege to the fortrefs 
 of Tariff. But all the efforts of the Moors were 
 rendered ineffectual by the valour and vigilance
 
 SPAIN. 211 
 
 of the garrifon and the heroifm of the governor, 
 Don Alonzo de Guzman, who, by a fingular aft 
 of magnanimous patriotifm, rendered his name 
 immortal. His fon had fallen into the hands of 
 the Moors, who expofed him in chains under the 
 walls of Tariff, with the painful admonition that 
 nothing but the furrender of the fort could 
 ranforn his life. On this trying occafion, Don 
 Gufman, filencing the voice of nature, difcovered 
 not the leaft emotion, and only replied, that the 
 fear of lofing his fon, the chief of his earthly 
 comforts, would never induce him to forfeit his 
 honour and betray his country. The Moors, 
 exafperated by his firmnefs, immediately dif- 
 patched the unfortunate youth. Such is the faft 
 as (imply related by the moft accredited hifto- 
 rians. More florid writers have varioufly em- 
 bellifhed the tale : they have made Don Juan 
 the fole aftor in this horrible tragedy, and have 
 even aflerted that, with his own hand, he plunged 
 the dagger into the bofom of young Gufman. 
 Don Juan, indeed, had the chief command ; and 
 the atrocious aft could not have happened with- 
 out his approbation or his permiflion. The 
 Moors defpairing of the reduftion of a place 
 defended by a governor of fo undaunted a refo- 
 Jution, raifed the fiege, and having delivered 
 Algefiras to the King of Grenada, they returned 
 into Africa. Don Juan, not daring to fhew 
 2 D a
 
 212 HISTORY Ot 
 
 himfelf before the King of Morocco after the 
 failure of an enterprife of which he had repre- 
 fented the fuccefs as indifputable, took refuge in 
 the court of Grenada. 
 
 During eleven years that Sancho had reigned 
 over Caftileand Leon, foreign war and domeftic 
 commotion had fcarcely ever permitted him to 
 lay afide his armour. His conftitution at length 
 funk under the weight of inceffant toil and care. 
 He plainly perceived that his difTolution was 
 rapidly approaching, and his chief concern was 
 to fccure the fucceffion of his fon Ferdinand, 
 whofe feeble age was expofed to the factions 
 which had long agitated the kingdom. In a 
 national afiembly he procured the ratification 
 of his will, which named Ferdinand as his fuc- 
 cefibr, and appointed hisConfort, Maria, to the 
 regencv. Having fettled, in a fatisfatlory manner, 
 
 O J O ? * J 
 
 his temporal affairs, Sancho expired 
 at Toledo, in the forty -fifth year of his 
 age, and the twelfth of his reign, which had been 
 a continued ferics of warfare againil foreign and 
 domeftic enemies. He was ftern and imperious; 
 but magnanimous and liberal: his daring valour 
 
 O O 
 
 in the field was the theme of public applaufe : 
 his prudence in council was not lefs confpicuous : 
 ambition was the principal blcmifh in his charac- 
 ter ; but his confolatory letter to the brave and 
 unfortunate Don Gufman. on the lofs of his fon.
 
 SPAIN. 213 
 
 fiiewcd that he xvas neither ungrateful to his 
 friends, nor deditutc of feeling. 
 
 The acceffion of Ferdinand revived the 
 fa6lions which had been fupprefTed by the vigor- 
 ous meafures of his predeccflor. A turbulent 
 nobility, who had often revolted againft a war- 
 like monarch, could not be controled by the 
 authority of a child, fcarcely ten years of age, 
 and the government of an inexperienced female. 
 The pretenfions of Don Juan were revived and 
 fupported by the Moors; but the reflitution of 
 his honour and eftates purchafed, fora while, his 
 allegiance. The powerful Houfes of Haro and 
 Lara renewed their turbulence, but were re- 
 conciled by conceffions : fome towns on the 
 frontier were given up to pieferve peace with 
 Portugal ; and in order to avoid a civil war, 
 Maria, with great prudence and magnanimity, 
 refigned the regency to Henry, the third (on of 
 Ferdinand, furnamed the Saint. 
 
 This Prince, whofe early life had been a fcene 
 of erratic and unfortunate adventures, found 
 but little fatisfaction in the poffeffion of his new 
 dignity. The clouds of civil and foreign war 
 gathered on every fide, and the throne of Ferdi- 
 nand was fhaken to its very foundation by the 
 temped. A formidable league had been con- 
 ceited by the Kings of France, Arragon, and 
 Portugal, in fupport of Don Alphonfo de la
 
 214 HISTORY OP 
 
 Cerda, the grandfon of Alphonfo X. the claims 
 of that Prince were alfo efpoufed by the King 
 of Grenada, who hoped to profit by the diffen- 
 tions of the Chriflians ; while the promife of the 
 kingdom of Leon induced Don Juan to join in 
 the confederacy for dethroning his nephew. 
 
 The confederates, however, had the mortifica- 
 tion of feeing their plans difconcerted, and their 
 hopes completely frultrated by their own mif- 
 management. Alphonfo de la Cerda was pro- 
 claimed King of Caftile by the armies of Portu- 
 gal and Arragon ; and had he preffed forward to 
 the capital, he might probably have crufhed the 
 feeble Ferdinand, who was unprepared for 
 refinance. But, inftead of that decifive ftep, he 
 was perfuaded to confume his time in attempting 
 the reduction of the town of Majorga: the 
 length of the fiege exhaufted the patience of the 
 allies, while the ravages of an epidemic difeafe 
 diminifhed their numbers and caufed them to 
 abandon their enterprife. But on the oppofite 
 frontier a flairs took a lefs favourable turn. The 
 troops of Grenada ravaged the fertile Province 
 of Andalufia : and the Regent, having taken 
 
 i 1 * O 
 
 the field for the purpofe of checking their pro- 
 grefs. was defeated in battle. The genius of 
 Henry now appeared wholly inadequate to his 
 Ration ; and his pufillanimity impelled him to 
 figu a treaty of peace, by which Tariff was to
 
 SPAIN. 15 
 
 be furrendered to the King of Grenada. But 
 the Queen Dowager exclaimed, with indignation, 
 againll the ignominious condition : her magnani- 
 mous fpirit was applauded by the dates of the 
 kingdom, who being convened in a national 
 affembly, determined to prefer the chance of 
 war to an inglorious peace. 
 
 The incapacity of Henry for the affairs of 
 government was now univerfally acknowledged } 
 and the Oueen Dowager rofe in proportion as 
 the Regent funk in the public opinion. Under 
 her aufpices a peace was concluded with the 
 court of Lifbon, and confirmed by the double 
 marriage of Ferdinand and his fifter with the 
 daughter and ion of the King of Portugal ; and 
 the Moors were repulfcd from the walls of 
 jaen. 
 
 In treating with the King of Arragon, Maria 
 difplayed the fame magnanimity as in the quef- 
 tion of the ceflion of Tariff to the Moors. That 
 Prince, after recruiting his army, again took 
 the field, and, having ravaged Murcia, made 
 bimfelf matter of the maritime city of Alicant. 
 But inteftine commotions recalling the King of 
 Arragon to guard his own throne, he offer- 
 ed to evacuate all his other conquefts on 
 condition that Alicant fhould remain in his 
 pofleflion. His ambafladors were artonifhed 
 .u the fpirited reply of the Oueen Dowager, that
 
 216 HISTORY OF 
 
 the restoration of all the places which he had 
 feized could alone be admitted as the bafis of 
 
 peace. 
 
 In order to compel the King of Arragon to 
 fubfcribe the conditions which fhe had dictated, 
 Maria called into alion the whole power of the 
 nation ; and the train of nobles that accompanied 
 her to Valladolid fupported her interefts. Don 
 Juan, imprefTcd with fear, abandoned the hope 
 of reigning over Leon, and renewed his oath of 
 fidelity to his fovereign : and the death of the 
 Regent delivered Maria from an intriguing 
 rival and faithlefs affociate. But at the moment 
 when her adminiftration appeared undifturbed 
 by factious competition, her power was under- 
 mined in the manner that fhe lead expecled. 
 The King, her ion, was purfuaded by the 
 enemies of Maria to aifume the reigns of govern- 
 ment; but the weaknefs of his conduct fhewed 
 how much he ftill needed her control. Againft 
 her advice, and in fpite of her expoftulations, 
 lie accepted the King of Portugal as umpire 
 between himfelf and the King of Arragon : 
 the decifion was fuch as {he had forefeen and 
 foretold : the Segura, which interfecls the 
 Province ofMurcia, was fixed on as the boun- 
 dary between their dominions, and the country 
 to the north of that river, with the important 
 city of Alicant, was diirevered from the king-
 
 SPAIN. 217 
 
 dom of Caftile. The pretenfions of the Infants 
 de la Cerda were fatisfied by the ceffion of 
 certain towns, the revenues of which afforded 
 diem a princely maintenance. But the fpirit of 
 faction could not be entirely extinguiflied : the 
 turbulence of Don Juan, and of ihe powerful 
 families of Haro and Lara, frequently menaced 
 the tranquillity of the kingdom. 
 
 The reign of Ferdinand prefents little more 
 than a feries of domeftic difcord and traiterous 
 intrigue : one event, however, gives it a mark 
 of diflinftion in hiftory. In a moment of inter- 
 nal tranquillity, Ferdinand having embraced the 
 opportunity of marching againft the enemies 
 of his religion and country, furprifed the fortrefs 
 
 of Gibraltar, which had been pofTef- 
 A. D. 13:0. 
 
 fed by the Mahommedans ever (ince 
 their conqueft of Spain. But having failed in an 
 attempt on Algefiras, he liftened to the overtures 
 of the King of Grenada, and, in confideration 
 of a fum of money, concluded a peace with 
 that monarch. 
 
 About this time the perfecution of the knights 
 templars engaged the attention of Europe. Their 
 guilt is queltionable ; arid there is great reafon 
 to fulped that their opulence was their principal 
 crime. In France many of them were tortured 
 to death, without any evidence of guilt, and even 
 VOL. i. 2 E
 
 218 HISTORY OF 
 
 without the formality of trial : and throughout 
 Europe the order was diffolved by the decree 
 of the Roman Pontiff; and its immenfe poflef- 
 fions were transferred to the order of St. John of 
 [erufalem. A greater degree both of equity 
 and policy prevailed in the councils of Spain : 
 the charges againft the order were examined 
 with impartiality ; and the knights were acquitted 
 by the voice of their judges. This honourable 
 decifion could only vindicate their reputation : 
 the decree of the Roman See, for the di Solution 
 of the order, was irrefiftible. But the States 
 General of Spain, reprefenting their own fitua- 
 tion like that of the knights of St. John of J.eru- 
 falem, expofed to a perpetual warfare with the 
 difciples of Mahomnred, were permitted to 
 retain the fpoils of the templars, in order to be 
 better enabled to carry on the cruifade againft 
 their Infidel neighbours. 
 
 The death of Ferdinand, in the 
 twenty-feventh year of his age, and 
 the feventeemh of his rei^n, left the crown of 
 
 O * 
 
 Caftile and Leon to his infant fon Alphonfo XI. 
 The minority of the young King revived the 
 fpirit of faction ; and in order to prevent a civil 
 war between his two uncles, Don ]uan and Don 
 Pedro, they were joined in the regency. Maria 
 was yet alive ; and although fhe declined the 
 invidious office of Regent, of which flie had fully
 
 SPAIN. 219 
 
 experienced the troubles and cares, yet fhe 
 confented to watch over the education of her 
 grandfon, and employed her declining years in 
 forming his mind. 
 
 Don Juan and Don Pedro found that the re- 
 gency, which had been the objecl of their 
 ambition, was not an office of indolent repofe. 
 Soon after the conclufion of peace between 
 Ferdinand and the Moors, Muley Mehemed, 
 King of Grenada, was affaffinated, and that 
 kingdom was convulled with civil wars and 
 fucceffive revolutions. Azar, his younger 
 brother, and chief of the confpirators, feized 
 the crown, but was foon after expelled by the 
 citizens of Grenada, who placed on the throne 
 Ifmael, the fon of one of the fillers of the late 
 monarch. Amidft the confufion created by the 
 contending parties Azar implored the aid of 
 Caftile. The Regent, Don Pedro, took the field, 
 and having completely defeated the forces of 
 Ifmael, ravaged the country to the gates of 
 Grenada. In the enfuing year, Ifmael feeing 
 rhimfelf unable to refift the arms of the Chriftians, 
 had recourfe to the King of Morocco; and, in 
 order to engage his afMance, ceded to that 
 Prince Algefiras, Arniada, and feveral other 
 places of importance. 
 
 On receiving this intelligence, the two Re- 
 gents, Don Juan and Don Pedro, refolved, by 
 
 2 2
 
 220 HISTORY OF 
 
 vigorous meafures, to anticipate the defigns of 
 
 the enemy. Collecting the whole force of Caftile, 
 
 they divided their army, and entered on two 
 
 different fides the Moorifh dominions. Don 
 
 Pedro opened the campaign with the fiege and 
 
 capture of Tifcar, and Don Juan, at the fame 
 
 time, advanced towards the capital. The two 
 
 royal brothers having united their forces, the 
 
 Caftilian hoft ravaged the open country, and 
 
 appeared before the walls of Grenada. Having 
 
 remained two days in order of battle, within 
 
 fight of the city, without being able to draw out 
 
 the Moors to hazard an aciion, the two Princes 
 
 began their retreat. Don Juan led the van, and 
 
 Don Pedro conducted the rear. The King of 
 
 c> 
 
 Grenada, in the mean while, having previoufly 
 arranged his meafures, iffued out of the city at 
 the head of his own forces and thofe of Morocco, 
 in order to harrafs the retreat of the Chriftians, 
 who, being expofed to the rays of the burning 
 fun, without having made any provifion of water, 
 were fo exhaufled by heat and thirft as to be 
 fcarcely able to carry their arms. The King 
 of Grenada did not let flip fo favourable an 
 opportunity : he made a furious attack on the 
 rear of the Caftilians : the van came to its 
 fupport, and the conflict became general. The 
 two Regents, in order to reanimate their fainting 
 troopsj ruflied into the ranks of the enemy and
 
 SPAIN. 221 
 
 immediately pciifhcd. Mariana, whofe account 
 of this affair is creduloufly adopted by Cardonne, 
 fays that Don Juan and Don Pedro, although 
 defperately fighting amidfl the thickeft battalions 
 of the 'enemy, fell, entirely exhaufted by heat, 
 thirft, and fatigue, without having received a 
 wound ; and that the death of thefe two Princes 
 was ail the lofs that was fuftained by the Chrif- 
 tians. But the talc is completely abfurd and 
 incredible. It might gratify national vanity, 
 but cannot command belief. From the circum- 
 flances of the aftion, it appears evident that the 
 Regents were involved in the general carnage 
 of the Caftilians. A remnant of the army 
 efcaped under cover of the night ; and the 
 calamities of war were retaliated on the van- 
 quifhed party. The King of Grenada, after 
 making himfelf matter of Guifcar, took Martos 
 by ftorm ; and the inhabitants were put to the 
 fword or carried into flavery. But this fuccefs 
 proved fatal to the conqueror. Among the 
 captives taken at Martos, a young woman of 
 extraordinary beauty fell into the hands of the 
 governor of Algefiras. But while he congratu- 
 lated himfelf on the poffeffion of fo valuable a 
 pri/e, he faw himfelf obliged to refign her to 
 fiie King of Grenada. From that moment he 
 determined to iacrince to his vengeance the 
 tyrant who had treated him with fuch flagrant
 
 HISTORY Ot 
 
 injuftice, and having formed a confpiracy with 
 Ofman, the commander of the army, the afiafiins 
 entered the royal palace, and plunged their 
 daggers in the breaft of the monarch. But the 
 prefence of mind and addrefs of the governor 
 of the city preferved the crown to Mehemmed, 
 the fon of Ifmael : amidft the acclamations of the 
 people he was proclaimed King of Grenada, and 
 the confpirators efcaped pumfhment by a pre- 
 cipitate flight. 
 
 While the Moors were ravaging the territories 
 of the Chriftiaris, and the fertile fields of Anda- 
 lufia were converted into a defer t, the kingdoms 
 of Caltile and Leon were diftracled by fa&ion 
 and anarchy. The death of the two Regents 
 had opened a new field of diffention ; and their 
 office was claimed by four powerful competitors. 
 Thefe were Don Philip, uncle to -the King, Don 
 Juan Emamiel, who had married the daughter 
 of the King ofArragon, and commanded on the 
 frontiers of Murcia, Don Juan, fon of the late 
 Regent of the fame name, and who, from the 
 lofs of an eye in his infancy, was diftinguiflied 
 by the epithet of the deformed, and Don 
 Alphonfo de la Cerda, who, after being defeated 
 in his pretenfions to the crown, now preferred 
 his claims to the regency : each of thefc was 
 iupported by a numerous train of vaffals and ad- 
 herents, and each was indifferent to the means
 
 SPAIN. 223 
 
 by which he might accomplifh his aim. Equally 
 difregarding the conciliatory counfels of the 
 prudent Maria and the thunders of the Papal See, 
 which interpofed to reprcfs their difcord, the 
 rival Princes exerted every engine of force and 
 fraud to attain the objeB of their ambition. 
 
 But amidft this fcene of contention, the phan- 
 tom which led them aftray fuddenly vanifhecl. 
 Alphonfo, whofe underftanding far furpafled his 
 age, having attained his fifteenth year, pro- 
 claimed his intention of affuming the reins of 
 government. The diftra&ed ftate of the king- 
 dom was favourable to his defign, and in a 
 general affembly at Valladolid his authority was 
 recognifed. 
 
 The vifion of a regency had now difappeared, 
 and the hopes of the competitors might have 
 been fuppofed to have expired. But the fpirit 
 of intrigue and factious ambition was not yet cx- 
 tinguifhed, nor focial order reftoted. Alphonfo 
 was conftantly harraffed by the intrigues of Don 
 Emanuel and Don Juan the deformed ; and his 
 lubjefts were every where expofed to the de 
 predations of robbers. Throughout the country 
 large bodies of banditti violated the public 
 peace, and in contempt of laws, levied contribu- 
 tions not only on individuals but on towns and 
 cities. To reprefs thefe diforders, Alphonfo, 
 with afmall corps of difciplined troops, flew from
 
 224 HISTORY OF 
 
 province to province, explored the retreats of 
 the robbers in the forefts and mountains, and con- 
 demned fuch as were feized to immediate execu- 
 tion. But while the King was thus endeavour- 
 ing to eftablifh public fecurity, the needy and 
 defperate found a refuge with Don Juan the 
 deformed ; and the number of daring adven- 
 turers who flocked to the ftandard of that Prince 
 enabled him to brave the authority of the 
 fovereign. The mod vigorous meafures were 
 ncceffary, and Aiphonfo determined to deliver 
 himfelf from this factious and enterprifing 
 Prince by one decifive although difhonourable 
 blow. He propofed to give him, in marriage, 
 his filter Elenora ; and Don Juan, allured by this 
 fplendid offer, having accepted the invitation of 
 his King to an interview, was aflaflinated in the 
 royal apartments. Aiphonfo did not hefitate to 
 avow the orders which he had iffued for that 
 purpofe: he reprefented Don Juan as a criminal 
 too great for the laws, and declared that his deatii 
 alone could have prevented an immediate and 
 dangerous civil war. 
 
 O 
 
 But the tragical expedient failed of producing 
 public tranquillity. One factious chief had 
 fallen; but others ftill remained. Don Emanuel 
 heard of the affaflination of Don Juan ; and his 
 mind was filled with apprehenfions of a fimilar 
 fate. Refolving to anticipate the danger, he
 
 SPAIN. 225 
 
 concluded a private treaty with the King of 
 Grenada, againft whom his fword had been fuc- 
 cefifully employed, and obtained from his father- 
 in-law, the King of Arragon, a promife of fup- 
 port. Trufting in his alliances and the number 
 of his vaflals, he openly erefted the ftandard of 
 revolt; and with the forces, which he could 
 'haftily raife, he laid wade the frontiers of Caftile. 
 Such are the evils which the people often fuffer 
 from the contentions of the great. 
 
 But the fpirit of Alphonfo was not to be braved 
 with impunity, either by domeiiic or foreign 
 enemies. lie immediately took the field, and 
 both by land and fea his arms were triumphant. 
 The Moorifh fquadrons were defeated by the 
 fleets of Caftile: the cities of Zamora and Toro, 
 which had revolted, were quickly reduced and 
 feverely punifhed ; and Don Alvaro Nugncz 
 Oforio, who had enjoyed and abufed the con- 
 fidence of his King, was ftabbed by his command 
 in the midft of his vaffals and retainers. While 
 the vigorous meafures of Alphonfo (truck terror 
 into traitors and enemies, he was careful to con- 
 ciliate the neighbouring powers, and to form 
 beneficial alliances: the new King of Arragon 
 was prevailed on to abandon the caufe of Don 
 Emanuel ; and the marriage of the Caftilian 
 monarch, with the daughter of the King of 
 Portugal, eftablifhed a perfect harmony with the 
 VOL. i. 2 e
 
 226 HISTORY OF 
 
 court of Lifbon. No danger being now appre* 
 bended from without, Aiphonfo made fuch valt 
 preparations for profecuting the war againft 
 Grenada as threatened the total deftruftion of the 
 Mahommedan power in Spain. The Moorifh 
 King refolving to ward off, by fubmiffion, the 
 ftorm v/hich threatened the fubverfion of his 
 throne, agreed to the humiliating condition of 
 vaffalage to the crown of Caftile, and the pay- 
 ment of an annual tribute of twelve thoufand 
 pieces of gold. 
 
 Thefe Ripulations, which had been extorted by 
 
 fear, were violated as foon as the appearance of 
 
 immediate danger had vanifhed. The King of 
 
 Grenada, impatient to caft off the yoke of Caftile, 
 
 refolved to implore the fuccour of Africa. In 
 
 perfon he croffed the {traits and preiented him- 
 
 felf at the court of Morocco. He roufed the 
 
 ambition of Abi Haffan, who then fwayed the 
 
 African fceptre, by reprefenting the facility of 
 
 conquering Spain, a country divided among 
 
 feveral (overcigns, without a centre of union, 
 
 and convulfed by the factions of a turbulent 
 
 nobility. The monarch of Fez and Morocco 
 
 liftened to the flattering propofal, and fent his 
 
 fon Abdulmeleck with a numerous body of 
 
 cavalry and infantry. Gibraltar was, by the 
 
 cowardice or treachery of the governor, betrayed 
 
 ino the hands of the Moors. Aiphonfo attempted
 
 SPAIN. 227 
 
 ihe recovery of that important place ; but while 
 he prefled the fiege, with the faireft profpeft of 
 fticccfs, he was recalled from the enterprife by 
 a formidable revolt in the centre of his do- 
 minions. Don Alonzo, chief of the Houfe of 
 Haro, Don Juan de Lara, and Don Emanuel, 
 had taken up arms, and rendered Caftile a fcene 
 of (laughter and devaftation. With reluclance 
 and indignation Alphonfo figned a treaty with 
 the Moors, which left Gibraltar in their pofief- 
 fion, and releafed the King of Grenada from the 
 payment of tribute. The King of Caftile then 
 marched againft the rebels, whom he quickly 
 difperfed. Don Alonfo de Haro was furprifed 
 in one of his caftles, and led in chains before 
 his fovereign, who ordered his immediate execu- 
 tion. The precipitate flight of Don Juan de 
 Lara laved his life; but his fortrefles were 
 reduced and his eftates conftfcated. A flight 
 war with Navarre was fuccefsfully terminated ; 
 and peace was concluded on conditions diclated 
 by the King of Caftile. The wifdom and mode- 
 ration of Alphonfo (hone with diftinguifhed 
 luftre in his conduct towards the rebels. His 
 whole reign had been harrafTed by the intrigues 
 and revolts of Don Emanuel and Don Juan de 
 Lara. They had frequently defpifed his power 
 and abulcd his clemency : his arms had reduced 
 them to the laft degree ofdiftrefs; but he re-
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 folvcd to try them once more with an offer oF 
 pardon. All their hopes of refilling the power 
 of their fovereign were extinguifhed : they 
 accepted with gratitude the unexpected propofal. 
 They were reitored to their honours and eftates ; 
 and from that period their loyalty and gratitude 
 juilified the magnanimous policy of the monarch. 
 Their return to allegiance was followed by a 
 general pacification among the Chriftian Princes 
 of Spain ; and the King of Caftile at length found 
 himfelf at leifure to march againil the Moors of 
 Grenada and Africa. 
 
 Abi Hafl'an, King of Morocco, having over- 
 whelmed all oppofuion in Africa, made the moft 
 formidable preparations for the invafion of 
 Spain, and eftablifhed, at Algefnas and Malaga, 
 immenfe magazines of arms, ammunition, and 
 provifions. His fon, Abdulmelek, who, after 
 the conclufion of peace, had departed for Africa, 
 again embarked for Spain, and having efcaped 
 the vigilance of the Chriftian fleet, effcfcled a 
 landing with a numerous body of troops. Bur, 
 the expedition proved fatal to its leader. For 
 fome time the Chriftians and the Mahommedans 
 exercifed their mutual rage in devaftating the 
 country with fire and fword. At length they 
 commenced more decifive operations: Alphonfo 
 gained a victory over the Moors; and fome 
 time after Abdulmelek being unexpectedly
 
 SPAIN. 22!) 
 
 attacked, was involved in the general carnage 
 of his army. 
 
 The death of ihe prefumptive heir of the 
 crown of Morocco cliffufed indignation and 
 forrow throughout Africa ; and the tears of his 
 father could be dried up only by the hope of 
 victory and vengeance. The Imans, by his 
 order, preached throughout Africa, the indif- 
 penfable duty of every MufTulman to take arms 
 in the caufe of his religion and country. The 
 promife of Paradife, and the profpeft of fpoil, 
 alfembled the rapacious difciples of Mahommed; 
 and, in a fliort time, Abi Ha flan found himfelf 
 at the head of feventy thoufand cavalry and 
 four hundred thoufand infantry.* Two hun- 
 dred and fifty tranfports and feventy galleys 
 were employed, and five months were confumed 
 in conveying this irnmenfe army to Europe. 
 The Caftilian fleet was ftationed in the llraits to 
 oppofe the paffage of the enemy ; but the in- 
 feriority of its force rendered all its attempts in- 
 effeclual : it fought and was defeated : a few of 
 
 o 
 
 the gallies efcaped and ran into the port of 
 Tariffa, and the Admiral of Caflile perifhed in 
 the action. The Africans, meeting with no 
 further oppofition, completed their diferabarka- 
 tions. The King of Morocco, accompanied by 
 
 * Cardonnc, vol. 3. n, T-.J,
 
 230 HISTORY OF 
 
 his wive?, his children, and his whole court*. 
 brought t:p the rear of his army, and being joined 
 by the King of Grenada, immediately commenced 
 the fiege of Tariffa. 
 
 This fortrefs being regarded as one of the 
 bulwarks of Spain, Alphonfo was juftly alarmed 
 at its danger. But the forces of Caftile were 
 unequal to the conteft. He therefore employed 
 his Queen to roufe the court of Lifbon to the 
 
 *^- 
 
 common defence of chriilianity. The King of 
 Portugal was convinced of the danger which 
 threatened the whole peninfula ; he liftened to 
 ihe felicitations of his daughter; and policy con- 
 curred with paternal affe&ion in quickening his 
 efforts to join the army of Caftile at the head of 
 his martial nobility. The combined army having 
 rendezvoufed at Seville, the danger of Tariffa 
 demanded its immediate and moft vigorous 
 efforts. Twenty thoufand cavalry and forty 
 thoufand infantry,* confident in their valour, 
 although fo greatly inferior in number to the 
 enemy, marched under the banners of the two 
 monarchs of Caftile and Portugal. On receiving 
 
 O D 
 
 intelligence of their approach, the Kings of 
 Morocco and Grenada feized on the neighbour- 
 ing heights, and in that advantageous pofuion 
 
 * Ccirdonuc fays 14,000 cavalry and 25,000 infantiy. Tom. 3. 
 P- 177-
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 awaited the attack of the Chriflians. Toward 
 evening the two armies were in fight of each 
 other ; and as the day was too far fpent for com- 
 mencing the aclion, they remained all night 
 Monday, Nov. 3, under arms. On the following 
 I3 4- day the final 1 river Salfada ac- 
 
 quired a diflinguifhed celebrity by the memor- 
 able battle that was fought on its banks. The 
 troops of Caftile and Portugal, of Morocco and 
 Grenada, were animated by the prefence and 
 example of their refpeclivc Sovereigns, and fought 
 with defperate bravery. It was long before any 
 corps gave way; but after a bloody conflict of 
 feveral hours, viclory at length declared for the 
 Chriftians. Scarcely ever was an aclion more 
 ianguinary, or a viclory more complete. Of 
 the Moors, two hundred thoufand are faid to 
 have fallen in the battle or the purfuit.* The 
 cftimate may be exaggerated; and fome hiflorians 
 reduce it to half that number ; but the carnage 
 was undoubtedly immenfe,and almoft incredible. 
 Two fons of the King of Morocco were killed ; 
 and that monarch himfelf was wounded. His 
 favourite wife was taken; and the Moorifh camp, 
 with all the riches which it contained, became 
 the fpoil of the Chriftians. The King of 
 Morocco having fled with precipitation to 
 
 * Cardonne, torn. 3. p. 180,
 
 1 232 HISTORY OF 
 
 Algefiras, embarked for Africa; and the Kin* 
 of Grenada retreated to his capital. Alphonfo, 
 after repairing the breaches of Tariffa, and rein- 
 forcing the garrifon, led back to Seville his 
 victorious army, enriched with the fpoils of the 
 Moors and covered with glory. 
 
 In the enfuing campaigns the Chriftians con- 
 tinued fuccefsful by land and fea. In 1342 
 the fleet of Caftile defeated that of the Moors; 
 and the two Admirals of Morocco and Grenada 
 perifhed in the action. Thefe continued fuc- 
 cefles encouraged Alphonfo to regard no enter- 
 prife as too difficult for his arms. He refolved 
 on the reduction of Algefiras ; but the fiege of 
 that place required forne weighty preparations, 
 as the fortifications were ftrong and the garrifon 
 numerous. The fquadrons of Portugal and 
 Arragon were brought to aft in concert with 
 thofe of Caftile. and blockaded the mouth of the 
 harbour,* in order to intercept all fupplies from 
 Africa, while Alphonfo inverted the city by land. 
 The King of Grenada, not daring to hazard a 
 battle, attempted a diverlion by ravaging the 
 environs of Ecija, and deftroying the city of 
 Palma. But Alphonfo, regardlefs of his feeble 
 operations, continued the fiege with redoubled 
 ardour. The battering rams, the baliftas, and 
 
 * CardonnC} vol. 3. p.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 233 
 
 the catapultas, were ftrenuoufly employed, the 
 firft in battering the walls, the two latter in di(- 
 charging mowers of arrows and (tones on their 
 defenders.* Towers of wood were alfo con- 
 drafted by the Chriftians and brought upon 
 wheels to the walls ; but the befieged, by means 
 of burning pilch and other combuflibles, fet fire 
 to thefe machines, and the work of many days 
 was deftroyed in an inftant. The cannon of the 
 Moors, according to fome, the firft that were 
 feen in Spain, poflefled an incalculable advantage 
 over the military engines of the Chriftians, who 
 heard with aftonifliment their tremendous ex- 
 plofions. and fatally experienced their definitive 
 effeas.t 
 
 The fiege had continued many months: the 
 patience of the auxiliaries was wearied : the 
 maoa/.ines of the alfailants were almoft ex- 
 
 O 
 
 liaufted; and in the camp of the bcfiegers as well 
 as in the city, the p re flu re of famine began to 
 be felt. In order to fatisfy the demands of his 
 allies and relieve the diftrefs of his troops, the 
 King of Caflile commanded his plate to be fent 
 to the mint, and the value of the current coin to 
 
 * For a defcription of thefc machines, vide Cheval. I'olard Polyb; 
 tom. 2. p. '233, &c. 
 
 t However furprifing it may appear, it fecms evident that the Moors 
 had cannon Iboner than the Spaniards. Vide Mariana and Dictionnaire 
 tic Furctiercrc at the word cannon. 
 
 VOL. i. 2 c;
 
 234 HISTORY OF 
 
 be augmented. But the difgraceful and danger- 
 ous expedient was averted by the patriotifm of 
 the nation. Each province zealouily contributed 
 its proportion in provifions or money; and the 
 Roman Pontiff difplayed his liberality in pecu- 
 niary afTHlance. The befiegcrs were confiderably 
 reinforced by noble volunteers from England 
 and France ; and the King of Anagon, defirous 
 of fharing the glory of this famous ficge, repaired 
 in perfon to the camp. 
 
 A civil war. excited in Morocco by the am- 
 bition of his fon, had prcvcmed Abi Haffan from 
 attempting the relief of Algcfiras. But nofooner 
 was the tranquillity of his dominions reftorcd 
 than his attention was turned towards the prefer- 
 vation of that important fortrefs. The circum- 
 ftances of that age rendered Algefiras the principal 
 key of Spain : it was the port where all the de- 
 barkations from Africa took place ; and in the 
 hands of the Chriftians it would ferve a.s a barrier 
 againft the future attempts of the Kings of 
 Morocco. It is therefore no wonder that Abi 
 Hafian refolved to make an effort for its prefer- 
 vation. A fquadron of iixty galleys failed from 
 Africa, and having eluded the vigilance of the 
 Chriftian fleet, landed a numerous body of 
 troops at Gibraltar. The King of Caflile was no 
 fooner apprized of their arrival than he advanced 
 to attack them, and gave them a total defeat.
 
 SPAIN. 235 
 
 This viftory decided the fate of Algefiras. After 
 a ficgc of a year and eight months the garrifon, 
 M.udi '26, being diminifhed by famine, ficknefs, 
 A. D. 1344. anc j t j le (\ vorc ] ? furrendered by capitu- 
 lation. The foldiers and citizens were permitted 
 to retire with their effects, and the Chriftian 
 banners were difplayed on the towers of this im- 
 portant fortrefs. A truce for ten years was 
 concluded between the King of Caftile and the 
 monarchs of Africa and Grenada ; and the 
 daughters and other relatives of Abi Haffan, 
 who had been taken at the battle of Salfado, 
 and treated with the rcfpecl; due to their rank, 
 were dilYniffed by Alphonfo with magnificent 
 prefects. 
 
 Ambition is a paffion congenial to the bofomof 
 conquerors, and it reigned withal! its force in that 
 of the King of Cafii.'o. But his ambition was 
 di retted by the iioil laudable VK-VS, The ex- 
 pulfion of the Moors from the ne< mfula was the 
 grand ohjccl of the Cafliii.sn roor : ;i.. i is: not only 
 the glory but the fccrn'y of rhcir I'ip.-.,ioni and 
 the happinefs of their fubjech dei-uuled on its 
 accomplifhment. Four year.-, of tranqui'lity had 
 icarccly elapfed before a ne\\ r revolution in 
 Africa fur:n'fhed A!j.>honlb with a favourable 
 opportunity, as well ;ls a fpecious pretext, for rc- 
 i!j\vi:ig ilic war. Abi Ilaffm. King of Morocco, 
 having b.ccn dethroned by his fon Abou-Hamou,
 
 23(J HISTORY OF 
 
 the King of Caftile, regarded or pretended to re- 
 gard himfelf as no longer bound by the treaty 
 concluded with the depofed monarch. Wars, 
 indeed, are often grounded on arguments equally 
 feeble; and the reafoning was fufficiently logical 
 for the eafy confcience of Alphonfo, whole 
 pride was infuhed by theMoorifh banners dream- 
 ing from the fortrefs of Gibraltar, which, during 
 his reign, had been wiefted from the hands of the 
 Chriftians. The royal (landard of Caftile was 
 again difplayed, and the garrifon of Gibraltar 
 \vas fummoned to furrender. But the enterprife 
 proved fatal to Alphonfo. While he urged, in 
 perfon, and with his ufual ardour, the fiege ot 
 this important fortrefs, the plague broke out in 
 his camp and made terrible ravages. No re- 
 monftrances could prevail on the King to retire 
 from the fcene of contagion and danger; and he 
 fell a viclim to his perfeverance. He caught 
 
 the infection, and died in the fortieth 
 A.D. 1350. 
 
 year or his age, and the thirty-eighth 
 
 of a moft glorious reign. The factions which had 
 almoft annihilated the power of the throne were 
 broken by his prudence and vigour; and the 
 foreign enemies of the kingdom were over- 
 whelmed by his valour. The love of martial 
 fame was his charafleriftic paiiion, and of all the 
 Kings of Caftile, that fucceedcd Ferdinand the 
 Saint, he is the mo ft entitled to admiration.
 
 SPAIN. 237 
 
 CHAP. IX. 
 
 Reign of Peter the Cruel. His tyranny. Succefsful war againft the 
 Moors. His treachery towards the King of Grenada. Is expelled 
 from the throne by his brother Henry of Tranftamare. Is rcflored 
 by Edward the Black Prince. His ingratitude to Edward. Peter u 
 defeated and afterwards murdered by Henry. Reign of Henry. His 
 death. Reign of John. His wars with Portugal and England. 
 Reign of Henry III. Confederacy of the nobles. War with Portu- 
 gal. With the Rovers of Africa. The Chnfiians take Tetuan. 
 Henry prepares for expelling the Moors from Spain. His death. 
 His character. Turbulent reign of John II. Defolating war 
 between the ChrifHans and the Moors. Convulfions of Grenada. 
 Dreadful flate of that kingdom from foreign wars and inteftine com- 
 motions. Civil wars in Caftile. Death of John II. Reign of PIcnry 
 IV. Gibraltar furprifed by the Chriftians. Henry depofed in effigy, 
 Marriage of his fiflcr liabella to Ferdinand of Arragon. Death of 
 Henry. Acceffion of Ferdinand and liabella. Union of the crowns 
 of Leon, Caftile, and Arragon. 
 
 O XL was fuccceded by his fon 
 Peter, from his fanguinary difpofition, furnamed 
 the Cruel. This Prince afcended the throne 
 under the moil favourable aufpiccs. 1 he haughty 
 nobility had been awed into fubmiiTion, and the 
 power ofthe Moors was broken. The Chriftians, 
 indeed, were difcouraged by the death of their
 
 238 Hi.vroiiv OF 
 
 King ; and the peftilence, which daily thinned 
 their r-i'iUs, compelled them to raife the fiege of 
 Gibraltar, and allow to the kingdom of Grenada 
 lime to refpire after a ferics of difaflrous wars 
 and riv.:i:ip;icd IciFi's. But the Moors, in Read 
 of c'.nplf.vin^ that feafon of leijfure, \vhich the 
 inatl!on of the Lhi.iiia.is afforded, in augmenting 
 the (trencith and refources of the count rv, harrafl- 
 
 O / * 
 
 ed it by icenes of intefuns commotion, vhich 
 
 only feivc.i to incrcafe its cxhautlion. 
 
 Tlic fanguir.ary palTions of Peter, and the 
 vindictive- 0;inr of the O-ieen Do'. v n^er, his 
 
 'w 
 
 ino:!i r. caufea as great diforders in the court 
 and kii.^d(-.ni of Caitiie as the turbulent fpirit 
 of the Moors excited in Grenada. Alphonfo 
 had four illegitimate fons by his favourite mif- 
 trefs. tlie beautiful Donna Leonora de Gufman, 
 the widow of Don Juan de Valafco. Sancho 
 was remarkable only for his imbecillity ; bat 
 llenrv of Tranftamare was confpicuous for thofe 
 talent.- \vhich enabled him to avenge the fate of 
 his nioihcr, and to afeend the thione of Caftile. 
 From the time of the battle of Saifado, Alphonfo 
 is (aid to have abftained from aH ansorous inter- 
 courfe with the fair Leonora; LuL he had not 
 been inattentive to her future intereft and 
 fifety. He had afT;:;rted ti;e town of Medina 
 J-'.!'!i>riia for her i':-fir!encc, and had not only 
 llrc;i^:;c;:-..i.i it v.'ith new fortifications, but pro-
 
 SPAIN. 239 
 
 vidcd it with a numerous garrifon. From this 
 Jbcure retreat (he was infulioufiy drawn by the 
 molt folcmn promifes off ifety and regard. But 
 thefe profcflions were delufive ; and the palace 
 of the Oueen Dowager was difgraced by the 
 execution of her (or',ner rival. Henry of Tranf- 
 tamare. by a tinidy flight, efcaped an arreft, and 
 through the mediation of the King of Portugal 
 an apparent reconciliation took p;ace between 
 the Ions of the unfortunate Leonora and the 
 court of Cattile. 
 
 Peter, in the mean while, gave full fcope to 
 his tyrannical paflions. Rapacious and fanguin- 
 ary, he confidcred the treafures and lives of his 
 fubjrcts as at his abfolute d'f^ofal. Yet fo long 
 as the grandees were fatisfied, the clamours of' 
 the multitude were difregarded 3 but circurn- 
 ILinces i'oon arofe which induced the nobles 
 to lupport arid dirccl the general indignation. 
 
 His nnvaie marriage with Donna Maria Padilla 
 proved the 1'ourcc of his misfortunes. The 
 family of this lady was rather decent than fplcn- 
 did ; but nature, compenfating the defects of her 
 birth, had endowed her with exquifite beauty 
 and the mod brilliant accomplifhments. Thefc 
 qualifications had given her an abfolute 
 afcendency over the mind of her royal confort ; 
 but his mother, the Oueen Dowager, had nego- 
 tiated a match between him and Blanch, the fifter
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the Queen of France. Peter, fora moment* 
 condefcended to facrifice his love to his policy r 
 his authority impofed filence on Donna Padilla; 
 and he publicly celebrated his nuptials with the 
 French Princefs. But while Blanch participated 
 his throne, Donna Padilla engrofied his affec- 
 tions, and the higheft honours and promotions 
 were lavifhed on her family. Thefe meafures 
 gave umbrage to the nobility: Don Juan d'Albu- 
 querque, the royal favourite, found that a rifmg 
 power began to overfhadow his own, and could 
 not conceal his difcontent. His murmurs foon 
 reached the ears of his fovereign, and to avoid 
 the royal indignation he took refuge in Portu- 
 gal. 
 
 From that period the reign of Peter prefents a 
 headlong career of opprefiion, rapacity, and 
 fanguinary caprice. The unfortunate Blanch 
 was immured in a prifon : an obfequious council 
 of Bifhops pronounced a fentence of divorce ; 
 and Peter celebrated, with folernn pomp, his 
 nuptials with Donna Joanna, the fiRcr of Don 
 Ferdinand de Caftro. But Joanna foon experi- 
 enced the fate of Blanch, and was repudiated 
 within a few months after the marriage. Thefe 
 
 O 
 
 proceedings united the mod oppofite factions 
 and irstcrcfts in a combination againfl the fove- 
 reijin. The pride of the family of Caftro was 
 woirndcd by the difgraceful treatment of Joanna :
 
 SPAtX. 241 
 
 Don Juan d' Albuquerque fought to overwhelm 
 the family of Padilla : Henry of Tranftamare, 
 and his brothers Frederic and Tello, defired to 
 avenge the bloodof their mother; and the Oueen 
 Dowager, indignant at the fufrerings of Blanch, 
 who had entered Spain under her aufpices, 
 joined the confederacy againft her own fon. 
 
 The unfortunate Blanch, efcaping from her 
 prifon in Toledo, took fanftuary in the cathe- 
 dral. The inhabitants, moved with compaffion 
 for her misfortunes, efpoufed her caufe ; and 
 Henry of Tranftamare, being apprifed of their 
 revolt, repaired to that city, where he was 
 received amidft the acclamations of the people. 
 Peter, in the mean while, prepared to exdnguifh 
 the rebellion : the royal ftandard was creeled in 
 the city of Legovia; and a formidable army 
 was collected. The firft attempt of the King 
 was againft Toro, which had alfo efpoufed the 
 caufe of Blanch; and although he was repulfed 
 from its walls he advanced with better fortune 
 againft Toledo. Having promifed to bury their 
 revolt in oblivion, and to recal Blanch to his 
 bed and his throne, the inhabitants opened their 
 pates ; but they foon had reafon to repent of 
 ihcircredulity. Every condition was violated. A 
 number of the principal citizens were executed ; 
 and Blanch was confined to a prifon at Siguenza. 
 The fupprcflion of this revolt was followed by a 
 
 VOI , i, 2 I?
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 a bloody war between Caftile and Arragon, 
 Henry of Tranftamrae, after e Tea ping from the 
 wreck of the confederacy, ferved the King of 
 Arragon with his fword. and after the conclu- 
 fion of peace retired acrofs the Pyrenees into 
 France. 
 
 The authority of Peter now feenied to be con- 
 firmed, and his throne eflablifhed no more to be 
 fhaken. But his vindictive cruelty and tyran- 
 nical oppreffion excited new ftorms which could 
 not be fo eafily calmed. Hiitory prefents a 
 Shocking difplay of his murders. Frederic, the 
 brother of Henry, was affafiinated in the hall of 
 audience at Seville : Tello, the other brother, 
 was fortunate enough to efcape the fanguinary 
 rage of the tyrant : Leonora, the King's aunt, 
 was poifoned by the order of her unprincipled 
 nephew: a Jew, the adminiftrator of the finances, 
 expired on the rack, convicted of no crime but 
 his wealth, which was feized by the rapacious 
 monarch ; and, to fill up the meafure of Peter's 
 iniquity, hiftorians, with great probability, 
 though perhaps without fuffkicnt evidence, 
 afcribe the death of the unfortunate Blanch to 
 poifon administered by his command. But while 
 he paid no regard to the feelings of others, his 
 own were terribly wounded by the death of his 
 beloved Donna Maria Padiila. Yet forrow did 
 not foften his heart : wealth, virtue, and nobility
 
 SPAIN. 243 
 
 of birth, were equally fatal to their poficflbrs ; 
 and every moment prefcnted fome new inftance 
 of perfidy and cruelty. 
 
 During the firfl ten years that Peter reigned 
 over Caftile, the kingdom of Grenada had been 
 the fcene of various revolutions. Abou-Hadjad- 
 Joufef-Ben-Nafir had been depofed and put to 
 death ; and the crown placed on the head of his 
 uncle, Abil-Gualid, who was the author of the 
 revolt. Abil-Gualid in his turn foon faw him- 
 felf precipitated from a throne which he had 
 afcended by his crimes. Idris-Ben-Ofman, and 
 the other chiefs of Grenada, confpired againft 
 him, and recognifed his kinfman Mehemed for 
 their fovereign. Abil-Gualid took refuge in the 
 city of Ronda, which belonged to the King of 
 Morocco ; and his caufe was efpoufed by 
 Caftile, while Mehemmed implored the fuccours 
 of Arragon. After the conclufion of peace 
 between the two latter powers, Abil-Gualid and 
 the King of Caftile carried on a deftruftive war 
 againft Grenada; and the Chriftians and the 
 Moors fcemed to rival each other in defolating 
 the frontiers of the two kingdoms. Abil-Gualid, 
 with his Chriftian ally, penetrated to the walls of 
 Grenada, without being able to terrify the 
 inhabitants, or to produce any revolution in his 
 favour. The Moors, in the mean while, were 
 ravaging the environs of Jaen ; but while they 
 
 2 II 2
 
 244 HISTORY OF 
 
 were returning laden with fpoils, they were 
 intercepted and totally defeated by the Arch- 
 bifhop of that city. But in the following year, 
 1361, they were more fuccefsful : a fmall body 
 of three thoufand Chriftians having made an 
 attempt to furprife Cadiz, which they fuppofed 
 to be defended by a feeble garrifon, they fell 
 into an ambufcade : the greateft part of the 
 foldiers perifhed by the fword ; and the grand 
 mafter of the order of Calatrava, with his prin- 
 cipal officers, were carried prifoners to Grenada. 
 Mehemmed, in order to propitiate the vengeance 
 of Peter, difrnified the captives with magnificent 
 prefents ; but this acl of generofity was far from 
 appealing the King of Caftile, who, being at 
 peace with Arragon, refolved to turn his whole 
 force againft Grenada. 
 
 In confequence of this refolution, Peter enter- 
 ed the Moorifli territory, where he took feveral 
 towns, reduced the villages to aflies, and com- 
 mitted all the barbarities which he fuppofed 
 capable of terrifying the people into fubmiflion. 
 Mehemmed feeing his kingdom defolated, and 
 his capital agitated by factions, began to appre- 
 hend that the people regarding him as the caufc 
 of their calamities, might purchafe peace by 
 delivering him up to his adverfary. In order, 
 therefore, to avoid the dangers which threatened 
 him on every fide, he refolved to acknowledge
 
 SPAIN. 245 
 
 himfelf the vaffal of the crown of Caflile ; and 
 having demanded and obtained letters of fafe 
 conduct, repaired to Seville in order to ratify 
 the conditions of peace by the ceremony of 
 homage. At the court of Peter, the Mooriih 
 monarch was received with all the honours due 
 to his rank, and had a favourable audience. 
 From the circumftances of the interview, it ap- 
 pears doubtful whether the dark mind of Peter had 
 premeditated the infamous crime, which has for 
 ever fullied his memory, or whether his avarice 
 \vas ftimulated by the gold and jewels which the 
 Mahommedan King and his train imprudently 
 difplayed. The refult, however, was the blackell 
 that can be imagined. The Mooriih Prince, 
 after receiving the mod flattering aflurances of 
 iafety and friendfhip, was conducted to a fplendid 
 banquet. But the fcene fuddenly changed. He 
 was feized, laden with chains, and thrown into a 
 dungeon. This was only a prelude to the final 
 tragedy. The unfortunate monarch was brought 
 out of prifon mounted on an afs, and with his 
 nobles, who had accompanied him, conducled 
 to a field called Tablata, where they were bar- 
 baroufly maflacred. Some hiftorians affert that 
 Peter murdered the King of Grenada* with his 
 
 * Vide Cardonnc, torn 3, p. 197, 199.
 
 246 HISTORY OF 
 
 own hand. His head was fent to Abil-Gualid 5 
 who. on receiving the welcome prefent, repaired 
 to Grenada, where he was immediately replaced 
 on the throne. 
 
 After this bloody and infamous tragedy, Peter 
 
 * o > ? 
 
 concluded an alliance with Charles, King of 
 Navarre, a Prince, whofe vices have affixed to 
 his name the epithet of Bad or Wicked, by which 
 he is diftinguifhed in hiftory. The object of 
 this confederacy was to attack the King of Arra- 
 gon ; but Charles, who in almoft every vice was 
 equal to Peter, was not his inferior in duplicity; 
 and he violated every condition of the treaty. 
 
 Although deceived by the King of Navarre, 
 Peter commenced the war again ft Arragon. But 
 the meafure of his wickednefs was nearly full : 
 and he began to be held in general deteftation. 
 The Kings of Navarre and Arragon were com- 
 bined again ft him : the Count Henry of Tranfta- 
 inare afpired to the throne ; and the court of 
 France, through policy and refentment, fupport- 
 ed his pretenfions. After the conclufion of the 
 peace between England and France, the latter 
 country was over-run by a defperate banditti. 
 Great numbers of martial adventurers, who had 
 followed the Englifh ftandard, refufed to lay 
 down their aims, and perfevered in a life of 
 military rapine, equally regardlefs of the ccnfurcs
 
 SPAIN. 247 
 
 of the church and the authority of the King of 
 England.* The views which Henry of Tranfta- 
 mare had formed on the throne of Caftile, afforded 
 the King of France a favourable opportunity of 
 ridding himfelf from thefe dangerous inmates. 
 Henry had folicued the fuccours of France; and 
 Charles VI. who then reigned over that country, 
 employed Bertrand du Guefclin, one of the moil 
 accomplifhed generals of his age, to engage the 
 daring bands of the Companions in the fervice of 
 the Cadilian pretender. Du Guefclin was per- 
 ibrially known to moft of the leaders, whom his 
 military talents had infpired with admiration ; 
 and fo great was their confidence in his abilities 
 and honour, that they agreed to follow his 
 (tandard, under the condition that they fhould 
 not be led againlt the Prince of Wales, who 
 reiided at Bourdeaux, and in the name ofhir, 
 father, Edward III. governed the Englifh pro- 
 vinces in France. 
 
 The martial bands of the Companions a {Tembled 
 at. Chalons, from whence they proceeded to 
 Avignon, where the Pope then refided. Being- 
 all of them excommunicated perfons, and want- 
 ing both forgivenefs of their fins, and money to 
 equip them for their dillant expedition, they 
 
 * Thcfe outlaws were known ly the name of companions. Waif. 
 p. 178,
 
 248 HISTORY OP 
 
 made a peremptory demand of abfolution and 
 the fum of two hundred thoufand livres. The 
 firft coft his Holinefs nothing and was fpeedily 
 granted; but the fecond requeft was received 
 with hefitation. Thefe defperadocs, however, 
 were not to be put off with excufes : they fairly 
 represented to the Pope that they might have 
 done without abfolution, but that money was 
 indifpenfably neceffary. His Holinefs b 
 obliged to yield to this convincing logic granted 
 them the fum demanded ; and the martial bands, 
 ianclified by his bleffjng, and, though fome- 
 
 what a sain ft his inclination, enriched with his 
 o 
 
 money, left Avignon, and commenced their 
 inarch for Spain. 
 
 The King of Caftile received, with emotions 
 of terror, the news of the rapid approach of the 
 Count of Tranttamare, at the head of troops long 
 celebrated for their daring valour, and accom- 
 panied by one of the greateft Generals of Europe. 
 Although his ftandard was furrounded by*a mar- 
 tial nobility and a numerous army, he juftly 
 dii'lrufted the fidelity of both, and making a 
 precipitate retreat to Seville, he carried off the 
 trea Hires which he had amaffed in that city, and 
 and continued his flight to the frontiers of 
 Portugal. The Count of Tranftamarc, in the 
 jncan while, was received with all the joy which 
 mipht naturally be expefted from a people who
 
 SPAIN. 249 
 
 had fo long groaned under the yoke of a relent- 
 lefs tyrant. The nobles, recognifing him as 
 their fovereign, flocked to his ftandard, and the 
 crown of Caitile was folemnly placed on his head 
 by the Archbifhop of Toledo. 
 
 While Henry was receiving die homage of 
 his new fubje&s, and rewarding his foldiers by 
 a liberal diftribution of the royal treafures found 
 at Burgos, Peter was revolving in his mind the 
 means of regaining his throne. From Portugal 
 he had entered Gallicia ; but the approach of 
 his rival, and the univerfal difaffeclion of the 
 people, compelled him to retire. Though 
 clofely purfued he reached Corunna, embarked 
 for Bourdeaux, and took refuge in the court of 
 the Prince of Wales, The military fame of 
 Edward, furnamed the Black Prince, was diffufed 
 throughout Europe : at the firft he had feemed 
 to favour the caufe of Henry; but the appear- 
 ance of Peter as a fuppliant operated a change 
 in his fenthnents. Impelled by generofity, or 
 inflamed by a thirft for martial glory, he 
 promifed his afii (lance to the fugitive monarch. 
 Having obtained the confent of his father, he fet 
 out with a formidable army, accompanied by 
 his younger brother, John of Gaunt, Duke of 
 Lancafter, and Chandos, theableflof the Englifh 
 generals. 
 
 C.? 
 
 VOL. I, 2 I
 
 '250 HISTORY OF 
 
 The firft, and indeed the fatal blow, which 
 Edward gave to Henry, was the recalling of the 
 Companions from his fervice. Thefe military 
 adventurers, who confidered a new war as a new 
 fource of plunder, had been liberally rewarded 
 for expelling Peter from his dominions : they 
 expected an equal recompenfe for their fervices 
 in replacing him on the throne ; and thefe con- 
 fiderations, together with their refpecl for the 
 Prince of Wales, induced the majority to inlift 
 under his banners.* Henry was fo well fup- 
 ported by the love of his fubjecls and the alliance 
 of Arragon, that he was able to appear in the 
 field with an army of a hundred thoufand men, 
 which was more than three times the number of 
 the forces commanded by Edward. Du Guef- 
 clin, whofe counfel was fupported by the moft 
 experienced officers in the army, adviied him 
 to decline any decifive action, and to content 
 himfelf with harraffing an enemy who, in battle, 
 had ever been victorious. Confident, however, 
 in the fuperiority of his forces, or perhaps 
 apprehenfive that an appearance of diffidence 
 might diminifh his reputation or fhake the 
 fidelity of his troops, Henry refolved to bring 
 the affair to a fpeedy decifion. But he had 
 
 * Waif. p. 181.
 
 SPAIN'. 251 
 
 reafon to repent of his temerity. The battle of 
 Najara (hewed the difparity between his raw and 
 undifciplined troops, and the veteran forces of 
 his antagonift.* The Caitilians were totally 
 defeated : Du Guefclin, overwhelmed in the 
 general confufion, was made prifoner ; and 
 Henry himfelf, with a few of his principal 
 officers, efcapcd with difficulty. After this 
 difafter he fled with precipitation from Caftile, 
 repofed himfelf a few days in the territory of 
 Arragon, and then fought a more fecure afylum 
 in France. 
 
 Peter being received without oppofition into 
 Burgos, Caflile was once more fubjefted to his 
 fvvay and expofed to his vengeance. It was only 
 by the powerful remonftrances of Edward that 
 he was retrained from the maflacre of his 
 prifoners on the fi-eld of battle, and from ful ly- 
 ing his entrance into the capital with the blood of 
 his principal nobility. The Prince of Wales 
 himfelf had fufficient caufe to repent of his 
 expedition. Peter being reftored to power, 
 difplayed the ingratitude and perfidy that dif- 
 tinguifhed his character, and refufed the recom- 
 penfe which he had promifed to the Englifh 
 forces. + After a fruitlefs expoftulation Edward 
 
 * Froifr. lib. i. cap. 236. 
 
 t For the proraifed rccompcnfe vide Rymef's Feed. vol. 6. and 
 Barn. p. 684. 
 
 2 I 2
 
 252 HISTORY OF 
 
 returned to Guienne, with his army greatly 
 diminifhed, and his health fatally impaired by 
 the fatigues of the campaign and the heat of the 
 climate. 
 
 The tyrant, being na longer held in awe by 
 the prefence of his illuftrious ally, gave full 
 fcope to his vindictive fury ; and the moft dif- 
 tant connexion with the party of Henry wai 
 attended by confifcation or death. But while 
 Peter thus abufed his profperity his final ruin was 
 approaching. The fugitive Henry endeavoured 
 to intereft the Princes of Europe in his caufe : 
 the Roman Pontiff, Urban V. pronounced him 
 free from the ftain of illegitimacy, and Charles 
 VI. King of France, affording him pecuniary 
 affiftance, paid the ranfom ofDu Guefclin, whofe 
 name was itfelf a hoft. Henry, accompanied 
 by that celebrated commander, .again crofT- 
 ed the Pyrenees, and he had fcarcely unfurled 
 his ftandard in Caftile, before his fmall train of 
 warriors was fwelled into a numerous army. 
 
 Peter, with his ally, Abil-Gualid, King of 
 Grenada, had inverted the city of Cordova, 
 which his rapacity and cruelty had driven into 
 revolt. The fiege was urged with vigour ; but 
 the fainting fpirits of the inhabitamts were roufed 
 by the remonftrances of their wives, who de- 
 clared their refolution of perifhing in the flames 
 of the city, rather than fubmit to the tyrant.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 The aflailants were repulfed ; and their retreat 
 from the walls of Cordova was accelerated by 
 the intelligence that Henry had entered Caftile 
 and menaced Toledo. The combined armies of 
 Caftile and Grenada were numerous, and they 
 infpired Peter with confidence.* He and his 
 antagonift were impatient to engage ; and on the 
 plainofMontial,nearToledo,the contcft between 
 the two rival brothers was decided. In the field 
 of battle Peter difplayed a courage not unworthy 
 of his anceftors ; but his Caftilian foldiers fought 
 coolly in his caufe ; and the troops of Grenada 
 felt themfelves little interefted in the quarrel: 
 they fled from the field, and the Caflilians foori 
 followed their example. Peter took refuge 
 within the fortifications of Montial, which Henry 
 inftantly inverted ; and, ftrong lines of circum- 
 vallation being drawn around the place, every 
 hour diminiflied the means of refiftance, and 
 increafed the difficulty of efcape. In this ex- 
 tremity Peter, as his lad refource, attempted to 
 corrupt the fidelity of Du Guefclin, and offered 
 an immenfe fum for a paflage, in the night, 
 through the quarter where the latter commanded. 
 But here the tyrant met with that duplicity 
 which he had always been fo ready to practice. 
 
 * Cardonne fays the troops furr.iflied by the King of Grenada 
 amoutcd to 7000 horfe a^id 3o,ocs two:. Vol. 3. p. iiap,
 
 254 HISTORY OF 
 
 He was allured to an interview ; but in the tent 
 of Du Guefclin,inftead of a confederate he found 
 his rival. Henry, who was privy to the nego- 
 tiation, Hood ready to receive his viUm, and, 
 after fome bitter reproaches, plunged his dagger 
 into his bofom. 
 
 Thus fell that famous tyrant, Peter 
 A. D. 1369. 
 
 the Cruel, in the nineteenth year or a 
 
 turbulent, perfidious, and fanguinary reign, 
 which was ftained with every fpecies of crime. 
 Hiftorians have depicted him as a montter 
 totally deftitute of humanity. His reign, indeed, 
 exhibits too many well authenticated inflances 
 of his cruelty, avarice, and perfidy, to leave 
 any room to doubt that he was one of the 
 greatelt of tyrants. But his extreme forrow for 
 thelofs of his beloved wife, Donna Maria Padilla* 
 and his lender affeclion. for his children, (hew 
 that he was not wholly devoid of the tender 
 feelings. In eftimating the character of Peter, 
 as well as of other Princes who have experienced 
 his fate, it is requifite to obferve that it was the 
 intered of the fuccefsful party to blacken as 
 much as poffible his memory. 
 
 On the death of Peter, his ally, the Kwig of 
 Grenada, refolving to profit by the confufion 
 which reigned in Caftile, laid fiege to Algefiras, 
 which he captured and totally deflroyed, while 
 Henry, whofe throne, environed with enemies.
 
 SPAIN. 2.55 
 
 was not yet firmly eflablifhed, overlooked the 
 intuit, and concluded a truce with the Moorifh 
 monarch. Henry, however, loon overcame all 
 oppofition : Toledo opened her gates at his ap- 
 proach ; and his authority was recognifed in an 
 affembly of the ftates. The claims of the pof- 
 terity of Peter were feebly fuitained by John of 
 Gaunt, Duke of Lancafter, who had married his 
 daughter; and although Henry was fucccHively 
 attacked by England, Portugal, Arragon, arid 
 Navarre, he di {played the fame courage and 
 addrefs in defending as he had done in acquiring 
 his dominions. By negotiation or arms he evaded 
 or repelled all the attempts of his enemies ; but 
 at the moment when Caftile looked forward to the 
 enjoyment of general tranquillity, the profpecl 
 was clouded by the premature death of her 
 
 monarch, who died of a nervous fever. 
 A.D. 1379. . 
 
 in the forty-nxth year of his age, and 
 
 the tenth of a glorious and beneficent reign. 
 The ftory of his death being caufed by a pair of 
 poifoned bufkins, lent him as a prefent from the 
 King of Grenada, is too romantic for belief, 
 except among thofe who always di {"cover fome- 
 thing extraordinary in the exit of Princes. 
 
 Henry was fucceeded by his fon John, a Prince 
 not unworthy of his illuftrious father. In a war 
 againfl Portugal and England, he difplayed equal 
 fpirit and prudence. On the corrclufion of
 
 256 HISTORY OF 
 
 peace, he married Beatrix, the daughter of Ferdi- 
 nand, King of Portugal, with the flipulation that 
 her iffue fhould fucceed to the throne of that 
 kingdom. The treaty appeared extremely favour- 
 able to the King of Caftile ; but his intentions 
 were fmftrated. On the death of Ferdinand, 
 which happened about two years after its con- 
 clufion, John alferted the claim of his infant fon 
 Henry : but the Portuguefe fearing that their 
 kingdom might fink into a Province of Caftile, 
 placed on the throne, John, the half brother of 
 the late King, and fon of Peter, by his celebrated 
 miflrefs, Agnes de Caft.ro. The Main of his birth 
 was effaced by his brilliant qualities; but the 
 commencement of his reign was gloomy. The 
 armies of Caftile inverted Lifbon, but the pefti- 
 lence broke out in then: camp, and compelled 
 them to raife the ficge. Jn the enfuing fpring 
 they returned, and their ftandard was once more 
 unfurled on the banks of the Tagus. But the 
 temerity of the King of Caftile was fatal to his 
 fuccefs. Although the Portuguefe army confided 
 of only twelve thoufand men, its pofition was 
 advantageous and ftrongly fortified. The troops 
 which marched under the banners of Caflile, 
 amounted to thirty thoufand; and their numbers 
 infpircd their mafter with confidence. His 
 ardour rejected the counfel of the mod ex- 
 perienced generals. He refolvcd on the attack.
 
 SPAIN. 257 
 
 land a total defeat was the confequcnce of his im- 
 prudence. Several thoulands of the Caflilians 
 pcrifhed in a morafs vvhieh protected the front 
 of the Portuguefe camp; and the King, with the 
 fhattered remains of his army, found fafety in a 
 precipitate flight. 
 
 This difafter extinguifhed the hopes of the 
 King of Caftile, and revived thole of his enemies. 
 An alliance was concluded between Portugal 
 and England ; and the Duke of Lancaftcr once 
 more aflerted the claim of his confort, the 
 daughter of Peter the Cruel. He landed in 
 Gallicia with a fmall but veteran army, and at 
 Compoftella he was folemnly proclaimed King of 
 Caftile. His rival, remembering his recent de- 
 i'eat on the banks of the Tagus, was too prudent 
 to hazard a fecond reverfe, which might have 
 proved fatal to his throne. He therefore 
 'adopted a more certain plan of defence : he laid 
 vvalte the country before his antagonift; and as 
 the Enghfh advanced they faw only an extenfive 
 iccne of defolation. They loon began to feel the 
 p re II lire of famine, which produced difeafe, its 
 ufual concomitant. They diflrefs of the invaders, 
 and the dangerous fituation of the King of Catlile, 
 produced a mutual defire of accommodation ; 
 atjri a treaty was at length concluded : the Duke of 
 Lancafter received a considerable furnof money 
 to defray the expences of his expedition ; and 
 VOL, i. 2 -;
 
 258 HISTORY OF 
 
 the peace was cemented by a marriage whiefi 
 eventually placed his daughter Catalina and her 
 iffue on the throne of Caftile. That Princefs was 
 efpoufed by Henry, the ddeft fon of John; and 
 the termination of the waf between Caftile and 
 England foon led to the conclufion of peace be- 
 tween the former kingdom and Portugal. 
 
 The interval of public tranquillity was im- 
 proved by the King of Caftile to the greateft ad- 
 vantage. The rigid frugality which he praclifed 
 was the fource of liberality to his fubjefts : the 
 taxes were diminifhed : agriculture flourimed ? 
 and commerce revived. But in the midft of 
 national profperity, Caftile was doomed to lament 
 the lofs of her father and King, who was killed 
 by a fall from his horfe, in the thirty-third year 
 
 of his age, and the eleventh of a be- 
 A.D. 1390. 
 
 nencent and prolperous reign. 
 
 His fon, Henry III. on whom the crown of 
 Caftile devolved, was only eleven years of age, 
 and of a weakly conftitution. A council of 
 regency was formed : the members confifted of 
 three Princes of the blood royal, the Archbifhops 
 of Toledo and Compoftclla, the Grand Mafters of 
 St. Jago and Calatrava, and fixteen deputies 
 from the principal cities. Their union might 
 have promoted the public profperity ; but their 
 diflentions threatened the repofe of the kingdom; 
 and the Moors of Grenada, by an irruption into
 
 SPAIN. 259 
 
 Caftile, fhcwed the confidence which they had 
 acquired from the inteftine difcord of the 
 Chriftians. But the firmnefs of Henry difpelled 
 the gathering ftorms. By the advice of pru- 
 dent counfellors, he declared his intentions of 
 afluming the reins of government, and although 
 he had fcarcely completed his thirteenth year, 
 an affembly of the ftates, convened at Madrid, 
 diflblved the regency, and placed in his hands 
 the regal authority. 
 
 The feeble frame of Henry was animated by a 
 vigorous mind : his firft care was to reform the 
 abufes which had taken place duringhis minority. 
 An interefted regency had affigned large penfions 
 to every perfon allied to the throne. Thefe 
 lavifh grants were immediately reclaimed by the 
 King, who ioftened the rigour of the meafure 
 by pleading the exigencies of the Hate. But it 
 is feldom that individuals are willing to refign 
 their private emoluments for the public ad- 
 vantage. The Princes of the blood were the 
 firft. to oppofe his adminiflration : moft of them 
 deferted the court, retired to their caftles, and 
 armed their vaflals and partizans; but before 
 they could have time to mature their defigns 
 and form a confederacy, they were anticipated 
 by the promptitude of their fovereign. Henry 
 fuddenly appeared in arms, and the rebels im- 
 plored and experienced his clemency. Having 
 
 2 K2
 
 260 HISTORY OF 
 
 thus extinguifhed the firft fparks of inteftinc 
 commotion, the King of Caftile prepared to 
 repel the encroachments of foreigners. The 
 Portugucfe had, in time of peace, furprifed the 
 ftrong town of Badajoz, on the banks of the 
 Guadiana. But they were not fufFered long to 
 enjoy the fruit of their perfidy. Henry collected 
 a formidable army, and equipped a confiderable 
 naval force : the country on the banks of the 
 Tagus was laid waftc: the fquadrons which iiTued 
 from the port of Liibon were defeated; and the 
 King of Portugal was glad to obtain peace by the 
 reftoraiion of Badajoz. 
 
 On the ceiTation of hoftilities with Portugal, 
 Henry turned his arms againft the Rovers of 
 Africa, whofe avidity of fpoil, no laws nor 
 treaties could rcftrain, and whofe rapacity was 
 equalled by their cruc.lty. Their vefiels were 
 deftroyed by the fquadrons of Caftile ; and the 
 town of Tetuan, the repofitory of their plunder, 
 was captured. The lives of the inhabitants 
 atoned for the injuries which they had done to 
 the Caflilians; and the victors returned home 
 laden with the treafures amafled during many 
 years of piratical adventure. 
 
 The King of Caftilc, encouraged by thefe 
 fuccefies, began to meditate the expulfion of the 
 Moors from Spain ; and the predatory inroads 
 of the King of Grenada afforded him a juft
 
 .STAIN. f 261 
 
 pretext for hoftilities. A ihitl economy had 
 repleniflied the public coffers of Caftile, and 
 the vigour with which Henry carried on his 
 preparations, inflamed the hopes of his ibldiers, 
 and ftruck terror into the enemy. An allembly 
 of the flates was fummoned to Toledo: a martial 
 nobility were ardent to exercife their valour 
 againft the ancient enemies of their faith and 
 their country. The propofal for war was received 
 with loud and unanimous applaufe. the ex- 
 pedition was fanclioncd by the approbation of 
 the clergy ; and the whole force of Caitile was 
 about to be poured upon Grenada; but the plan 
 was difconcertcd by the death of Henry, who 
 expired during the fitting of the 
 affembly. His only ion was an infant 
 of fourteen months old : and the Mates, antici- 
 pating the evils with which the kingdom, during 
 a minority, had been fo often afflicled. laid afide 
 the thought of engaging in a foreign war. 
 
 Henry was one of thole Princes \vhofc virtues 
 add luftre to a crown. His obfervaiion " thai 
 " he feared the curies of his people more than 
 " the weapons of his enemies," ought to be 
 trcafured in the rninds of all rulers of nations. 
 But although moderation was one of the leading 
 maxims of his policy, he knew how to punifh as 
 well as reward. He ftudioufly rcprcffcd the 
 pride of the nobility, whofe influc'ncej at the time
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 of his acceflion, overruled the power of the 
 fovereign, and by feverely chaftifing a revolt of 
 the city of Seville, he admonifhed the multitude 
 of the danger of braving the authority of the 
 fovereign. 
 
 The death of Henry was a fubjecl of confter- 
 nation to the dates. Dreading the evils of a 
 minority, a motion was made for fetting afide 
 the claims of a feeble infant, and calling to the 
 fucceflion Ferdinand, brother of the late King. 
 That Prince di (played on the occafion a rare 
 inftance of difiruerefted probity : regarding him- 
 felf as the natural protetior of his nephew, he 
 rejefted the propofal : he commanded the royal 
 dandard to be unfurled, and John II. to be 
 irsftantly proclaimed Ki:ig of Caftile. His refolu- 
 tion fixed the minds of the aifembly, and the 
 oath of allegiance was unanimoufly taken to the 
 infant monarch. 
 
 The integrity of Ferdinand, in refufing the 
 crown, marked him out to the dates as the mod 
 proper perfon to be intruded with the regency. 
 The warlike preparations of Henry were in a 
 great date of forwardnefs ; and Ferdinand 
 refolvcd to bring them into aclion. In order to 
 prevent the diffentions which had agitated every 
 minority, he judged it requifite to employ the 
 martial nobles in foreign hodilities. The King 
 of Grenada, in order to anticipate the attack.
 
 263 
 
 already in arms, and had pafl'cd the frontier. 
 Ferdinand opened the campaign with the fiege 
 and capture of Prunaj and Mehemmed, at the 
 head of a hundred thoufand men, having pre- 
 fented himfelf before Biatia, burned the fuburbs, 
 and had nearly carried the place by aflault; 
 but the approach of the Chriftians obliged him 
 
 fo raife the fiege. The Moors, in their retreat, 
 deftroyed the country with fire and fword, and 
 marked their route with the moft dreadful defo- 
 lation. 
 
 The Chriftians, in the mean while, were 
 victorious at fea. The piratical fquadrons of 
 Tunis, notwithstanding their fuperiority in num- 
 ber of vefiels, were totally defeated by the fleets 
 of Caftile j while the Regent was equally fucceff- 
 ful by land. The ftrong towns of Zahara and 
 Aiamonte furrendered to his arms ; and the King 
 of Grenada, who, with eighty-fix thoufand men, 
 had inveited the city of Jaen, retired with pre 
 cipitation on hearing that Ferdinand was advanc- 
 ing to the relief of the place. The reft of the 
 campaign was confumed in mutual ravages and 
 devaftations. But, on the return of fpring, 
 Mehemmed made an unfuccefsful attempt on. 
 Alcandette, while the Caftilian army? in three 
 divifions, entered the kingdom of Grenada, and 
 r.very where fprcad terror and defolation. The 
 views of Ferdinand, however, were to protecl
 
 HTSTORV OF 
 
 rather than extend the dominions of his nephev? ; 
 and the kingdom of Grenada being rent by two 
 powerful factions, a ceflation of hoftilities was 
 equally agreeable to the Moors and the Chrif- 
 tians. A truce of eight months was 
 no fooner concluded than Mehem- 
 med, King of Grenada, who had dethroned and 
 imprifoned his elder brother, Joufef, was feized 
 with a mortal diftemper. This Prince, feeing 
 no hope of recovery, refolved to infure the 
 fucceffionto hisfon by the death of the dethroned 
 monarch. He therefore gave orders for his 
 immediate execution ; but the death of Mchem- 
 med himfelf, happening within a few hours, pre- 
 vented the fanguinary command from being 
 canied into cffec~t Joufef, infiead of being 
 led 10 execution, was reftored to the throne, and 
 this event prolonged the truce between Caftile 
 a:id Grenada. But within lefs than two years ic 
 was tranfientiy interrupted by the anirnofity 
 \vhich conftantly reigned between the two 
 nations. The Moors made themfelves matters 
 of the town of Zahara. but were unable to 
 reduce the citadel. The Caftilians, under the 
 command of the Regent, having laid fiege to 
 Antequera, the King of Grenada, with eighty- 
 five thoufand men, marched to its relief. Fer- 
 dinand, however, was refolved to fucceed in the 
 emerprife or pcrifh in the attempt : he quitted
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 his entrenchments, and notwithftanding his 
 inferiority in numbers, gave the Moorifh army 
 a total defeat, and after this fignal fuccefs imme- 
 diately returned to the fiege. Joufef, refolving 
 to make one grand effort for the relief of a place 
 of luch importance, ordered his fubje&s to rife 
 enmajfe, and marched at their head to force the 
 entrenchments of the Regent. But the Caftilians, 
 in order to avoid being overwhelmed by his 
 innumerable hoft, kept themfelves within their 
 camp, which the King of Grenada finding 
 impregnable, was obliged to make a difgraceful 
 retreat, and leave the befieged city to its fate. 
 Notwithftanding this dereliction, Antiquera made 
 a long and vigorous defence, and when at laft 
 the city was taken by aflault, the citadel held 
 out feveral days and thenfurrendered by capitula- 
 tion, after which a truce for eighteen months 
 terminated the campaign. 
 
 The difmtereited integrity of Ferdinand, in 
 refufing the crown of Caftile, was rewarded with 
 that of Arragon. The King of that country had 
 expired without iffue, and the claims which 
 Ferdinand derived by his defcent from a great 
 aunt of that monarch, were (trengthened by his 
 own reputation for probity, courage, and {kill 
 in arms. His competitors did not yield without 
 a druggie, but he overcame all oppofition, and 
 entered Saragoffa in triumph, where he cele- 
 
 VOL. I. 2 I,
 
 <266 HISTORY OF 
 
 brated his coronation. His reign was fhort ; 
 but he left a Ton named Alphonfo, who fuc- 
 ceeded him in his throne, and furpaffed him in 
 renown, by wrefting the kingdom of Naples 
 from the Houfe of Anjou. 
 
 At the death of Ferdinand, John, his nephew, 
 King of Caftile, had not completed his thirteenth 
 year : yet the ftates judged it expedient to pre- 
 vent a dangerous competition for the regency 
 by reftgning into his hands the reins of govern- 
 ment. But his wea,kncfs and inexperience en- 
 couraged the rife of various factions which 
 agitated his reign, and afflifted his fubjefts with 
 numerous calamities. The uninterefting hiftory 
 of domefHc contention, however, is flightly 
 gilded by a glorious war againft the common- 
 enemy. 
 
 foufef, King of Grenada, died A. D. 1423, 
 and was fucceeded by his fonMehemmedElazari, 
 a Prince known only by his misfortunes and his 
 ingratitude. After a fnort reign of four years, 
 he was depofed by his fubjecls. and his coufin, 
 Mchemmed-El-Sugair, was placed on the throne. 
 This Prince, like his predecefibr, foon loft the 
 affections of his fubjecls: Mehernmed Elazan, 
 who had taken refuge in Africa, was eafily re- 
 itored by the efforts of the Kings of Tunis and 
 Caflile, and the ufurper pcrifhed by the hand of 
 the executioner.
 
 SPAIN. 26? 
 
 Elaiari was no fooner replaced on the throne 
 than he refufed the payment ofhis tribute to the 
 crown of Caftile. John, being highly incenfed 
 at his ingratitude, commenced a molt deftruftive 
 war againft Grenada. The country was ravaged, 
 the (landing crops were burned on the ground, 
 and the villages reduced to afhes to the very 
 gates of the capital. From the top of their ram- 
 parts, the opulent inhabitants of Grenada beheld 
 their villas confumed with fire, and a magnificent 
 palace of the King, near the walls of the city, was 
 involved in the general conflagration. This 
 defolaiing expedition was conducted by Don 
 Alvaro de Luna ; and the King of Caftile, with 
 an army of eighty thoufand men, foon after ap- 
 peared before Grenada. On his approach the 
 Moors, in immcnfe numbers, rufhed out from 
 the city and attacked his army, and as the battle 
 was fought near the walls, frefh troops con- 
 tinually took place of thofe that were wounded. 
 Victory at laft declared for the Chriftians ; but 
 the Moors retreated in regular order into the 
 city. John, expecting another attack, entrench- 
 ed himfelf in an advantageous fituation, and 
 employed every means to render his camp im- 
 pregnable. The apprehenfions of the King of 
 Caftile proved to be well founded. Within the 
 fpace of a few days, the whole force of the 
 Moors, to the amount of two hundred thoufand 
 
 2 L 2
 
 268 HISTORY OF 
 
 men, Tallied out of Grenada, and again attacked 
 the Chriftians. The battle was extremely ob- 
 flinate and the viclory was long contefted; but 
 at length the Moors were totally routed. Part 
 of their numerous hoft regained the city : the 
 reft difperfed themfelves in the adjacent country. 
 The King of Caftile remained ten days longer 
 before Grenada, but finding himfelf unable to 
 make any impreflion on the fortifications or to 
 draw the citizens to a fecond engagement, he 
 completed the deftruftion of all that remained in 
 the environs, and raifed the fiege. 
 
 While the kingdom of Grenada fuffered all 
 the calamities by which the wars of a barbarous 
 age were ufually accompanied, the capital was 
 agitated by the violence of oppofite faBions. 
 The King of Caftile was defirous of placing on 
 the throne Joufef-El-Ahmar, grandfon of Mehem- 
 med, whom Peter the Cruel perfidioufly put to 
 death at Seville ; and a confiderable number of 
 the citizens of Grenada began to favour the 
 
 o 
 
 claims of that Prince. After the war had con- 
 tinued fome time longer, and the Chriftians again 
 approached the city, the party of Joufef acquired 
 a decided afcendency : Mehemmed-El-Azari was 
 totally abandoned by the people, and retiring to 
 Malaga, left the throne to his rival. Joufef 
 entered Grenada in triumph, and having de- 
 monftrated his gratitude to John by the ceremony
 
 SPAIN. 269 
 
 of homage, the payment of tribute, and the re- 
 leafe of the ChrilHan (laves, he reflored tran- 
 quillity to his kingdom by a peace with CaUile. 
 But Spain, defolated by fo many wars, was 
 doomed to enjoy only a tranfient rcpofe. Hither- 
 to Caftile had, during the whole reign of John, 
 been agitated not only by domellic factions but 
 exhaufted by wars With Grenada and Arra^on : 
 
 * O 
 
 the former had been attended with conftant, the 
 latter with various fuccefs. The Moors, amidfl 
 their deftruclive contells with the Chriflians, had 
 been continually expofed to all the evils of an 
 unfettled government; and the interval of peace 
 and political union, which they now enjoyed, 
 was only of a fhort duration. The death of 
 
 Toufef-El-Ahmar, King of Grenada. 
 A. D. 1432. J 
 
 after a reign of fix months, changed 
 
 the (late of affairs. The Moors, remarkable for 
 their levity, recalled to the throne Mehemmed- 
 Elazari, whom they had fo lately expelled. Hof- 
 tilities were foon after re-commenced between 
 Grenada and Caflile ; and four fucceffive cam- 
 paigns, though marked with various turns of 
 fortune, were on the whole advantageous to the 
 Moors. The Chriltians, occupied in civil con- 
 tentions, were unable to carry on a foreign war 
 with eflfecl. But the troubles of Caflile, which 
 might have afforded the people of Grenada time 
 to re-eflablifh their affairs, only encouraged the
 
 270 HISTORY OF 
 
 revival of their former factions. In the year 
 1445, Mchemrned-Eiazari was dethroned and 
 thrown into a dungeon by his nephew, Mehem- 
 med-El-Akfa, who, a few years after, was depoled 
 by his own brother iftnael. This Prince, al- 
 though he had been fupported by the King of 
 Caltile. was no (ooner placed on the throne of 
 Grenada, than he (hewed his determination of 
 continuing, againd the Chriitlans, the war which 
 had been fuccelsfuliy commenced by his pre- 
 deceffbr. 
 
 While Grenada was thus agitated by difcord 
 and civil war, Cadile preferned fimilar icenes of 
 inteftine commotion. Don Alvaro de Luna, with 
 the office of high conftable of Caftile, pofieffed 
 the favour of his fovereign, and had diftinguim.- 
 ed himfelf in his command aeainft the Moors. 
 Envy excited the nobles to arms againfl the 
 favourite : their fu (I efforts were unfuccefsful ; 
 and their defeat promifed to eftablifh the power 
 of John on a permanent bafis, when it was 
 fuddenly fhakcn by an unexpected turn of 
 affairs. The Queen and the Prince of Aiturias 
 declared for the malecontents: John was unable 
 to refill the torrent of general diiaffeclion : he 
 was compelled to difmifs his favourite and 
 change lis miniflcrs ; and while his rebellious 
 nobles obtruded themfelves into every office of 
 POULT and emolument, he was fuffercd to retain
 
 SPAIN. 271 
 
 no more than the title of King. From this de- 
 pendant fituation, he was releafed by a new re- 
 volution. The counfels of the Bifliop of Avila, 
 feconded by the addrefs of Don Juan Pacheco, 
 had awakened the Prince of Afturias to a fenfe 
 of his duty. A reconciliation between the father 
 and ion was effected. The King, eluding the 
 vigilance of his guards, efcaped from the caftle 
 of Portillo. The royal flandard was unfurled ; 
 and the King and the Prince of Afturias marched 
 againft the confederates, who had called in the 
 King of Navarre to their fupport. In the neigh- 
 bourhood of Olmeda the rebels were totally 
 defeated : the King of Navarre efcaped the pur- 
 fuit of the victors, and gained the frontiers of 
 Arragon ; but his brother Henry was mortally 
 wounded. 
 
 John, being reflored to power, recalled to his 
 court and his councils Don Alvaro de Luna, and 
 asafurther mark of his favour, inverted (hat noble- 
 man with the dignity of Grand Mailer of the Or- 
 der of St. Jago. At the fame time, the death of 
 the Queen leaving John a widower, he efpoufed 
 the Princefs Ifabella of Portugal. The return of 
 Alvaro, and the fecond marriage of the King, 
 were equally difagreeable to the Prince of Aftu- 
 rias. lie quitted the court, and again creeled 
 the flandard of revolt ; but he had not time to 
 collet a numerous force before he was fur-
 
 272 HISTORY OF 
 
 prifed by the appearance of his father at the head 
 of a fele6l detachment. Both parties were ready- 
 to engage, but the mediation of the prelates and 
 clergy, who had accompanied the King and the 
 Prince, effected a reconciliation ; and the un- 
 natural conteft was happily terminated without 
 theeffufion of blood. But the kingdom was not 
 yet freed from its calamities. The King of 
 Navarre continued his hoftilities ; and a rapa- 
 cious hord of Gafcons was allured by his pro- 
 mifes to crofs the Pyrenees, and pillage the 
 territories of Caftile, while the Moors of Grenada 
 ravaged the plains of Andalufia. 
 
 In the mid ft of thofe unprofperous circum- 
 ilances, Don Alvaro de Luna difplayed a fplen- 
 dour which obfcured that of his fovereign, and 
 at laft excited his jealoufy. Although a com- 
 pany of faithful guards, commanded by his 
 natural fon, Don Pedro, protected his perfon 
 from any immediate attack, his deftruclion was 
 determined ; and he foon furnifhed a pretext as 
 well as an opportunity for its accomplifhment. 
 Don Alphonfo de Vivaro, who already polfeffcd 
 the place of high treafurer under the mafk of 
 friendfhip, was indefatigable in his attempts to 
 undermine his authority. His artifices were eafily 
 penetrated by Alvaro, who refolved to rid him- 
 ielf of a dangerous rival. He invited his ad- 
 herents to his palace ; and Don Alphonfo pre-
 
 SPAI.N. 
 
 fcnted himfelf as one of the number. The feat 
 of the council was a lofty tower ; and no fooner 
 had Vivaro afcended, than he was thrown head- 
 long from the fumrnit and daflied to pieces. 
 The King was impatient to punifh this al of 
 prefumption, the Queen called for vengeance on 
 the murderer of her favourite, and the courtiers 
 were loud in venting their indignation againft a 
 miniiler whole fmiles they had fo recently 
 courted. The palace of Alvaro was furrouncled 
 by the royal guards : he was inftanlly made 
 prifoner, brought to trial, declared guilty of the 
 murder of Don Alphonfodc Vivaro. and fer. fenced 
 10 decapitation by the hand of the common 
 executioner. He heard the femence without the 
 ieait emotion, and in the lalt and mofl trying 
 moments of his life, aflerted the courage of a 
 Caililian noble. In the market place of Valla- 
 dolid. he afcended the fcaiTold with a firm and 
 fieady ftep. and confefled, in his approaching 
 fate, the juil punifhment of his fins. With 
 daumlefs compofure he preferred his neck to 
 the axe, and received with intrepidity, the fatal 
 ftroke. During fome days his hcadlefs trunk 
 u-as expofed to the public view : his riches had 
 been confifcated by his rapacious fovereign; and 
 his remains were indebted to common charity 
 for a buiial. Thus fell I)oi Alvaro dc Luna, 
 high ConllabU' and Grand Mailer of the Order 
 
 VOL. I. 2 M
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 of St. Jago, who had fuccefsfully conducted the* 
 armies of Cafiile againft the Moors, and during 
 many years adminittered the affairs of the king- 
 dom. John did not live long enough to regret 
 the lofs of a minifter who, amidft the ftorms of 
 civil diffention, had ftrenuoufly afferted the 
 authority of the crown : he expired foon after 
 
 at Valladolid, in the forty-feventh year 
 A.D. 1450. 
 
 of his age. His reign, which com- 
 prehended nearly his whole life, was a continued 
 fcene of foreign war and domeftic turbulence : 
 yet amidft the tempefts which incefTantly fhook 
 his throne, he difplayed a confiderable degree of 
 firmnefs and resolution. 
 
 The vacant throne was immediately filled by 
 his fon Henry, who, from the alledged caufe of 
 his divorce from his firfl confort, Blanch, the 
 daughter of the King of Navarre, acquired the 
 furname of Impotent. Notwithftanding, how- 
 ever, the difgrace which had accompanied his 
 feparation from Blanch, Henry folicited the hand 
 of Joanna of Portugal 3 and the ambition of that 
 Princefs prompted her to become the partner of 
 his throne. In the fixth year after their marriage, 
 flie became pregnant: a daughter was born, who 
 was baptized by the name of her mother, and 
 acknowledged heirefs to the crown of Caflile. 
 Yet the impotency of the King was the public 
 theme, and the fpirit of faction was exercifed
 
 SPAIN. 275 
 
 in fpreading reports of the illegitimacy of the 
 Princefs. 
 
 The commencement of the reign of Henry 
 was gilded with fome important fuccefles againft 
 the Moors ; and his conduft in the management 
 of the war (hewed that, although his underftand- 
 ing was not of the highefl order, yet he was not 
 wholly deficient in martial abilities. An army of 
 fourteen thoufand horfe and forty thoufand foot 
 marched under his banners; but as he had formed 
 the defign of reducing the Moors by famine, 
 he confined his operations to the devaftation of 
 their country, by burning their crops of corn on 
 the ground, driving off their cattle, and deftroy- 
 ing their villages. In this manner he penetrated 
 to the walls of Grenada; and from the tops of 
 their towers the inhabitants of the capital beheld 
 the flames which confumed the furrounding 
 country, without daring to hazard a battle. In 
 the following year thefe ravages and devaftations 
 were repeated. Not only the crops of corn were 
 burned on the ground, but even the trees were 
 cut down and confumed. The Moors, being 
 threatened with a dreadful famine, were obliged 
 to purchafe a truce by the payment of an annual 
 fum of twelve thoufand crowns of gold, and the 
 liberation of fix hundred Chriftian (laves. With- 
 in the fpace of three years hoftilities recom- 
 menced ; and the frontiers of Grenada and 
 
 2 M 2
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 Andalufia were again defolated by hoftile ravages, 
 Jn the year 1462, Gibraltar was furprifed by the 
 Chriftians, when moft of the troops, which com- 
 pofed the garrifon, were employed in ravaging 
 the territory of Andalufia. Some hiftorians fay 
 that the place was betrayed by a Moorifh con- 
 vert : it is certain, however, that the Chriftian 
 Itandard was, without much difficulty, planted 
 on the towers of Gibraltar; and the feeble reign 
 of Henry derives fome luftre from the conqueft 
 of that important fortrefs. 
 
 Jf Henry did not poflefs the talents and virtues 
 of his father, however, he inherited his failings. 
 Don Juan de Pacheco ruled with the fame abio- 
 lute dominion over his mind as Don Alvaro de 
 Luna had exercifed in the preceding reign. 
 Henry had conferred on his favourite the title of 
 Marquis of Villena, and the commons were not 
 lefs exafperated by the extravagance, than the 
 nobles were by the infolence of this minion of 
 fortune. But, although loaded with the favours, 
 he betrayed the iniercfts of his fovereign. The 
 Catalans had erected the ftandard of revolt againft 
 John II. King of Arragon, and offered to Ilenrv 
 the fovcreignty of their country. In this affair 
 it was deemed prudent to confult Louis XL 
 Kino- of France, who, from the fituation of his 
 
 o * J 
 
 dominions, might prove a formidable enemy or 
 -A powerful ally. An interview was agreed on
 
 SPAIN. 277 
 
 between the Kings of Caftile and France, and on 
 their meeting, their different difpoh'tions were 
 difplayed in the contraft of their appearance. 
 Henry, magnificent and haughty, was attended 
 by a fplendid train : Louis, plain and unoflen- 
 taiious, was clad in coaile cloth, and fiendeiiy 
 accompanied. They parted with mutual pro- 
 teftations of friendfhip; yet while Henry was 
 dilgufled at the fordid appearance of Louis; 
 the latter imbibed the moft decided contempt for 
 the undei Handing of the CaRilian monarch. 
 
 But the King of France, inftead of expending 
 his money in fumptuous preparations for his 
 journey? had employed it in bribing the mimlters 
 ofCaitile ; and the Marquis of Villena, in com- 
 pliance with the inclinations of that monarch, 
 perfuaded Henry to abandon the Catalans. The 
 King of Caflile, however, foon difcovered the 
 fraud; and the exile of the Marquis from court 
 was the immediate confequence of his treacher- 
 ous counlcls. 
 
 A powerful confederacy was foon after former! 
 by the high Admiral of Caflile, the Counts of 
 IJenevente, Placentia, and Olluna. the Arch- 
 bifhops of Toledo and Compeflella, tiie Cirand 
 Maflers of the Ordersof Calatrava and Alcantara, 
 and the Marquis of Villena, who, inflead of the 
 favorite, \vas now become the enemy of his fove- 
 rcign. The confederates publifhcd a manifefto,
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 in which they charged the King with having 
 impofed a fuppofnious child on the nation, in 
 order to defraud his younger brother, Alphonfo, 
 of the fucceffion. They claimed the right of 
 trying and palling fentence on their fovereign 
 as one of the privileges of their order, and fum- 
 nioned all their party to meet for that purpofe 
 at Avila. That the proceedings might be as 
 public and folemn as poffible a fpacious theatre 
 was e reeled without the walls of the town. An 
 image, reprefenting the King, was feated on a 
 throne, clad in royal robes, with a crown on its 
 head, a fceptre in its hand, and the fword of 
 juftice by its fide. The accufation againft the 
 King was read, and the fentence of depofition 
 pronounced in the prefence of a numerous 
 affembly. At the clofe of the firft article of 
 the charge the Archbifhop of Toledo tore the 
 crown from the head of the image : at the clofe 
 of the fecond the Count of Placentia fnatched 
 the fword of juftice from its fide : as foon as 
 the third was read the Count of Benevente 
 wrefted the fceptre from its hand: at the conclu- 
 fion, Don Diego Lopez de Stuniga tumbled the 
 pageant headlong from the throne; and Don 
 Alphonfo, the younger brother of Henry, was im- 
 mediately proclaimed King of Caftile and Leon.* 
 
 Marian. Hift. lib. 23. cap. 9.
 
 SPAIN. 27'C) 
 
 Toledo declared for Alphonfo, Simancas was 
 reduced by the arms of the confederates; and 
 Henry beheld the fpirit of revolt rapidly fpread- 
 ing throughouthisdominions. He haftily arTem- 
 bled about four thoufand troops, in whole loyalty 
 and valourhe could confide, and marched againft 
 his brother, whofe forces were nearly equal in 
 number. In the plains near Medina del Campo, 
 he defcried the banners of the confederates, and 
 both parties prepared with alacrity for the 
 aftion. The flandard of Alphonfo was unfurled 
 in the front of the line; and the Archbifhop of 
 Toledo charged the royal army by his fide. The 
 fhock was violent : the engagement lafted from 
 noon until the darknefs of the night left the 
 viclory undecided ; and both armies retired to 
 their refpeclive camps with nearly an equal loTs. 
 Soon after this aclion the town of Segovia was 
 furprifed by the rebels; but the cattle, in which 
 the royal treafures were depofited, ftill held out 
 for the King. And Henry received an ample 
 compenfation for the lofs of the town by the 
 acquifition of the important city of Toledo, the 
 inhabitants of which, by one of thofe fudderi 
 tranfitions fo frequent amidft civil diflentions, 
 returned to their allegiance and expelled the 
 rebel garnfon. 
 
 The fudden and myfterious fate of Alphonfo 
 fooii after put an end to the war. That young
 
 280 HISTORY OF 
 
 Prince, having retired to reft in perfeft health, 
 was, within a few hours, found dead, without any 
 marks of violence. So uncommon a ciicumfiancc 
 at fo critical a juncture, could not fail of exciting 
 f'jfpicion : and the confederate -nobles have 
 been accufed of difpatching, by poifon, a Prince 
 whofe rifing genius might have controlled their 
 faOious turbulence. His death, however, de- 
 prived them of a chief; and they opened a 
 negotiation with Henry, who gave up the claims 
 of his daughter Joanna, acknowledged his fifter 
 
 Cj J O 
 
 If.ibella as the heircis of his dominions, and 
 confirmed the Marquis of Villena in the dignity 
 of Grand Mafter of the Order of St. }ago. The 
 public tranquillity being reftored, the next im- 
 portant concern was the marriage of the Princefs 
 Ifabella; and among a number of pretenders 
 to her hand, Ferdinand, King of Sicily, fon and 
 prefumptive heir to the King of Arragon and 
 Navarre, was, by the (hues of Caflile, deemed 
 the mod eligible. The nuptials were celebrated 
 by the Archbifhop of Toledo. A convention, 
 confiding <,f ten articles, drawn up by that pre- 
 late, was fubfcribed by the King of Sicily before 
 he received the hand of Ifabella. !>y thefe Ferdi- 
 iur/1 ftipulatcd to govern the kingdom after the 
 death of Henry, conjointly with Ifabella, accord- 
 ing to the oath taken by the Kings of Caftile at 
 tlu/ir acccfiion, without any infringement or
 
 SPAIN. 281 
 
 alteration of the laws, ufages, prerogatives or 
 privileges of any of the cities, towns, places, or 
 perfons, civil or ecclefiaftical. All orders were 
 to be iflued in the joint names of Ferdinand and 
 Ifabella: no perfon was to be admitted into the 
 councils or offices of ftate that was not a native 
 of Caftile; and all dignities, ecclefiaftical and 
 civil, were to be at the difpofal of the Queen. 
 Ferdinand alfo was, by the ftipulation, bound to 
 refide in Caftile, and to make war againft 
 Grenada as foon as it fhould be in his power. 
 
 Such were the conditions by which the prudence 
 of the Archbifhop provided for the immediate 
 quiet of Henry, and the future independence of 
 Caflile. But the reftlefs and intriguing Marquis 
 of Yillena ftimulated that monarch to violate 
 the treaty which he himfelf had contributed to 
 impofe ; and in this he was feconded by the 
 bold and determined fpirit of the Queen. Henry, 
 influenced by their counfels, as well as prompted 
 by his own inclinations, iffued a manifefto, in 
 which he recalled his former conceffions, con- 
 firmed by oath his belief that Joanna was his 
 daughter, and declared her the heirefs to the 
 crown of Caftile. Ferdinand and Ifabella pub- 
 lifhcd a counter-manifefto ; in which they ad- 
 monifhed the people not to be deluded by the 
 aflertions of Henry, and the artifices of his 
 minifters. The King and the Marquis of Villena 
 
 VOL. I. 2 N
 
 282 HISTORY OF 
 
 refted their hopes on a powerful alliance by the 
 marriage of Joanna with the King of Portugal. 
 The negotiation, for that purpofe, was already 
 concluded, when the Marquis died in his return 
 from Lifbon. Henry himfelf died foon after, 
 and in his laft moments fhewed greater forti- 
 tude than might have been expecled from the 
 mediocrity of his understanding, although his 
 perfonal courage had never been queftioned. 
 \Viih his laft breath he declared Joanna his fuc- 
 cefTor; but it could fcarcely be expected that 
 his will, which was conftantly oppofed during his 
 life, would be refpedled after his death. The 
 majority of the nation declared in favour of 
 Ferdinand and Ifabella; and they were 
 jointly proclaimed fovereigns of Cai- 
 tile and Leon. 
 
 This event did not deter Alphonib, King of 
 Portugal, from efpoufing Joanna, and aliening 
 her claim to the throne. He entered Caftilewith 
 a formidable army ; but on the field of battle, 
 near Toro, his pretenfions were decided, and his 
 hopes extinguifhed. The Portuguese being de- 
 feated by the fuperior valour of the Caftilians 
 or the military {kill of Ferdinand, retreated to 
 their own frontiers; and the tranquillity of Caftile 
 \vas eftablifhed. In the following year Ferdi- 
 nand fuccecded to the throne of 
 Arragon by the death of his father ;
 
 SPAIN. 283 
 
 but the crown of Navarre, which the latter had 
 obtained by his confort, Blanch, devolved on 
 the Countefs of Foix, his daughter by that 
 Princefs. From this important period, the 
 hitherto feparate and often hoftile kingdoms of 
 Caftile and Arragon remained united ; and the 
 diftinftion of names was gradually loft in the 
 general appellation of Spain. 
 
 2 N
 
 284 HISTORY OF 
 
 CHAP. X. 
 
 State of Spain at the aeceflion of Ferdinand and Ifabella. Preparations 
 for expelling the Moors. Commencement of hoRilities. The 
 Moors furprife Zahara. Alhama taken by the Chnflians. Civil 
 war in the city of Grenada. The King, Abul-Haflan, and his fon 
 Aboul-Abdallah, raifed to the throne. Aboul-Abdallah defeated 
 and made prifoner by the Chriitians. Abul-HafTan reftored. 
 Aboul-Abdallah liberated by Ferdinand. Abul-HatTan again de- 
 pofed, and his brother Zagal elected King of Grenada. Bloody 
 civil war between the uncle and the nephew The Count de Cabra 
 furprifed and defeated by Zagal. SuccelTes of Ferdinand. Dreadful 
 civil war in the city of Grenada. Zagal defeated by the Chriftians, 
 Is fhut out of Grenada. Malaga taken by the Chriflians. Zagal 
 defeats the Chriftians. Baza taken by Ferdinand. Zagal furrenders 
 to Ferdinand. Defcripticn of Grenada. Reduction of that capital; 
 Defcription of the Alhambra. 
 
 AFTER Ferdinand and Ifabella had, by marriage 
 and fucceffion, united the kingdoms of Arragon 
 and Caftile, there ftill exiited in the peninfula 
 three oilier independent powers Portugal, 
 Navarre, and Grenada. The fuft of thefe, 
 ftretching along the coaft of the Atlantic from 
 north to South, from the mouth of (he Minho to 
 Cape St. Vincent, po Hefted nearly the fame 
 extent and boundaries as the modern Portugal.
 
 SPAIN. 285 
 
 From die Pyrenean mountains to the frontiers of 
 Caftilc, Navarre occupied the fpace of about 
 feventy miles in breadth, and extended about 
 eighty in length from the Province of Bifcay to 
 the borders of Arragon. The kingdom of 
 Grenada, the laft remnant of the Spanifh Cali- 
 phate and of the Mahommcdan power in Spain, 
 ftretched the fpace of a hundred and feventy 
 miles along the coaft of the Mediterranean ; but 
 the fucceflive encroachments of Giftile had re- 
 duced it to lefs than eighty in breadth. Not- 
 withitanding the narrownefs of its limits, Gre- 
 nada had been, for more than a century, the 
 theatre of faclion and inteftine difcord ; but 
 neither its civil difienfions, nor the devaftations 
 of foreign war, had extinguifhed among its 
 inhabitants the fpirit of induftry which was dif- 
 played in the purfuits of agriculture, commerce, 
 and the arts. The Moors, fuccefTively expelled 
 from the different cities and provinces of Spain, 
 had retired in great numbers to Grenada, and 
 conftantly recruited a population exhaufted by 
 inceffant hoftilities. No fooner had a fhort 
 truce allowed fome refpite from the ravages of 
 the enemy, than a people, trained up in the 
 habits of induftry, returned with ardour to their 
 defolated fields : beneath their labours the 
 country foon refumed the appearance of a garden; 
 and the capital, which had hitherto bid defiance
 
 286 HISTORY OF 
 
 to the armies of Caftile, was one of the largefl 
 and mofl magnificent cities of Europe. 
 
 Such was the ftateofthe kingdom of Grenada 
 when Ferdinand and liabella, having concluded 
 a peace with the King of Portugal, formed the 
 grand projeft of reducing it under their 
 dominion, and extirpating a hoftile power, 
 which, during fo many centuries, had refitted 
 all the efforts of Caftile. The fceptre of Gre- 
 nada was at that critical moment, fwayed 
 1481. 
 
 by Abul-Haffan, who, in his youth, had 
 been diftinguifhed by his valour and his enmity 
 to the Chriftians. He faw the impending ftorm, 
 and prepared to meet it with fortitude. To the 
 demand of tribute, urged by Ferdinand, he 
 replied that " In the fame place where they 
 " coined money at Grenada they alfo forged 
 <: arms." This anfwer was equivalent to a decla- 
 ration of war: on both fides immenfe prepa- 
 rations were made ; and Ferdinand was deter- 
 mined not to lay down his arms until he had 
 effected the total reduction of the Moors, an 
 enterprife which had baffled all the attempts of 
 his predeceflbrs. 
 
 Hoftilities commenced by an inroad which 
 the Marquis of Cadiz made into the Moorifh 
 territory. The Moors immediately flew to arms, 
 and furprifed the town of Zahara, the citadel 
 of which was feaied on a craggy rock and deemed
 
 SPAIN. 287 
 
 impregnable. Such of the inhabitants as attempt- 
 ed refiftance were put to the fword : the reft 
 \vere carried into captivity.* The lofs of Zahara 
 was foon after compenfated by the capture of 
 Alhama, which was furprifed by the Governor 
 of Seville and the Marquis of Cadiz: a great 
 number of the citizens, who had taken refuge 
 
 o 
 
 in a Mofqtie, were facrificed to the fury of 
 the Chriftians : the reft were fwept into 
 captivity, and expiated, by their fufferings, the 
 fate of the inhabitants of Zahara. Such were 
 the preludes of this long and bloody war, which 
 terminated in the extinction of the Mahomm dan 
 power in Spain. 
 
 The Moors and the Chriftians being com- 
 pletely prepared for the conteft, Abul-HafTan 
 and Ferdinand placed themfelves at the head of 
 their armies. The King of Grenada, with five 
 thoufand horfe and fifty thonfand foot, marched 
 for the purpofe of recovering Alhama. which 
 was only about twenty-five miles from the capital, 
 and was confidered as one of its bulwarks. t The 
 garrifon and the inhabitants prepared for a 
 vigorous defence ; and the Moors, in attempting 
 to carry the place by aifault, were repulfcd with 
 
 * Cardonne fays that the furprife of Zahara was the fuft aft of hostility. 
 Vol. 3. p. 2,50. 
 
 + Alhama was celebrated for its magnificent bath, crcflcd by the 
 Kirm of Grenada.
 
 288 HISTORY OF 
 
 confiderable lofs. But Alhama being totally 
 deditute of fprings, the befiegers undertook to 
 turn the courfe of the fmall river which fupplied 
 the place with water. In this enterprife they 
 fucceeded, in fpite of the redoubled efforts of 
 the befieged, although with the lofs of a great 
 number of the belt foldiers of their army ; and 
 the inhabitants of Alhama were reduced to the 
 greateit diftrefs by the want of water, when the 
 Due de Medina Sidonia,withfive thoufand cavalry 
 and forty thoufand infantry came to their relief. 
 The Moors, rather than expofe themfelves to the 
 rifk of a defeat, immediately raifed the fiege ; 
 and the garrifon not. only received a ftrong rein- 
 forcement, but alfo an ample fupply of provifions 
 and military (lores. On the departure of the 
 Spanifh army, the Moors recommenced the 
 fiege of Alhama ; but on the approach of Ferdi- 
 nand they again retired with precipitation; and 
 the Spaniards having defolated, with fire and 
 I'word, the plain of Grenada, returned to Cordova 
 laden with plunder. The King of Caltile and 
 Arragon, however, could not boaft of conftant 
 fucce.'s. He again took the field, and having 
 formed the ficge of Loja, or Loxa, on the banks 
 of the Xcnil,he was totally defeated byAli-Attar, 
 the governor, at the head of the garrifon, and 
 obliged to make a precipitate and difordcrly 
 retreat.
 
 SPAIN. 289 
 
 This defeat, however, only ferved to ftimu- 
 late Ferdinand to more vigorous efforts; and 
 his ardour was equalled or rather furpaffed by 
 that of Ifabella. All Spain refounded with their 
 mighty preparations : new armies were levied ; 
 and the fupplies which were liberally granted 
 by the ftates were managed with economy. 
 The refources of Grenada were far inferior to 
 thofe of Caftile and Arragon ; and the kingdom 
 was divided by domellic contentions; yet, under 
 thefe difadvantages, the refiftance of the Moors 
 was not inglorious. The viclory of Loxa had 
 revived their hopes ; and they again laid fiegc 
 to Alhama. The defence of that important 
 place being confided to Don Louis Oforio, 
 Bifhop of Jaen, the attempts of the Moors for 
 its reduction again proved ineffectual ; and 
 Ferdinand, at the fame time, carried fire and 
 fword through the enemy's territory to the very 
 walls of the capital. 
 
 While the environs of Grenada prefented a 
 horrible fcene of carnage and conflagration, a 
 dreadful civil war was kindled within the walls 
 of that city. The inhabitants confidered Abul- 
 Haffan, their King, as the author of all their 
 calamities. Their murmurs grew loud, and the 
 public mind was in a flate of ferment which an- 
 nounced an approaching revolt, when a wife of 
 that Prince accelerated the explofion. She was 
 VOL. i. 2 o
 
 290 HISTORY OF 
 
 of the blood royal of Grenada; but the incori-' 
 ftant monarch having abandoned her for a 
 Grecian flave whom he loved to excefs, the 
 Sultanefs began to be apprehenfive that he might 
 deftroy the children whom fhe had borne him, 
 in order to advance to the throne thofe of the; 
 favourite. She conjured the people to under- 
 take the defence of her children : the city was 
 inftantly all in confufion : the infurreBion foori 
 became general : Abul-Haflan was depofed ; 
 and the crown of Grenada was placed on the 
 head of Aboul-Abdallah, his eldeil: fon by the 
 Sultanefs. Abul-Haffan fought an afyltim at 
 Malaga, and implored the aid of his brother 
 Aboul-Abdaila, to whom the furname of Zagat 
 had been given to diftinguifli him from his 
 nephew. Malaga and feveral other cities re- 
 mained faithful to Abul-Haflan : the reft of the 
 kingdom acknowledged the authority of the 
 new fovcreign. The Moors, thus divided into 
 two faclions, commenced a bloody civil war 
 without abating their animofny towards the 
 ChrifHans. On the contrary, the different par- 
 ties endeavoured to ingratiate themfelves with 
 the nation by their efforts againll the common 
 enemy. A divifion of the Chriftian army, under 
 the Grand Matter of St. Jago, was totally de- 
 feated by Zagal, governor of Malaga, 
 and brother of Aboul-Haffan. The
 
 SPAIN. 291 
 
 Chridians confided of nearly three thoufand 
 men, mod of whom were killed or taken ; and 
 their commander, with a very fmall remnant, 
 narrowly efcaped. Zagal acquired great honour 
 by this viclory, which was gained chiefly by his 
 valour and fkill. 
 
 The civil war between the father and the fon 
 raged with inc.reafing fury and in a bloody 
 aftion, between the two parties, the latter was 
 defeated. The rival Princes, however, were 
 equally defirous of drenglhening their intereft 
 by fome important achievement againft the 
 Chriftians. The lad fuccefs of Zagal dimulated 
 the young King, Aboul-Abdallah, to balance or 
 eclipfe his glory by fome brilliant enterprife. 
 He formed the project of feizing Lucene, a large 
 and populous but ill forified city, on the frontiers 
 of Andalufia. Having approached the place, 
 without feeing an enemy 3 he immediately com- 
 menced the fiege; but the approach of the Count 
 de Cabra compelled him to retire with precipita- 
 tion. A thick milt, for fome time, concealed 
 his march and that of the enemy, but on its clear- 
 ing up, he difcovered the Spaniards ready to 
 charge his rear. The moment that the trumpets 
 of the Chridians founded, the Moorifh army, 
 furprifed and confounded, began to difperfe. 
 A dreadful havock was made of their broken and 
 flying fquadrons : their King endeavoured to
 
 292 HISTORY OF 
 
 rally his fcattered troops; but his efforts were 
 fruitlefs. The day was irrecoverably loft ; and 
 Aboul-Abdallah himfelf was made prifoner by the 
 Chriftians. The purfuit continued till night; 
 and the Moors loft above five thoufand men 
 killed and taken prifoners. Ali-Attar, the molt 
 fkilful of their generals, clofed his military 
 labours by a glorious death on the field of battle. 
 From the ftation of a private foldier he had 
 pafled through all the degrees of military pro- 
 motion : he fell at the advanced age of ninety; 
 and his long life, fpent in camps, had rendered 
 him an adept in the fcience of war. 
 
 This difaftrous affair threw the Moors into 
 great confternation. They had loft their ableit 
 general and many of the beft of their foldiers, 
 and their King was a captive in the hands of the 
 enemy. In this extremity they replaced on the 
 throne Abul-Haflan whom they had fo lately 
 expelled. The reftoration of this Prince, how- 
 ever, was not generally approved; and his fon, 
 although a prifoner in the hands of the Chriftians, 
 had a powerful party in Grenada. 
 
 The policy of Ferdinand did not fail to profit 
 by the difmay and difunion of the enemy. At 
 the head of an army of above fifty thoufand 
 men, he again defolated the plain of Grenada, 
 and carried the people into flavery. In order 
 to maintain the fpirit ofdivifion and re-kindie
 
 SPAIN. 293 
 
 the flames of civil war among the Moors, he fct 
 at liberty the young King, Aboul-Abdallah, un- 
 der the conditions of homage arid tribute : he 
 alfo fupplied that Prince with money and war- 
 like ilores to enable him to difpute the throne 
 with his father. Having taken theie meafures, 
 Ferdinand prefcntcd him felf before Ronda, which 
 was compelled to furrender to his arms ; and 
 the fall of that important place was followed by 
 the capture of feveral other cities. The Moors, 
 feeing themfelves reduced to extremity, without 
 a King who poffeffed either the confidence of 
 the nation or the abilities requifite for conduct- 
 ing the war, offered to Zagal the crown of 
 Grenada, hoping that his valour and prudence 
 might prop their tottering empire. Zagal readily- 
 accepted the offer; and his brother, the aged 
 Abul-Haffan, being a fecond time depofed, was 
 fhut up in prifon, where he foon after terminated 
 his turbulent and troublefome career. 
 
 The new monarch being convinced that fo 
 long as the Moors were divided into different 
 factions they could not refift the arms of P>rdi- 
 nand, refolved, in the fir (I place, to attempt the 
 deftru&ion of his nephew Aboul-Abdallah. For 
 this purpofe he entered into a treaty with the 
 inhabitants of Almeria, who agreed to deliver 
 that Prince into his hands. But Abdallah being 
 informed of the plot, departed from that city in
 
 294 HISTORY OF 
 
 the night, and took refuge among theChriftians,, 
 Zagal, thus difappointed of his vilim, immolated 
 to his ambition and refentment the brother of the 
 young Prince ; and lea the Sultanefs, his mother, 
 prifoner to Grenada. In order to intimidate the 
 people to union, he inftituted a bloody political 
 inquifition, and condemned to death all whom 
 he fufpecled of attachment to his nephew. 
 
 Ferdinand, in the mean while, refolved to call 
 into exertion the whole force of his kingdom, 
 in order to extinguifn the laft remains of the 
 Mooriih or Arabian domination in Spain; and 
 his army had orders to rendezvous at Alcala la 
 Royale. The Count de Cabra attempted to 
 furprife the Moorifh army encamped near Moe- 
 lin, and chofe the night for the execution of his 
 project. ; but Zagal. being apprized of his defign, 
 broke up his camp, and pofted his troops in the 
 defiles through which the Chriflians were to 
 pafs. The confequcnce of this manoeuvre was, 
 that the Count fell into the ambufcade : almofi. 
 all his infantry were cut in pieces ; and the com- 
 mander him lelf, with only a fmall number of 
 cavalry cfcaped. Tins clifafter chagrined, but 
 did not di (courage Ferdinand. His efforts 
 were redoubled, and the ftrong fortrefles of Cam- 
 bil and Albahar, in order to avoid the caliamties 
 of an affault, furrendered to the Chriftians by 
 capitulation. Thcfc fucceifcs clofed the cam-
 
 SPAIN. 29 J 
 
 paign, as die continual rains, and the approach 
 of winter, obliged the Spaniards to fufpend their 
 conquefts. 
 
 While Ferdinand was employed in meditating 
 his plan of operations for the enfuing campaign, 
 Grenada was expofed to all the calamities of civil 
 war. Aboul-Abdallah, being invited by thofe of 
 his faclion, entered fecretly into the capital, and 
 feized the quarter of Albaifim. This quarter, 
 fituated on one of the hills on which Grenada is 
 built, was detached from the reft of the city, 
 from which it was alfo feparated by lofty walls. 
 Zagal, alarmed at feeing his rival fo near, imme- 
 diately attempted to expel him from his pofuion. 
 The adherents of Aboul-Abdallah took arms in 
 his defence : the two faftions fought with all the 
 fury that civil difcord could infpire : every 
 itreet was a field of battle, and Grenada was 
 deluged with the blood of her unfortunate 
 citizens. The wifeft of the Moors, fore feeing 
 
 o 
 
 that this fatal conteft would prove the ruin of 
 their kingdom, conjured the oppofite fadions 
 to fufpend their anirnofities, and to unite againft 
 the common enemy. Zagal, fenfible of the 
 importance of this advice, offered to fhare the 
 throne with his nephew; but the latter breathed 
 nothing but vengeance, and refufed to hearken 
 to any propofals of accommodation. 
 
 Ferdinand profitted by the divifions which
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 reigned among the Moors. The flrong town of 
 Loja, or Loxa, from which he had once been 
 repulfed by Ali-Attar, furrendered by capitula- 
 tion, which permitted the inhabitants to retire 
 with their effecls. Lhora, Zagra, Balnea, and 
 ieveral other places, opened their gates on the 
 fame conditions. After thefe fucceiTes Ferdi- 
 nand ravaged the open country and then return- 
 ed to Cordova. 
 
 In the mean while, the civil war in the 
 Moorifh capital continued with unabated fury, 
 and exhibited a dreadful initance of the ambi- 
 lion of Princes, and the madnefb of nations. The 
 two Kings facrificed, without pity or remorfe, the 
 lives of their fubjefcls to their own love of power 
 and dominion. Zagal attempted to carry the 
 quarter of Albaifim by affault, but was repulfed 
 by the defperate valour of Abdallah and his 
 adherents. The latter Prince apprehenfive of 
 being overwhelmed by the efforts of his rival, 
 who held him clofely blockaded, implored the 
 rtid of Ferdinand, who, in order to keep up the 
 flame of civil war among the Moors, lent him 
 
 o 
 
 a body of troops, and a great quantity of war- 
 like (tores. 
 
 Ferdinand foon after began the fixth 
 
 A. 0.1487. 
 
 campaign ot the war at the head or an 
 in my of twelve thoufand cavalry and forty 
 tliuuidud infantry, He commenced the liege ot
 
 SPAIN. 297 
 
 Velez, made himfelf mailer of the fuburbs, and 
 began to batter the walls of the place with 
 his artillery. Zagal being determined to rifk 
 every thing for the relief of a place, the lofs of 
 \vhich would leave Malaga and feveral other 
 cities expofed to the enemy, difpatched Rufvan, 
 one of his generals, with a body of troops, and 
 followed foon after in perfon, with an army of 
 twenty thoufand infantry and a thoufand cavalry. 
 But he did not leave Grenada without the pre- 
 caution of placing a ilrong garrifon in the 
 Alharnbra, and reinforcing the troops which 
 blockaded theAlbaifim, left, in his abfence, his 
 nephew fhould make himfelf mailer of the city, 
 and feize on the throne. 
 
 The army of Zagal being inferior in number 
 to that of the Chriftians, he refolved to aft on 
 the defenfive, and, if pofiible, to throw fuccours 
 into Velez. He neglecled nothing to render his 
 camp impregnable : he made choice of a pofition 
 naturally llrong, and fortified it with intrench- 
 ments and batteries. But the ardour of the 
 Spaniards triumphed over all thcfc obflacles : 
 his intrenchments were forced ; and after a 
 defperate refiltance the Moors were obliged to 
 abandon their camp and lly with precipitation. 
 Zagal collccled the fcattered remains of his 
 army and retreated towards Grenada; but it 
 would be difficult to exprels his aftonifhment.
 
 298 HISTORY OF 
 
 grief, and indignation, when, on approaching fhe 
 gates of the capital, he learned that the people 
 had placed on the throne Aboul-Abdallah, his 
 nephew and rival. The inhabitants of Velez, 
 at the fame time, feeing no hope of relief, fur- 
 rendered on condition of liberty to retire with 
 their effefts ; and thofe of feveral other cities 
 followed their example. Malaga had not yet 
 experienced the calamities of the war ; but the 
 tempeft at laft approached that city, and Ferdi- 
 nand appeared before its walls. The inhabitants 
 confiding in their numbers, and the flrength of 
 their fortifications, prepared for a vigorous 
 defence, and for a long time fuftained the aflaults 
 of the befieoers. Famine at lad decided the 
 
 o 
 
 fate of that important city, which being obliged 
 to furrender at difcretion, was given up to the 
 plunder of the Chriftian foldiery. 
 
 The whole weftern part of the 
 kingdom of Grenada being fubdued, 
 Ferdinand turned his arms towards the eaft. 
 That part of the kingdom ftill remained faithful 
 to Zagal, and rejected the authority of Aboul- 
 Abdallah. The peftilence. during the fpace of 
 two years had defolatcd Andalufia, and for iome 
 time cramped the efforts of the Spaniards. But 
 Ferdinand, notwithflanding its ravages, took the 
 field and laid fiege to Vera. The inhabitants, 
 dreading the fate of Malaga, furrendered with-
 
 SPAIN, 
 
 much refinance, and their example was 
 followed by Velez-el-Blanco, Velez-el-Ruvio, 
 .and many other towns and fortreffes. 
 
 Zagal, in the mean while, prepared to arreft 
 the progrefs of the Chriftians. He levied an 
 army of above twenty thoufand men; but thefe 
 being chiefly raw and undifciplined troops, he 
 confined himfelf to defenfive operations. The 
 Chriftian army divided into feveral bodies, 
 carried fire and fword through the plains of 
 Almeira, and ravaged the fertile territory of 
 Baza. But that country being interfered by 
 numerous canals, their fcattered corps, intent 
 only on plunder, were furprifed by the Moors 
 and expofed to a terrible (laughter. Ferdinand, 
 feeing his forces greatly diminifhed by ficknefs 
 as well as the fword, retired into his own do- 
 minions; and Zagal, prorating by his retreat, 
 recovered many of the places which had recently 
 fubmitted to the Chriftians. 
 
 Ferdinand, in the mean while, grew every 
 
 day mor^' defirous of completing the deftruclion 
 
 of the Mahommedan empire in Spain, and 
 
 employed the winter in making formidable pre- 
 
 parations for the campaign. At Cordova he 
 
 reviewed his army, which confifled 
 
 of twelve thoufand cavalry and fifty 
 
 thoufand infantry, and if to thefe be added the 
 
 numerous garrifons left in the captured cities 
 
 2 P 2
 
 300 HISTORY OF 
 
 and fortreffes, the armed force of Spain muft 
 have greatly exceeded a hundred thoufand 
 men. Ferdinand opened the campaign with the 
 fiege of Baza, one of the largeft and ftrongeft 
 cities in the kingdom of Grenada. That place 
 was extremely well fortified, and amply provided 
 \vith arms, artillery, ammunition, and provifions : 
 the garrifon was numerous : the inhabitants were 
 trained to arms ; and nothing, in fine, was neg- 
 lecled that could tend to render it impregnable. 
 On the approach of the Chriftians, the Moors, 
 in different bodies, advanced into the plain and 
 attacked their advanced corps while entangled 
 among the numerous canals. In this fituation 
 the Chriftians were unable to defend themfelves, 
 and fuffered confiderable lofs; but Ferdinand 
 advancing with the main body of his army, 
 the Moors were repulfed and purfued to the 
 walls. The fiege was immediately commenced, 
 and carried on with vigour : the operations 
 were exceedingly bloody : every day the Moors 
 made vigorous forties; and the attacks and 
 repulfes were almoft inceflant. The ftrength of 
 the fortifications, the courage of their defenders, 
 and the contagious maladies which thinned the 
 camp of the befiegers, excited in the mind of 
 Ferdinand fome doubts concerning the re full of 
 this difficult and murderous fiege. Some of his 
 principal commanders even advifed him to defiil
 
 SPAIN. 301 
 
 from the enterprife, requefting him to confider 
 that if he remained before Baza till the winter 
 fet in, the fwelling of the rivers by the rains 
 might render his retreat impracticable, and 
 occafion the lofs of his army. Ferdinand felt 
 all the force of this reafoning; but forefeeing 
 the ill confequences of a failure, he determined 
 to pufli the fiege with redoubled vigour. In 
 order to reprefs the forties of the befieged, he 
 caufed a wall to be built, and a deep ditch to be 
 dug quite round the city. The foldiers and the 
 prifoners, with inceflant labour, pufhed forward 
 this important work ; and nine redoubts were 
 conftruBed at regular diftances. The artillery 
 thundered inceflantly on the city : and the 
 Marquis of Cadiz, who had the direction of the 
 batteries, endeavoured to fecond the ardour of 
 his fovereign ; and after a moft murderous fiege 
 A. 0.1489, f feven months Baza furrendered 
 Dec. 7. by an honourable capitulation. 
 
 The capture of this important city was follow- 
 ed by the fubmiflion of feveral others in the 
 vicinity; and the good fortune of Ferdinand now 
 began to reward, in a remarkable manner, his 
 military toils. Zagal, defpairing of being able 
 to preferve the places that ftill remained in his 
 pofleflion, chofe rather to furrender them to the 
 Spanifli monarch than to his nephew Aboul- 
 Abdallah, who reigned in Grenada. He repair-
 
 302 HISTORY OF 
 
 eel to Ferdinand, to whom he refigned Almcira, 
 Guadix, and all the other towns and fortreffes 
 in his pofFeflion. The Chriflian monarch re- 
 ceived him with the honours due to his rank, 
 and foftened his misfortunes by afligning him an 
 ample eftate in lands for his fubfiftence.* After 
 the clofe of this fuccefsful campaign, Ferdinand 
 reviewed his army, and found that his lofs 
 amounted to twenty thoufand men, of whom 
 the greatefl part had perifhed by ficknefs and 
 
 hardfhips. The whole kingdom of 
 A. D. 1490. 
 
 Grenada was now reduced except the 
 capital, and afmall furroundingterritory. Aboul- 
 Abdallah, when liberated three years before by 
 Ferdinand, had engaged to deliver Grenada to 
 that Prince, when the reft of the kingdom 
 fhould be conquered. The Spanifh monarch 
 therefore fent an ambaflador to. urge the fulfil- 
 ment of the treaty. Abdallah, before he returned 
 an anfwer to the fummons, affembled the prin- 
 cipal lawyers, military commanders, and citi- 
 zens, and without mentioning the treaty, which 
 he had always kept fecret, acquainted them with 
 the demand of Ferdinand. After deploring the 
 calamities caufed by their fatal divifions, he 
 concluded his harangue by reminding them that 
 
 * By the pcrmiffion of Ferdinand, Zagal afterwards retired into Africa, 
 Cardorme, vol. 3. p, 310.
 
 ho alternative remained but cither to fubmit to 
 the law of the conqueror, or to bury themfelves 
 under the ruins of the city. The whole aflem- 
 bly, without a (ingle diflentient voice, declared 
 themfelves ready to die with their arms in their 
 hands rather than fink into fervitude; and from 
 that moment nothing was thought of but a vigor- 
 ous defence. The Moorifh King, in prolonging 
 the conteft, was probably deftitute of hope ; and 
 his anfwer to Ferdinand revealed his true fitua- 
 tion. He acknowledged his obligations and 
 
 D O 
 
 engagements to that Prince, but declared that 
 he was not matter of his own capital, and that 
 on the lead intimation of the treaty, the indigna- 
 tion of his fubjects would be fatal to his life. 
 
 Grenada occupies a flrong and pleafant fitua- 
 tion on the banks of the Xenil and the Darro. 
 The city is feated on two hills, which flope on 
 the weflern fide into a vaft and fertile plain. 
 Between the two hills runs the Darro, a fmall 
 river, which, after traverfing the city, falls into 
 the Xenil. Grenada was at that time furrounded 
 by a double range of walls, which being ftrength- 
 ened by a thoufand and thirty towers, placed 
 at regular diftances, prefented on every fide a 
 formidable front. That fide of the city which 
 faced the plain, being the mod expofed to attack 
 difplayed a tremendous mafs of fortifications 
 and batteries. Two citadels, fituated on the
 
 304 HISTORY OF 
 
 two hills, contributed greatly to its defences 
 The largeft of thefe, which was named the 
 Alhambra, contained the palace of the Moorifli 
 Kings, and was fo extenfive that it had of itfelf 
 the appearance of a city. The other, called the 
 Albaifim, was inclofed by a wail which feparated 
 it from the reft of the place. While Grenada was 
 inthezenithofitsprofperity,itis,by fome writers, 
 {aid to have contained four hundred thoufand 
 inhabitants. This, however, appears to be an 
 exaggerated eftimate, as the population of Cor- 
 dova, when that city was the capital of the 
 Oinmiades, is not reprcfented as ever exceeding 
 that number. As Grenada was the laft refuge 
 of the Moors, the continual influx of thofe who 
 withdrew from the cities and provinces of Spain, 
 which fuccetfively fell under the domination 
 of the Chriftians, mult, indeed, have rendered 
 that capital extremely populous; but many 
 years of civil and foreign war had thinned its 
 crowded ftrects ; and it is probable that the 
 whole maf's of its inhabitants could fcarcely 
 amount to more than a hundred thoufand when 
 they were left to contend againft the formidable 
 power of the Chriftians. 
 
 May 9. Such was the flate of Grenada 
 
 91t when Ferdinand appeared before its 
 lN, in the ninth year after the commencement 
 the war. His ardour to plant the ftandard
 
 SPAIN. 305 
 
 of Chrift on its towers was feconded by that of 
 his confort, and was communicated to their 
 fubje&s. Near fevemy thoufand veteran troops 
 marched under the banners of Ferdinand, and 
 were animated by the prefence of Ifabella. The 
 flates of Caftile and Arragon voted ample fup- 
 plies : the principal cities contributed with 
 alacrity to the glorious enterprife; and their 
 patriotic liberality was emulated by the clergy, 
 defirous of fignalizing their zeal in a caufe con- 
 fecrated by religion. 
 
 Ferdinand, however, forefaw that a city of fo 
 great ftrength, with an army entire for its garri- 
 fon,. might long refift the efforts of his arms, and 
 conceived that famine would be the mod 
 effectual means of reducing the Moors to fub- 
 miflion. He commenced his operations by burn- 
 ing the crops on the ground, deftroying the 
 vines, olives, and fruit trees, and converting the 
 delightful and fertile environs of the city into a 
 barren defert. Parties of Moors appeared in 
 the plain and attempted to oppofe the ravages 
 of the Chriftians ; but they were conftantly re- 
 pulfed and compelled to retreat to the city. 
 After thefe deftruclive operations, Ferdinand 
 commenced a more regular mode of attack. He 
 ereBed a number of batteries, which kept up an 
 incefTant fire on the city. The Moors made 
 defperate forties, and almoft daily attacked the 
 
 VOL. U 2
 
 306 HISTORY OF 
 
 lines of the befiegers ; but they were always 
 driven back with a dreadful carnage. Con- 
 vinced at laft of the inefficacy of their impetuous 
 ardour, they Hill flattered themfelves that the 
 approach of winter would compel the Chriftians 
 to raife the fiege. But the meafures of Ferdinand 
 foon deprived them of this hope. In order to 
 flielter his troops from the inclemencies of the 
 weather, he commanded a number of huts to be 
 haftily conftrufted of mud and done, covered 
 with tile, and ranged in regular flreets like a 
 town. The work was carried forward with 
 indefatigable ardour; and the camp was fud- 
 denly changed into a city, inclofed with ramparts 
 and ditches. The piety of the founders gave to 
 this new city the name of Santa Fe, or Holy 
 Faith ; and its expeditious conftruclion as well 
 as the greatnefs of the work demonftrated to the 
 citizens of Grenada the refolution and perfe- 
 verance of the befiegers. 
 
 The city, in the mean while, fufFered all the 
 miferies of a moft horrible famine. AlTailed by 
 the fword, and exafperated by hunger, the 
 inhabitants abandoned themfelves to the vio- 
 lence of defp.air. Affembling in tumultuous 
 crowd?, they furrounded the Alhambra, menaced 
 the life of their Ibveieio-n and loaded him with 
 
 O * 
 
 execrations as the author of all their calamities. 
 As all provifions of every kind were exhaufted.
 
 SPAIN. 307 
 
 and no hope remained of alleviating the famine 
 which reigned in the city, and threatened the 
 total deftrudion of the people, it was refolved 
 to make propofals for a furrender. The rigor- 
 ous feafon of the year, and the joy of Ferdinand 
 on the attainment of the objeQ, of his ambi- 
 tion, the reward of more than nine years o 
 military toil, induced that Prince to grant an. 
 honourable capitulation. The principal articles 
 were, that the city of Grenada, with its forts, 
 mould be delivered up to the troops of Ferdinand 
 and Ifabella; that the Moors mould fwear alle- 
 giance to them and their fuccefibrs as their 
 lawful fovereigns : that all the Chriftian flaves 
 fliould be liberated without ranfom : that the 
 Mahommedans fhould profefs their religion with- 
 out any reftraint, and retain their mofques, with 
 the revenues attached to thofe religious founda- 
 tions : that juftice mould be adminiftered to 
 them by judges of their own nation, but nomi- 
 nated by the King : that in confideration of their 
 lofTes by the war, the Moors mould be exempt 
 from all impofts during the fpace of three years: 
 that after the expiration of that term they 
 fhould pay the fame taxes as they had paid to 
 their native Princes; and that thofe who might 
 chufe to retire into Africa fhould have permiffion 
 to depart with their effects, and be conveyed 
 thither in veffels furnifhed by Spain, 
 
 202
 
 308 HISTORY OF 
 
 The treaty being concluded, the firft care of 
 Ferdinand was to provide for the immediate 
 wants of his new fubje&s; and no fooner were 
 the hoftages delivered for its due fulfilment, than 
 plenty was poured into the famifhed city. On 
 the 2d of January, A. D. 1492, Ferdinand and 
 Ifabella made their triumphal entry into the city 
 of Grenada, which had, during a fiege of eight 
 months, refifted the efforts of their arms. As 
 they proceeded towards the Alhambra they 
 were met by Aboul-Abdallah, attended by a 
 fmall party of horfe. The Moorifh King, alight- 
 ing from his couifer, with a forrowful heart 
 delivered to Ferdinand the keys of the Alham- 
 bra, and of all the other fort re fie s belonging to 
 the city. Ferdinand received the vanquifhed 
 monarch with kindnefs, allured him of a fafe 
 retreat, and affigned him an income fuitable to 
 his dignity.* In his journey to the place allotted 
 for his refidence, Aboul-Abdallah, on arriving 
 at the heights near Padul, took, from a lofty 
 eminence, his laft view of Grenada. On con- 
 templating that great city, and the magnificent 
 palace of the Alhambra glittering at a diftance, 
 the recollection of his fallen fortune rufhed 
 
 * Abdallah, fome time afterwards, obtained pcrnnflion from Ferdi- 
 i.and to retire into Africa, and fixed his refidencc at Fez. Cardonnc 3 
 
 vol. 3, p. 320.
 
 SPAIN. 309 
 
 upon his mind : he burft into tears, exclaiming 
 in theanguifh of his heart, 6C O GodOmnipotem!" 
 The excefs of his grief put a Hop to his utter- 
 ance; but his complaints were reproved by the 
 indignant reply of the Sultanefs, his mother : 
 "Thou doft well to weep like a woman for that 
 "kingdom which thou hadfl not the refoluiion 
 <f to die for like a man." 
 
 The inmoft receffes and beauties of the 
 Alhambra were thrown open to the eyes of 
 Ferdinand ; and if the moment of fuccefs could 
 admit of admonition, the fight of the gate of 
 judgment, and the frequent infcription on the 
 walls, "There is no conqueror but God," might 
 have checked the infolence of profperity, and 
 have called the ChrHlian monarch and his cour- 
 tiers to ferious reflections on the instability of 
 human grandeur, while they furveyed thofe 
 wonders which have refitted the hand of time, 
 and to this day excite the admiration of travel- 
 lers.* 
 
 * The Alhambra is yet almofl entire. It covers a vafl extent of 
 ground, andconfifls of an irregular mafs of buildings in a (Hie of archi- 
 tecture totally different both from the Grecian and Gothic. The 
 ceilings and walls of the apartments are incrufted with flucco and mof;nc, 
 und embellifhed with painting and gilding in the ncheft prohifion. The 
 courts, colonadcs, fountains, baths, &c. aflonifh the fpcctator. The 
 profpefls from the balconies arc cxtenfivc and inexpreffibly fine.
 
 HISTORY 01 
 
 CHAP. XI. 
 
 Inflections on the conqueft of Grenada. Expulfion of the Jews frorr-. 
 Spain. Difeovery of America. Circumftances which led to that 
 event. Columbus is ill treated by Ferdinand. Small account made 
 of the difcovery of the new world. Ferdinand aflifts the King of 
 Naples in expelling the French. Political flate of Caftile. Of 
 Arragon. Ferdinand deprefles the nobles and extends the royal pre- 
 
 ro<?ative. Obtains the title of Catholic. His domeftic misfortune:, 
 
 o 
 
 Rebellion of the Moors. Ferdinand obtains pofTeffion of Naples. 
 Wars between Spam and France. Death of Ifabella. Her cha- 
 racter. Intrigues of Ferdinand. Conduft of Cardinal Ximenes. - 
 League of Cambray. Ferdinand feizes Navarre. Makes great pre- 
 parations for a war with France. Death of Ferdinand. Hischaracler. 
 Efiefts of his reign. 
 
 THOSE who delight in florid declamations 
 againft the ambition of Kings, \vill readily afcribe 
 to the prevalence of that pafiion in the breaft of 
 Ferdinand, the fanguinary war which terminated 
 in the conqueft of Grenada. But the attentive 
 obferver will readily perceive that not only 
 ambition but the foundeft policy fuggeiled the 
 entcrprife. The expulfion of the Moors had, 
 for ages, been the grand object of the rnonarchs 
 of Caftile ; and on the acccflion of Ferdinand, 
 the ftates of the kingdom had impofed on him
 
 SPAIN. 311 
 
 the obligation of making the attempt. He 
 fortunately fucceeded, and a hoflile power was 
 extirpated which, fo long as it exifted in Spain, 
 mult ever have difturbed her peace and impeded 
 her profperity. But if the redu&ion of the 
 Moors was a meafure of public utility, the expul- 
 fion of the Jews, which immediately followed, 
 v/as equally unjuft, tyrannical, and impolitic ; 
 equally injurious to that people, and to the 
 interefts of Spain. It has already been obferv- 
 ed thai from an early period great numbers of 
 Jews nad been fettled in that country. They 
 had fuffered grevious perfecutions under the 
 Gothic monarchs. At length the oppreffions 
 under which they laboured impelled them to 
 favour the views of the Arabian invaders, who 
 to the fecret or open aid of the Jews were in no 
 fmall degree indebted for their fuccefs. Policy 
 and gratitude induced the conquerors to con- 
 tinue their liberal treatment of this outcaft nation, 
 \vhich had been fo much perfecutcd by the Kings 
 and fynods of Spain. The change of their con- 
 dition was the pledge of the fidelity of the Jews ; 
 and the alliance between the difciples of Mofes 
 and Mahommed was maintained till the final xra 
 of their common expulfion. In the fifteenth 
 century the human mind was ftill darkened by- 
 religious prejudice; and Ferdinand, who by 
 folemn treaty had bound himfelf to protect the
 
 312 HISTORY OF 
 
 Moors, began a cruel perfecution of the Jews i 
 the only alternative allowed to that unfortunate 
 people was that of embracing the Chriftian 
 religion or quitting his dominions. Six months 
 
 were allowed for their final decifion. Their 
 attachment to the law of Mofes was fuperior to 
 
 every other confideration : mod of the Jews 
 tranfported themfelves to Africa with the effecls 
 they could conceal from the vigilance of their 
 opprcflbrs ; and their expulfion was an ad- 
 ditional blow to the population and induftry of 
 Spain. 
 
 The evils under which the peninfula, during 
 a feries of ages had groaned, feemed to be com- 
 penfated by an event not lefs extraordinary than 
 important to Europe. The difcovery of the mari- 
 ners' compafs in thebeginningof the i4th century 
 marked a new aera in the hiftory of navigation, 
 and eventually produced a great revolution in 
 commerce. No fooner had this grand difcovery 
 been made, than the Portuguefc and Spaniards 
 were among the fir ft to avail themfelves of the 
 advantages which it afforded ; and abandoning 
 the ancient mode of confining their timid courfe 
 to the fhores launched boldly into the ocean. 
 The enterprifmg fpirit of the Spaniards had led 
 them to the Canaries,* or Fortunate Iflands ; and 
 
 * The Canaries had been difcovercd by the Carthagenians. Plin. Hifl . 
 it, lib, 6. cap. 37, but the knowledge of them was afterwards loft.
 
 SPAIN. 313 
 
 the Portugucfe confined by land within narrow- 
 limits, which circumfcribed their fphere of 
 activity and enterprife on the continent, con- 
 (idered the ocean as a new theatre of adventure. 
 The comprehenfive genius and extenfive views 
 of Prince Henry, fon of John I. flimulated and 
 directed their ardour. Under his aufpices the 
 Portuguefe outftripped all other nations in geo- 
 graphical and nautical fcience. The fpirit ot 
 maritime adventure and difcovery received a 
 check by his death ; but it foon revived with re- 
 newed ardour. During the fifteenth century, 
 the Portuguefe, in fuccefTive voyages, had ex- 
 plored all the vveRern coaft of Africa. In the 
 reign of John II. and the year 1486 of the 
 Chriftian cera, Bartholomew Diaz, after en- 
 countering a fticceffion of terrible dorms, in un- 
 known leas, favv his labours and perfeverance 
 crowned by a view of the lofty promontory 
 which forms the fouthernmofl extremity of that 
 continent. But the tempeftuous winds, the 
 mountainous waves, the {nattered condition of 
 his (hips, and the turbulent fpirit of his crew, 
 prevented his farther progrefs. The Portuguefe 
 called the promontory Cabo Tormentofo, or the 
 Stormy Cape, a name expreffive of the boifterous 
 elements, which forbade their nearer approach ; 
 but the difcernment of their fovereign changed 
 it to that of Cabo del Eiperanza, or the Cape 
 
 VOL. I. 2 R
 
 314 HISTORY OF 
 
 of Good Hope, the aufpicious omen of future 
 fuccefs.* 
 
 The Portuguefe had been hitherto entitled 
 to the chief glory of exploring the un- 
 known fhores of the ocean, and of opening n 
 new field to human enterprife. But a new and 
 extraordinary character, whofe vaft and fertile 
 genius mud ever command the admiration of 
 poflerity, turned the fcare of maritime renown 
 in favour of Spain. Chriftopher Columbus, a 
 native of Genoa, had acquired a high reputation 
 for nautical fkill. For fome years his ad- 
 venturous (pint had been confined within the 
 limits of the Mediterranean, or exercifed in 
 voyages to the coafts of Iceland : his courage 
 had been difplayed in various cruifes againft the 
 Mahommedans and the Venetians: in an obftinate 
 engagement with the latter, the fhip on board 
 which he ferved, taking fire, he owed his life to 
 his admirable prefence of mind and his extraor- 
 dinary dexterity. Although at the diftance of 
 
 ' J O 
 
 almoft fix miles from land he threw himfelf into 
 the fca, and, with the affiftance of an oar, reached 
 the fhore with fafcty.t Soon after this extraor- 
 dinary efcape. he repaired to Lifbon, and en- 
 gaged in the ieivice of Portugal, the grand 
 
 * The Ponuguefc, under Vafco di Gama, firft doubled the Cape, 
 A. I). 149-7. 
 
 \ Life of Columbus bv his fon Ferdinand, cap. .5.
 
 SPAIN. 315 
 
 Ichooi of nautical entcrprife. His marriage with 
 a Portuguefe lady, the daughter of Bartholomew 
 Pcreftrallo, one of the captains who had dif- 
 covcred the iflands of Porto Santo and Madeira, 
 put him in poflelfion of the charts of that cele- 
 brated navigator. This circurnftance contributed 
 to flimulate the ardour of Columbus in his 
 purfuit of nautical renown : he compared, at- 
 tentively, the obfervations of modern geographers 
 and mariners, with the conjectures of the 
 ancients; and his vigorousand inveftigating mind 
 revolved new fchemes of difcovery. 
 
 The fpherical figure of the earth had long been 
 known, and its magnitude was afcertained with 
 a tolerable degree of accuracy. But geographical 
 fcience was yet in its infancy ; and the fituation 
 and extent of thofe parts of the globe that were 
 aidant from Europe 'were very imperfectly 
 known. This was particularly the cafe refpecl- 
 ing the oriental regions of Afia, which, in the 
 European maps, were reprefented as extending 
 towards the eaft many degrees beyond their real 
 limits.* This geographical error induced 
 
 * Marinus Tyrius had fuppofcd the long, of the weftern frontier of 
 China to be 225 dcg. to the eaft of the Canary Iflands. Ptolemy 
 oiminifhcd the diftance to 173 deg. Gcoqr. lib. i. cap. n. The 
 long, given by Ptolemy, however, was flill 60 deg. too far to the eaft ; 
 and the Travels of Marco Polo, in the 131?! century, who wanted cither 
 the rcquifite (kill or the neccirary inftruments for making adiononucal 
 obfervations, feemcd to confirm the errors of the ancients. 
 
 2 R 2
 
 316 HISTORY OF 
 
 Columbus to form the adventurous project of 
 failing by a wefterly courfe tolndia 5 the poflibility 
 of which had been eighteen centuries before 
 fuppofed by Ariftotle, whofe opinion had re- 
 ceived the decided fupport of the philofopher 
 Seneca.* The geography of Ptolemy, which 
 had not been retifre<i by fubiequent informa- 
 tion, encouraged the attempt in diminifhing, 
 by fixty degrees, the diftance between Europe 
 and the oriental regions of Afia ; and the map, 
 in the palace of the Doge of Venice, which 
 is fuppofed to have been conftrucled to illuftrate 
 the travels of Marco Polo, and is evidently an- 
 terior to the difcovcry of America, was cal- 
 culated to keep up the dclufion.t Theie mif- 
 takes, however, led Columbus to an attempt 
 from which refulted the difcovery of a new con- 
 tinent, and a revolution in the commerce of the 
 whole world, an event which has already pro- 
 duced, and which mod certainly will yet produce, 
 other revolutions incalculable in their magni- 
 tude, importance, and effecls. 
 
 Columbus had no fooner conceived the defign 
 than he was impatient for its execution. With 
 his enterprifing genius and dauntlefs courage, 
 fpcculation led immediately to aclion ; and he 
 
 Ariftotle tie Ccelo, lib. 2. cap. 14. Scnce. Quaeft. Nat. lib. i. 
 lit Pr'.c.m. 
 
 i Vide Dr. Vincent Periplusofthe Erythrean Sea, part 2.
 
 srAix. 31? 
 
 was defirous of bringing the truth of his theory 
 to the left of experiment. But the low ftate of 
 his finances rendered it neccfTary to procure 
 fome powerful patronage to his plans. Defirous 
 that his native country fliould reap the fruits of 
 his enterprifmg labours, he made the fir ft offer 
 of his fervices to the republic of Genoa ; but his 
 project was rejected as chimerical. His reliance 
 was now chiefly on Portugal, where his talents 
 flood high in the public eftimation, and the 
 reigning monarch, John II. was the great patron 
 and promoter of nautical difcovery. But the 
 King unfortunately referred the affair to a 
 council, which had advifed the purfuit of the 
 voyage to India by doubling the fouthernmoft 
 promontory of Africa. The members of this 
 board of navigation could not fubmit to con- 
 demn their own theory; but they endeavoured, 
 clandeflinely, to profit by the ideas of Columbus, 
 and to arrogate to themfelves the glory that 
 might refult from his projecl. While they pro- 
 traded their deliberations on the affair, they 
 advifed the King to difpatch, fecretly, a veflel 
 on the courfe which he had pointed out; but 
 the ungenerous attempt met with a deferved 
 difappointment : the pilot, after having been a 
 long time at fea without difcovering any land, 
 returned to Lifbon, and reprefcnted the under-
 
 318 HISTORY OF 
 
 taking as equally extravagant and dangerous 
 Columbus, indignant at this treachery, inftantly 
 quitted the court of Portugal, and refolved to 
 make application to the Kings of England and 
 Spain. Henry VII. who then fwayed the Englifh 
 iceptre, was too cautious and too avaricious to 
 incur any expence in promoting an enterprife 
 which appeared fo romantic, and of which the 
 advantages were diftant and uncertain. Ferdi- 
 nand, King of Spain, was guided by the fame 
 narrow policy. Columbus having difpatched 
 his brother Bartholomew to London, repaired to 
 Spain at the time when Ferdinand and Ifabella 
 were engaged in the war with Grenada. The 
 monarchs of England and Spain rejected the 
 propofal as the fcheme of a chimerical pro- 
 ieftor. After many felicitations and much wafte 
 
 J *" 
 
 of time, Columbus, difguiled at the cold re- 
 ception he had met with from Ferdinand, and 
 ignorant of the ill fuccefs of his brother's applica- 
 tion to Henry, refolved on a journey to London, 
 and had already left Santa Fe, when he was over- 
 nken by a mcffenger from Ifabella, who invited 
 him to return. 
 
 This promiiin'; change, which gave the firft 
 dawn of hope t:> Columbus, was effeded by the 
 favourable rcprefentations of Juan Perez, guar- 
 uiun of the monaftcry of Rabida, who had
 
 SPAIX. 319 
 
 thoroughly examined his theory, and demon- 
 flrated to Ifabella the importance of the proje6h 
 His exertions were vigoroufly fecondcd by two 
 powerful and enlightened patrons, Don Alonfo 
 de Quintanilla, comptroller of the finances in 
 Caflile, and Louis de Santangel, receiver of the 
 ecclefiaftical revenues in Arragon. The fuccefs- 
 ful termination of the war with Grenada having 
 left the court of Callile at leifure to engage in 
 new undertakings, thefe two minifters painted, 
 in glowing colours, to the fanguine and enter- 
 prifing Ifabella, the glory that might accrue from 
 the difcovery of new regions in which Chrif- 
 tianity might be eftablifhed; reprefenting, that 
 if (he did not immediately clofe with the propo- 
 fals of Columbus, lome other Prince, more 
 fortunate or more adventurous, would patro- 
 nife his undertakings, and Spain would for ever 
 lament the fatal timidity which had excluded 
 her from the honours and advantages which 
 Providence had once put it into her power to 
 enjoy. Ifabella readily adopted thofe fenti- 
 ments, and in confideration of the low ftate of 
 the royal finances, generoufly offered to pledge 
 her own jewels in order to raife the money 
 which might be required for carrying the project 
 into execution. Santangel, however, prevented 
 her from having recourfe to this mortifying 
 expedient, by advancing the fum that was
 
 320 HISTORY OF 
 
 requifite for the undertaking.* The whole of 
 the expence did not exceed four thoufand 
 pounds fterling : one eighth part was defrayed 
 by Columbus himfelf, in confideration of which 
 lie was entitled to one eighth of the profits : 
 Ifabella furnifhed the reft. A treaty was con- 
 cluded, by which it was agreed that Columbus 
 fhould be conftituted Viceroy of all the countries 
 which he might difcover, and High Admiral in 
 all the adjacent feas, and that thefe offices fhould 
 be hereditary in his family? together wit h the 
 tenths of the clear profits arifing from the produc- 
 tions and commerce of all thofe new territories. 
 Ferdinand joined with Ifabella in the contract, 
 but refufed to take any part in fitting out the 
 expedition. 
 
 Thus, after eight years of tedious felicitation 
 in Spain and the other countries of Europe, 
 Columbus at length faw himfelf enabled to make 
 
 O 
 
 the grand experiment on which he hoped to lay 
 the foundation of his fortune and his fame. 
 About eight months after the conqueft of 
 Grenada he failed from Palos, in Andalufia, with 
 three fmall veffels and ninety men, to traverfe 
 
 * Hcrrera, Dec i. lib. i.e. 8. The difficulty of raifing Co trifling 
 a fum may, in modern times, feem aflonifhing ; but if we confider the 
 Icarcity of mrney in Europe, and particularly in Spain, from the period 
 cf the fubverfion of the Roman empire until the opening of the Ameri- 
 can mines, four thoufand pounds \vas, in that age, a very con fid era We
 
 SPAIN. 321 
 
 a vaft and unexplored ocean, in fearch of a new 
 world in the weftern hemifphere. Before their 
 departure, Columbus, and all his fellow adven- 
 turers, marched in folemn proceflfion to the 
 monaftery of Rabida, where they confeffed their 
 fins and received the holy facrament ; and the 
 next morning, Auguft 3, 1492, he fet fail in 
 prefence of a numerous crowd of fpetlators, 
 who fuplicated heaven for the profperous iffue 
 of the voyage, an event, however, which they 
 rather wilhed than expecied. 
 
 On the igth Auguft the fquadron arrived at 
 the Canary Iflands, from whence, after having 
 repaired fome defcfts in his veffels, and laid in 
 a frefh ftock of provifions, he took his departure 
 on the 6th September. After having fleered 
 with a fteady gale till the id of Oclober, the 
 fquadron had proceeded 770 leagues to the weft, 
 of the Canaries: Columbus, however,apprehend- 
 ing that his men would be intimidated by the 
 prodigious length of the navigation, concealed 
 from them nearly two hundred leagues of that 
 diftance, and fortunately none of the pilots were 
 fufficiemly ikilful to difcover the deception. But 
 after being fo long at fea, and conftantly difap- 
 pointed in their hopes of difcovering land, they 
 began to regard themfelves as engaged in profe- 
 cuting a chimerical fchcme, and following a 
 dcfperate adventurer to certain deftruclion* 
 voi . i. 2 s
 
 322 HISTORY OF 
 
 Their apprehenfions excited a fpirit ofmu'tinv/ 
 among the Crews of the different {hips. It was 
 unanimoufly agreed that Columbus fhould be 
 compelled to defift from the further pro{'ecution 
 of the hopelefs enterprife, and to direcl his 
 courfe back to Europe as the only meafure that 
 could prevent their deftruQiofi. Some of them 
 even propofed to throw him overboard, as the 
 molt certain and expeditious mode of proceed- 
 ing. Columbus exhaufled all his arts of per- 
 fuafion to calm their fears and raife their expec- 
 tations. By the force of his arguments he pre- 
 vailed on them to continue the voyage fometime 
 longer; but after holding on their courfe 
 feveral days, with no better fuccefs, their hopes 
 gave way to defpair and impatience. The 
 officers, who had hitherto adhered to the opinions 
 of Columbus and fupported his authority, now 
 took part with the Jailors. They afFembled 
 tumultuoufly on the quarter deck, expoflulated 
 with the commander, and with menaces required 
 him inftantly to tack about and fleer back for 
 Spain. Columbus, perceiving that it would be 
 of no avail to have recourfe to his former arts 
 and arguments, hit upon another expedient; 
 he iolemnly prornifed that if they would perfe- 
 vere only three days longer, in cafe that land 
 Ihould not, \vithin that time, be difcovered, he 
 would inftantly abandon the enterprife and
 
 SPAIN. 523 
 
 vet urn to Europe. The officers and Tailors, * 
 potwithftanding their rage and impatience, 
 accepted the propofal, which Columbus had not 
 made without due confideration. The prefages 
 of discovering land were fo numerous that he 
 deemed them infallible. The foil brought up 
 by the founding line, the appearance of land 
 birds, the branch of a tree with frefh berries, 
 taken up by one of the (hips,the appearance of the 
 clouds round the fetting fun, the mildnefs of the 
 air, and the variablenefs of the winds, all con- 
 curred to convince him that land was at no great 
 diftance. His expectations were foon realized. 
 On the i2th Oclober land was difcovered. Te 
 Deum was inftantly fung on board of all the 
 {hips in folcmn thankfgiving to the Almighty. 
 And the crews, throwing themfelves at the feet 
 of their commander, implored his pardon for 
 the trouble which they had given him through 
 their incredulity and ignorance. 
 
 The land which Columbus had difcovered 
 was one of the Bahama iflands. On the fame 
 day he took poffcffion of the country for the 
 crown of Caftile ; but from the poverty of the 
 inhabitants he foon perceived that thefe were not 
 the opulent regions of which he was in fearch. 
 In order to purfue his objeft, he again put to fea, 
 and difcovered the iflands of Cuba and Hayti, 
 the latter of which has iince been known by the 
 2 s 2
 
 324 HISTORY OF 
 
 names of Hifpaniola and St. Domingo, and has 
 now, under a Negro government, refumed its 
 original name. As Hayti appeared to abound 
 more with gold than any of the other iflands, 
 he ereded a fort on its mores and eftablifhed 
 the firft Spanifh colony in the new world. 
 
 Columbus, after providing for the fafety of 
 his infant colony, fet fail for Spain. Before he 
 reached the Azores he was aflailed by fo tremen- 
 dous a hurricane that no hope of fafety appear- 
 ed to be left. In this critical and perilous 
 fituation the perplexity of Columbus may be 
 eafily imagined. Ail fenfe of his pcrfonal danger 
 was loft amidft confiderations which he deemed 
 of infinitely greater importance than his own 
 prefervation. The heart -rending refledion that 
 all knowledge of his difcoveries would perifh, 
 and his rame be only remembered as that of a 
 chimerical projector, tortured his mind with a 
 peculiar degree of anxiety. At this momentous 
 crifis, in which his fame as well as his fate was 
 involved, he aBcd with that fagacity and 
 prefence of mind which fo eminently diftinguifh- 
 ed his character. Retiring to his cabin, he 
 \vrote upon parchement a brief account of his 
 voyage, of the fituation and riches of the 
 countries which he had difcovered, and of the 
 colony that he had left. Having fcalcd up this 
 writing he addrefled it to Ferdinand and Ifabclla,
 
 SPAIN. 325 
 
 annexing, in their name.-;, a promife of a thou- 
 iand ducats to any pcrfon by whom it mould be 
 delivered. He then wrapped it up in an oit-cloih 
 and inclofed it in a cake of wax, and having 
 put it in a cafk, clofely (topped, threw it into 
 the lea, hoping that fome fortunate accident 
 might preferve this memorial of his dif- 
 coveries.* 
 
 Providence, however, interpofed: the tempeft 
 cealedj and after touching at the Azores Colurn- 
 bus continued his voyage. But on approaching 
 the coaft of Spain, he was attacked by another 
 violent ftorm, which obliged him to take fhelter 
 in the Tagus. At length, after a fingular train 
 of adveiuures and perils, he arrived at Palos on 
 the i5th of March, J493? feven months and 
 eleven days after his felting fail from that port 
 on his ever memorable expedition. He landed 
 amidft. the congratulations and plaudits of the 
 people, who accompanied him and his crew 
 to the church, to return thanks to heaven, which 
 had crowned with fucceis an entcrprife unparal- 
 leled in the annals of part ages. The court was 
 then at Barcelona : and Ferdinand and Ifabelia 
 
 * Vide Life of Columbus, Herreraand Rohertfon's Hifl. Amcr. vol. 
 j.p. 117, and note 16. "Warned by this danger, Columbus prepared 
 another document of the fame kind, which he incloied in the fame 
 jnanner in a c.ifk attached to the poop of the veflel, in order toprclervc 
 the memory of his difcoveries in cafe that lie and his crcwfhoukl perifh. 
 Vide Dr. Robertfon's Hift. Amcr. vol. i. note 16.
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 were no {boner apprized of his arrival than they 
 were impatient to hear, from his own mouth, a 
 detail of his adventures and difcoveries. Colum- 
 bus received, in terms the moft refpeclful and 
 flattering, an invitation to court; andduringhis 
 journey through Spain the people every where 
 crowded from the adjacent country, exprefling 
 their admiration and applaufe. His entrance 
 into Barcelona was, by the order of the fove- 
 reigns, conducted with a folemnity fuitable to fo 
 extraordinary an event. The people, whom he 
 had brought from the newly difcovered coun- 
 tries, marched firft, and by their fingular appear- 
 ance and drefs aftoniflied the fpe&ators. After 
 them were carried the ornaments of gold, 
 fafhioned by the rude art of the natives, with 
 grains of gold and dufl of the fame metal found 
 in the mountains and torrents. Next appeared 
 the various commodities and curious productions 
 of the torrid zone. Columbus himfelf clofed 
 the proceffion, while the people gazed with 
 admiration on the extraordinary man who had 
 performed fo wonderful achievements. His 
 triumph indeed was more truly great than thofe 
 of the Roman conquerors: they had defolated, 
 he had explored the globe, and without the 
 eifufion of blood or the exercife of cruelty had 
 annexed a new world to the crown of Caflile, 
 He was received in the moft honourable manner
 
 SPAIN, 527 
 
 ky Ferdinand and Ifabella; and being placed in a 
 ehair oppofite to the throne he related, in a com- 
 pofed and dignified manner, all the particu- 
 lars of his voyage. As foon as the narrative 
 was ended, the King and Queen, on their 
 knees, returned thanks to the Almighty for the 
 difcovery of thofe regions which promifed 
 fo many and To great advantages to Spain. 
 Every mark of royal Favour was conferred on 
 Columbus. The privileges expreffed in the 
 original agreement were confirmed to him and 
 his heirs : his family was ennobled; and he was 
 treated, on every occafion, with all the ceremo- 
 nious refpeft due to perfons of the higheft dif- 
 tinclion ; but what was mod gratifying to his 
 aftive and enterprifing mind, was a commiflion 
 to equip, without delay, an armament of fuch 
 force as might enable him to eftablifh new 
 colonies, and to profecute his plans of difcovery. 
 In the mean while Ferdinand and Ifabella deem- 
 ed it neceflary, after the example of the For- 
 tuguefe, to acquire what in that age was con- 
 lidered as a valid title to their new acquifitions. 
 The Roman Pontiff, in quality of the vicar and 
 reprefentative of Chrift, was fuppol'ed to have a 
 right of dominion over all countries inhabited 
 by Infidels. Ferdinand and Ifabella, therefore, 
 obtained from Fope Alexander VI. a grant off 
 all the countries that fhould be difcovered in
 
 328 HISTORY OP 
 
 the wcfternhemifphere, ashisHolinefshad affign* 
 ed to the Portuguefe thofe in the eafl ; and a 
 meridian, patting a hundred leagues to the weft of 
 the Azores, was to be the boundary between the 
 dominions of Portugal and Spain. 
 
 Columbus had, from the firft, imagined that 
 the countries which he had difcovered were a 
 part of thofe vafl regions of Afia then com- 
 prehended by Europeans under the general 
 name of India. Not only the errors of the 
 ancient geographers,* but alfo the productions 
 of the newly difcovered countries by their 
 fimilarity to thofe which were brought from 
 India, feemed to confirm his opinion, which, 
 indeed, was generally adopted throughout Eu- 
 rope. From this circumftance the American 
 iflands acquired the appellation of Weft-Indies, 
 and although the error has been long fince de- 
 tecled, the name ftill remains. 
 
 The difcovery of a new world had excited a 
 general fpirit of enterprife throughout Spain, and 
 volunteers of every rank offered themfelves as 
 adventurers in the new expedition, which was 
 loon in readinefs to fail. The fleet confifted 
 of feventeen fhips. and carried fifteen hundred 
 rnen, among them were feveral of noble families, 
 
 '" See the miftakes of Murinus Tyrius, Ptolemy, &c. already 
 mentioned.
 
 SPAIN. 329 
 
 Vvith every thing requifite for conqueft or 
 colonization. Wilh this armament Columbus 
 fet fail from the port of Cadiz on the 25th of 
 September, 1493, and on the 2d of November 
 arrived at Defeada, one of the Caribbee or 
 Leeward Iflands, mod- of which he fucceffively 
 vifited. On the 22d of November he arrived 
 on the coaft of Hifpaniola, where he found that 
 the Spaniards, whom he had left behind, had 
 been maflacred by the natives in confequence of 
 their diforderly conduct. He immediately fet 
 about forming a new fettlement; but found 
 himfelf involved in a war with the natives and 
 harrafled by the infubordination of the colonifts. 
 In 1498, however, he vifited the mouth of the 
 Oronooko, and difcovered the continent ofSouth 
 America. 
 
 The adventurous enterprife of Columbus, the 
 boldelt that was ever undertaken by man, has 
 rendered the name of its author immortal, and 
 increafed, beyond calculation, the commerce 
 and wealth of Europe. But its immediate refults 
 were not fuch as iatisfied the avarice of the 
 court, or realized the expectations of rapacious 
 adventurers. Hifpaniola, and other neighbour- 
 ing iflands, were eafily conquered ; but the 
 quantity of gold that could be collected among 
 die inhabitants was not confiderable, and for 
 iome time the remittances would fcarcely defray 
 
 VOL. I, 2 T
 
 330 HISTORY OF 
 
 the expenfe of the armaments. Columbus had 
 fet out with the commiflion of Viceroy over all 
 the countries that he fhould difcover, and the 
 turbulent character of the Spanifh adventurers 
 obliged him to exercife fo'me feverity in his 
 government. The multiplied complaints of the 
 colonifts were encouraged by the courtiers, 
 who envyed his glory. Ferdinand was eafily 
 perfuaded to afcribe to his rapacity or mifcon- 
 ducl the fmallnefs of the remittances, and the 
 mind of Ifabella, the great patronefs of Columbus, 
 was at length prejudiced againft him by the 
 number and boldnefs of his accufers. Francis 
 Bovedilla was fent to Hifpaniola to afTume the 
 government of the iflancl. On the arrival of the 
 new Viceroy, Columbus was loaded with irons 
 and fent home to Spain. Ferdinand, however, 
 was fenfible that all Europe would regard, with 
 horror, this treatment of a man whofe merits 
 were fo confpicuous, and whofe fame would be 
 immortal ; and Habella refumed her former 
 fentiments in his favour. Columbus was fet at 
 liberty and invited to court, where he vindicated 
 his own conduct, and difplayed the malevolence 
 of his enemies. Mis innocence was acknow- 
 ledged ; but his wrongs were not redreffed. 
 His demand of being reinstated in the viceroyalty 
 of the newly difcovered countries was conftaritly 
 eluded under various pretexts, notwithstanding
 
 SPAIN. 331 
 
 the hereditary right to that office granted to 
 him and his defcendants by the original 
 contract. 
 
 This ungenerous treatment, however, could 
 not damp the enterprifing ardour of Columbus. 
 About the end of the year 1497, the Portuguefe, 
 under Vafco di Gama, had doubled the Cape of 
 Good Hope and proceeded to India. To dif- 
 cover a fhorter paflage to that rich and cele- 
 brated country was the original fcheme of 
 Columbus, and it was ftill his favourite objecl:. 
 Although in declining age and worn out with 
 fatigue, he offered to undertake another voyage 
 in order to afcertain the practicability of his 
 plan. The voyages of the Portuguefe to India 
 yielded immenfe returns of profit in the mod 
 precious commodities. Ferdinand and Ifabella 
 were roufed at the profpeft ; and happy in find- 
 ing an honourable pretext for removing from 
 court a man with whofe demands they had re- 
 folved not to comply, and whofe merits all 
 Europe acknowledged, they gave to Columbus 
 the command of four fmall barks, the largeft of 
 which did not exceed feventy tons, and with 
 this infignificant fquadron he let fail on the Qth 
 of May, 1502, on his lad voyage of difcovery. 
 In this expedition he difcovered all the coafl of 
 the continent from Cape Gracios aDios to Porto 
 j in the hope of finding on the ifthmus of 
 
 2 T 2
 
 332 HISTORY OF 
 
 Darien, a ftrait which might open a paflage to 
 India. He experienced innumerable and almoft 
 incredible hardfhips, dangers, and difficulties, 
 from the fury of the elements, the mutinous fpirit 
 of his men, and the malevolence of his enemies; 
 but amidft thefe embarrafling circumflances he 
 invariably difplayed the fagacity and prefence 
 of mind which had diftinguifhed his conduct on 
 every former occafion.* 
 
 The low eftimation in which fo important an 
 event as the difcovery of a new world was held 
 by Ferdinand, may be afcribed to the circum- 
 itances of the age, as well as to his avaricious 
 difpofition. Commerce had not yet attracted 
 the general attention of Europe : its nature was 
 fo little underftood that where immediate gain 
 was not acquired, the hope of diflant benefit was 
 often difregarded. The rich mines of America 
 were not yet difcovered : the profpeft of remote 
 commercial advantages was all 'that it yet afford- 
 ed ; and the Spanifh monarch confidered his 
 country as a lofer by its acquifitions beyond 
 the Atlantic. Ferdinand was alive and enter- 
 prifing as well as circumfpeft and parfimonious ; 
 but his attention was turned to things nearer 
 
 * Fbr the firfl voyage of Columbus vide Ferd. Life of Columbus, 
 from cap". 15 to cap. 40 ; and Herrera Dec. i. lib. i. c. 9. to lib. 2. 
 c. 3d. For his fubfequent voyages, fee Life of Columb. from cap. 4.5 
 to cap. 108] and Herrera Dec. i. lib. 2. c- 5. to lib. 6. c. 12.
 
 SPAIN. 333 
 
 home, and which appeared to him of much 
 greater importance than diftant and unknown 
 regions. 
 
 Charles VIII. King of France, had refolved 
 to afTcrt, in arms, the claims of the Houfe of 
 Anjou on the kingdom of Naples ; but previous 
 to the commencement of his famous Italian 
 expedition, it was necefiary to fecure the 
 neutrality of the-other great powers of Europe. 
 Of thefe Ferdinand was the moft dangerous and 
 the moft difficult to conciliate : he alarmed 
 Charles with his hoftile preparations; and the 
 French monarch, in order to accomplish his 
 defigns on Italy, ceded Rouflillon and Cerdaigne 
 to Spain. After a fplendid and rapid progrefs 
 through Italy, Charles made an eafy conqueft of 
 Naples; but his fuccefs alarmed thejealoufy 
 of the Spanifh monarch, who, notwithftanding 
 his promifed neutrality, formed a league with 
 the Italian powers for the purpofe of expelling 
 the French. The flattering profpecls of Charles 
 were fuddenly clouded by the unexpected 
 intelligence of the hoftile confederacy ; and his 
 brilliant expedition was terminated by a precipi- 
 tate retreat. Ferdinand, the fugitive King of 
 Naples, unfurled his ftandard, and being {up- 
 ported by the troops of Spain under the com- 
 mand of Gonfalvo de Cordova, furnamed the 
 Great Captain ; he again entered his capital, and
 
 334 HISTORY OF 
 
 recovered the greatefl part of his dominions. 
 But death arrefted the career of his profperity : 
 he expired after a fhort ficknefs, and was fuc- 
 ceded by his uncle Frederic, who, in a tide 
 of uninterrupted fuccefs, fwept away the 
 few garrifons of France that remained in the 
 Kingdom of Naples. And Charles, finding his 
 refources unequal to the renewal of the war 
 in Italy, concluded a truce with the Spanifh 
 monarch. 
 
 But Ferdinand, who was never inactive, 
 employed every interval of leifure in extending 
 the power of the crown and deprefling the 
 ariftocracy. During the perpetual wars which, 
 from the time of the Arabian invafion to the 
 conqueft of Grenada, had defolated, in its turn, 
 every province of Spain, the fovereigns had 
 depended fo much on the nobles that it had been 
 neceifary to conciliate their affeftions by fuc- 
 cefllve grants of new privileges. The different 
 provinces were wrefted from the Mahommedans 
 gradually and with great difficulty. The nobles, 
 who followed the (tandard of the Prince, claimed 
 and obtained a great fhare in the lands which 
 their valour had won from the enemy. Thus 
 the chief part of the landed property was 
 parcelled out among the Barons, with fuch 
 jurisdictions and immunities as raifed them 
 ahnoft to the rank of independent fovereigns.
 
 SPAIN. 335 
 
 Other caufes, but proceeding from the fame 
 Mate of things, had raifed the cities of Spain to 
 a high degree of confideration and influence : 
 the open country, being expofed to perpetual 
 ravages, a view to felf prefervation obliged 
 perfons of every rank and defcription to fix 
 their refidence in fortified places. In Spain, 
 as in other countries, the caftles of the Barons 
 might have afforded a fecure retreat from the 
 depredations of banditti ; but they were unable 
 to refift the attacks of powerful armies. Cities, 
 where numbers were united for mutual defence, 
 were the only places that prefented a profpecl: 
 of fafety. Several of thefe cities gradually 
 became capitals of petty ftates; and many of 
 their inhabitants being perfons of diflinclion they 
 acquired confiderable influence. As it was 
 impoffible to carry on continual wars without 
 fome other military force than the feudal levies, 
 it was neceffary to have fome troops in conflant 
 pay, and as the lands of the nobles were exempt 
 from taxation, the charge of fupporting foldiers 
 fell wholly on the cities. The Spanifh Kings, 
 therefore, relying on them for aid, found it 
 neceffary to conciliate their attachment by con- 
 ceffions, which extended their immunities and 
 increafed their power. Thus Spain became 
 not only divided into different kingdoms, but 
 in every kingdom the different powers of the
 
 336 HISTORY OF 
 
 cities and the ariftocracy balanced each other, 
 while the royal authority was little more than a 
 name. 
 
 The reprefentatives of the cities of Caflile had, 
 at an early period, obtained a feat in the Cortes, 
 and acquired fuch credit and influence as was 
 very uncommon in an age when, in the other 
 European countries, the powerand pre-eminence 
 of the nobles had not only eclipfed the fplen- 
 dourof the fovereign, but annihilated the liber- 
 ties of the people. In Spain the proud and 
 jealous fpirit of the ariftocracy had not been 
 able to exclude the cities from a confiderable 
 {hare in the government. The Cortes had the 
 right of impofing taxes, enacling laws, and 
 redreffing grievances; and it was one of their 
 eftablifhed maxims not to grant the King any 
 pecuniary aid till he had given his affent to fuch 
 regulations as they deemed beneficial to the king- 
 dom. Ajudicious and elegant hiftorian, in fpeak- 
 ing of the Spaniards foon after the commencement 
 of the fixteenth century, fays, " the principles of 
 4t liberty feem to have been better underftood at 
 <; this period by the Caftilians, than by any other 
 "people in Europe: they had acquired more 
 <; liberal ideas with refpecl to their own rights 
 ; and privileges: they had formed more bold 
 and generous fentimems concerning govern- 
 "mcnt; and difcovercd an extent of political
 
 SPAIN, 337 
 
 e< knowledge to which the Englifh themfelves did 
 " not attain till more than a century after- 
 " wards."* 
 
 In Arragon the regal power was dill more 
 limited. The form of government was monar- 
 chical, but its genius was republican. The 
 Cortes were compofed of four branches : the 
 nobility of the fir ft rank; the equeftrian order, 
 or fecond clafs of nobles ; the reprefentatives 
 of the cities ; and the ecclefiaftical order, con- 
 fifting of the dignitaries of the church and the 
 reprefentatives of the inferior clergy. This 
 aflembly had the fole power of impofing taxes, 
 coining money, declaring war, and concluding 
 peace. t The Cones afiembled every year or 
 every two years; and the King could neither 
 diffolve nor prorogue them without their own 
 confcnt. 
 
 But the mo ft fingular inlUtution among the 
 Arragonefe was the election of a Juftiza, or 
 fupreme judge. The office of this magiftrate 
 greatly refembled that of the Ephori among the 
 Lacedemonians : he was the protestor of the 
 people and the fupreme interpreter of the laws : 
 his perfon was facred and his authority almoit 
 unlimited. His power extended not only to all 
 
 * Roberts. Hift. cap. 5. vol. 4. book 12. p. 335. 
 t Hieron Blanca Comment, rer. Arrag. ap. Script. Hifpan. vol. 3, 
 p. 7jo. 
 
 VOL. J, 2 U
 
 338 HISTORY OF 
 
 judicial affairs, but alfo to the government of 
 the kingdom. By his fole authority he could 
 difplace any of the King's minifters, and call 
 them to account, while he himfelf was account- 
 able to none but the Cortes. The form of o the 
 oath of allegiance was calculated to remind the 
 fovereign of his duties and his dependence. It 
 was pronouriced by the Juitiza in the name oi 
 the fubjefts, and was exprefled in thefe words, 
 " We, who are each of us as good as you, and who 
 i 4 are altogether more powerful than you, pro- 
 44 mife obedience to your government if you 
 " maintain our rights and liberties, not other- 
 *' wife."* The perfonal as well as the political 
 rights of the people were more extenfive and 
 more accurately defined than in any other king- 
 dom of Europe -, and no native of Arragon 
 could be put to the torture, nor be convicled, 
 except by fair and legal evidence. 
 
 Such were the ideas of liberty which prevailed 
 in Spain when Ferdinand and Ifabella united the 
 crowns of Arragon and Caftile. But it does not 
 appear that the peafantry partook in the privileges 
 of the cities: the baronial powers were exor- 
 bitant, and the royal authority was certainly too 
 much limited by that of the grandees. All the 
 
 * Dr. Robert fon Iv.s given us the form of this oath from a Spanifh 
 writer of high authority, Don Antonio Perez, a native of Arragon, and 
 fccretary to Philip II. Robert. Hifl. cap. j. vol. i. p. 183, 414.
 
 SPAIN. 339 
 
 efforts of the Spanifh Kings to extend the pre- 
 rogative of the crown had hitherto proved in- 
 effectual. But after the annihilation of the 
 Mahommedan power, by the conqueft of Grenada, 
 one of the great objects of Ferdinand was the 
 reduction of the ariftocracy. In this under- 
 taking he proceeded with that cautious policy 
 and perfevering vigour which formed lo pro- 
 minent a trait in his character. Under various 
 pretexts, fometimes by force, but generally by 
 the decrees of the courts of law, he wrefted from 
 the barons a considerable part of the lands of 
 which they had extorted grants from the weak- 
 nefs of his predeceffors. Inftead of intruding 
 the whole conduct of affairs to the grandees, 
 who had been accuflomed to fill every depart- 
 ment of the adrniniftration, he often tranfafted 
 bufinefs of the greateft importance without their 
 intervention, and committed many offices of 
 power and truft to perfons of inferior rank who 
 were devoted to his interefts. He introduced a 
 greater degree of ftate and dignity into the court, 
 and gradually imprefled his fubjefls with a re- 
 fpec~t which they had not been accuftomed to 
 pay to their former Kings. 
 
 The annexation of the Grand Mafterfhips of 
 the three military orders of St. Jago, Calatrava, 
 and Alcantara, to the crown, was another ex- 
 pedient by which Ferdinand greatly augmented 
 
 2 U 2
 
 340 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 his revenues and power. The zeal or fuper- 
 ftition of the times in which they had been 
 founded, had beftowed on thefe holy warriors fo 
 liberal donations that they foon engrofied a con- 
 fiderable fhare of national property; and the 
 Mailerihips of thefe wealthy Orders placed the 
 perfons, who held them, nearly on a level with 
 the fovereign. Ferdinand, unwilling that the 
 nobles, who were already too formidable, fhould 
 derive additional credit and influence from the 
 government of thofe powerful fratdrniries, re- 
 folved to wreft it out of their hands, and veft it 
 in the crown. By addrefs, by promifes, and 
 menaces, he prevailed on the Knights of each 
 Order to place himfelf and Ifabella at its head. 
 The election was fanctioned by Papal authority, 
 and the annexation of thefe Mattel (hips to the 
 crown was rendered perpetual. 
 
 The peculiar circumftances of Spain afforded 
 Ferdinand a further opportunity of diminifliing 
 the power of the nobles, while it increafed the 
 influence of the cities. The fovereign jurif- 
 diclion, which the barons excrcifed within their 
 own territories, greatly curtailed the power of 
 the crown. To have openly invaded a privilege 
 \vhich they regarded as the higheit diflinclion of 
 their order, would have been a hazardous at- 
 tempt; and he therefore refolved to undermine 
 what he durft not attack. The continual
 
 SPAIN. 341 
 
 between the Chriftians and the Mahommedans, 
 and their mutual depredations, together with the 
 private comeds of the barons, fo common in all 
 countries under the feudal fyftem, had dilTolved 
 the bonds of focial order ; and all the provinces 
 of Spain were overfpread with banditti. Rapine 
 and murder became fo common that all inter- 
 courfe between the different cities was inter- 
 rupted. The numerous bands of robbers fet all 
 laws at defiance ; and no relief was to be ex- 
 peBed from the ordinary courfc of juflice.* 
 The evil became at length fo intolerable that 
 the cities adopted an extraordinary remedy. 
 About the middle of the thirteenth century, the 
 cities of Arragon, and after their example thofe 
 ofCaflile, formed themfelvcs into an aifociation, 
 diftinguifhed by the name of the St. Herrnandad 
 or the Holy Brotherhood. A certain contribution 
 being furnifhed by each of the affbciated towns, 
 they levied a ftrong body of troops for the pro- 
 tcclion of travellers and the feizure of criminals. 
 Every violater of the public peace that was taken 
 by the troops of the Hermandad, being carried 
 before judges nominated by the alfociated cities, 
 
 * Robbery and murder were extremely common throughout Europe 
 during the middle ages. Bouquet Recueil des HiR. torn. 7. p. 515 ; 
 and torn. to. p. 360, &c. But the defcription which the Sp.milh 
 liillorians give of their prevalence in Spain is amazing. Vide Robci t- 
 fon's Hilt. Charles V. vol. j. p. 429, and the authorities to which Jr.- 
 refers,
 
 342 HISTORY OF 
 
 was tried and condemned without any regard to 
 the feudal jurifditlions. The nobles violently 
 oppofed this inftitution; but Ferdinand perceiv- 
 ing not only its good elTe6ls on the police of the 
 kingdom, but alto its tendency to abridge, and 
 at length to annihilate the independent jurif- 
 diclion of the barons, fupported the Hermandad 
 with all his authority and influence. 
 
 Thus, by a train of well planned meafures, 
 Ferdinand confidcrably extended the prerogative 
 of trie crown, and acquired a degree of influence 
 and power beyond what any of his predeceiTors 
 had enjoyed ; yet the limitations of the royal 
 authority, and the barriers againft its encroach- 
 ments, continued to be numerous and ftrong. 
 The fpirit of liberty was vigorous among the 
 people of Spain; and the fpirit of independence 
 was high among the nobility. The love of 
 glory prompted the Spaniards to fupport Ferdi- 
 nand with zeal in his foreign enterprifes ; but in 
 the internal government of the kingdom they 
 never allowed him more than a very limited 
 authority.* 
 
 The fagacity of Ferdinand had greatly ad- 
 vanced the g'o'ry and power of Spain, and his 
 
 * From inany (ubfcqucnt uanfaftions recorded in this hiflory, the 
 rr;ult-r will perceive that, during a confiderable part of the reign of 
 Ch. tries V. the prerogative of ihc Spanifh crown was cucumfcribecl 
 vidiiii narrow limits; and the progrefs of defpotifm, in Spain, will be 
 clearly developed.
 
 SPAIN. 343 
 
 arms had aiTerted the independence of Italy. 
 Pope Alexander, as a mark of his regard for a 
 Prwce, who had annihilated the Mahommedan 
 power in Spain, and delivered the Roman Sec 
 from the control of France, conferred on the 
 Spanifh monarch the title of Catholic. The 
 meafures of Ferdinand were, perhaps, little in- 
 fluenced by religion ; but he readily accepted 
 the facred mark of pontifical approbation, and 
 tranfmitted it to his fucceflbrs. 
 
 The domeflic felicity of the fovereigns of 
 Spain was far from keeping pace with the public 
 profperity ; and the fucceffive funerals of their 
 children involved their court in continual 
 mourning. The death of their only fon, the 
 Prince of Afturias, was almofl immediately 
 followed by that of his filler, the Queen of Portu- 
 gal, who expired in childbirth at Toledo. This 
 Princefs left an infant fon, whofe deceafe, within 
 a few months, fwelled the lift of domeflic 
 calamities. Joanna, who had lately cfpoufed the 
 Archduke Philip, fon of Maximilian, Emperor 
 of Germany, remained the only furviving 
 offspring of Ferdinand and Ifabella ; and on her 
 devolved the fucceffion to the crowns of Arragon 
 and Caflile. 
 
 But the ravages made by death, in the family 
 of Ferdinand, did not extingu'fh the ambition 
 which conflantly reigned in his bofom, Soon
 
 344 HISTORY OF 
 
 
 
 after the conclufion of the truce with France^ 
 he feized on the town of Melilla, on the African 
 coaft, and fecured it by new fortifications agmnft 
 any attempts of the Moors. In the mean 
 while Charles VIII. expired at Amboife, at 
 the moment when he was meditating a fecond 
 irruption into Italy. Louis XII. with his crown, 
 inherited, in part, his defigns, and feized the 
 Duchy of Milan. Ferdinand and the new King 
 of France loon after entered into an iniquitous 
 confederacy to divide between them the king- 
 dom of Naples. Gonfalvo, the Great Captain, 
 quickly reduced the Provinces of Apulia and 
 Calabria, which had been allotted to Spain ; but 
 he tarnifhed, by an ac\ of the bafeft perfidy, his 
 military fame. The eldeft fon of the Neapolitan 
 monarch had fixed his laft retreat atTarento; and 
 that place, after long refilling the victorious arms 
 of the Spaniards, furrendered on the exprcfs 
 
 condition that the Prince mould be left at liberty. 
 
 j 
 
 But Gonfalvo did not hefitate to violate the 
 treaty, although confirmed by an oath : The 
 young Prince was leizcd and conveyed to Spain, 
 where, although he was treated with lenity and 
 refpcft, he was detained all his life in captivity. 
 The King, his father, who had taken refuge in 
 the Ifland oflfchia, on receiving intelligence of 
 
 thofe events, threw himfelf on the 
 
 A. D. 1501. 
 
 well known generofity of Louis XII.
 
 SPAIN. 345 
 
 to whom he rcfigned his right to that portion of 
 his dominions which had been aflignecl to France 
 oy the partition treaty of the preceding year, 
 and received from that monarch in return the 
 county of Maine for himfelf and his heirs.* 
 
 While Ferdinand was unjuftly taking poflef- 
 fion of diitant territories, his own dominions 
 called for his moft vigilant attention. Ma-"y of 
 the conditions, on which the Moors had fiibmit- 
 tcd to the yoke of Spain, had been violated; 
 and the onpreffions which that people fuffered 
 under their conquerors, together with religious 
 unimofuy, itiinulated them to ere 61 the (landard 
 of revolt in the mountains of Alpuxarros. 
 Hut while they were flattering themfelves with 
 the hope of alfiita nee from their African 
 brethren. Ferdinand, after a difficult march, 
 ihro'.igh a country that was deemed impracticable 
 to an arm}-, unexpectedly made his appearance. 
 The weaknefs of the infurgents, or the caution 
 or avarice of the monarch, prevented the effufion 
 of blood. A treaty was concluded, by which all 
 the Moors who were avcrfe to the Chriftian 
 government, were permitted to retire into 
 Africa, on the payment of ten piftoles for each 
 Kimily. The emigration of fix thoufand families 
 contributed to the depopulation and impoverifh- 
 
 * M. !.-, Pics, Henault Abregc Chroti. de 1'Hift. de France, 1501. 
 VOL. 1. 2 X
 
 346 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 ment of Spain ; but it produced a feafonabie 
 fupply to the coffers of Ferdinand ; for however 
 inconfidcrable the fum of fixty thoufand piftoles 
 may appear in modern times, in the commence- 
 ment of the fixteenth century, when the mines 
 of America were not yet difcovered, it was 
 an objeft of importance to any fovereign in 
 Europe. 
 
 The money thus obtained from the Moors 
 was employed by Ferdinand in accompliming 
 another of his perfidious defigns. He had 
 abandoned the King of Naples for the fake of 
 acquiring Apulia and Calabria; and he fcrupled 
 not to violate his engagements with the French 
 monarch, in order to wreft from him his (hare of 
 the fpoil. But on the commencement of hoflilities 
 the Spanifh troops, being ill fupplied with ammu- 
 nition, and mutinous for want of pay, were 
 neither able nor willing to make any vigorous 
 effort; and the Great Captain was obliged to 
 retire before the Duke de Nemours. But Louis, 
 at the moment when he might have expelled the 
 Spaniards, and acquired the poffeffion of the 
 whole kingdom of Naples, fuifered himfelf to be 
 difarmed by a negotiation with the Archduke 
 Philip, fon-in-law to Ferdinand. The Archduke 
 engaged that his fon Charles, afterwards Charles 
 V. mould efpoufe Claude, the eldeft daughter of 
 the French monarch, and one of the ftipulations
 
 SPAIN. 347 
 
 was that Louis and Ferdinand fliould refign to 
 them the kingdom of Naples.* In confequence 
 of this agreement the French monarch fent 
 orders to his general to fufpend hoflilities. But 
 Ferdinand refufed to ratify the treaty, and 
 ordered Gonfalvo to continue the war. Philip 
 remonflrated with his father-in-law, reprefenting 
 to him that his conducl would fix an indeliable 
 (tain on his character; but Ferdinand was regard- 
 Icfs of reputation, and attentive only to agran- 
 difement. He fent (trong reinforcements to his 
 general ; and the money extorted from the 
 Moors, having fatisfied the arrearsj reftored 
 the obedience of the army. Gonfalvo overfpread 
 the country with his detachments. In the plains 
 of Cerignoles, the Duke of Nemours attempted 
 to arreft his career, but was unable to contend 
 with the fuperior numbers and fkill of the Great 
 Captain. An obftinate aclion took place; and 
 the Duke, with the greateft part of his army, 
 perifhed on the field of battle. The capital 
 opened its gates to the viBor, and the other 
 cities followed the example. Gaieta held out 
 for a confiderable time ; butat laft its evacuation 
 by the French garrifon left the Spaniards in 
 poffefllon of the whole kingdom of Naples. 
 
 * Hen. Ab. Chron. ad An. 1503. 
 2X2
 
 348 HISTORY OF 
 
 Louis, however, made formidable prepara- 
 tions for jContinuing the war and retrieving his 
 i'jfles. Three armies were affembled for the 
 invafion of the Spanifh dominions : the firft, 
 commanded by General Le Tremouille, and 
 confiding,- of twenty thoufand men, was deftined 
 for the recovery of Naples: the fecond, of fix 
 thoufand, under the Seigneur D'Albret, was fent 
 againft Fontarabia; and the third, and mod 
 numerous, under the Marefchal de Rieux, was 
 to penetrate into Rouflillon. A confiderablc 
 fleet was alfo fitted out to prevent any com- 
 munication between Naples and Spain. Ferdi- 
 nand had not been inattentive to thefe prepara- 
 tions : he had forefeen the ftorm and provided 
 againft its effects. The forces of France being 
 defeated by the Great Captain, Gonfalvo, were 
 a fecond time expelled from Naples. The troops 
 deftined for the attack of Fontarabia having fail- 
 ed in their attempt, joined the army inRouflillon. 
 The whole of the French forces in that quarter 
 advanced to Salfes and formed the fiege ; but 
 retired at the approach of Ferdinand, who had 
 marched from Madrid with a formidable army. 
 The French fleet alfo returned to Marfeilles, 
 without having rendered any confiderable 
 fervice. And Louis had the mortification of 
 feeing his armaments baffled in every enter- 
 prife.
 
 SPAIN. 349 
 
 But amidft fo many and fo brilliant fuccefles, 
 the exultation of Ferdinand was checked by a 
 domestic calamity which obfcured the brightnefs 
 of his political horizon. His Queen, Ifabella, 
 who held, in her own right, the fccptre of Caftile, 
 bad been for fome time in a declining flate : 
 her health had been greatly impaired by her 
 grief for the premature death of her children, 
 the Prince of Afturias and the Queen of Portugal. 
 The melancholy Hate of her only ( furviving 
 daughter, Joanna, was a (till greater fource of 
 affliction. The unkindnefs of her eonfort, the 
 Archduke, had impaired the intellects -of that 
 unfortunate Princefs ; and in the untimely fate 
 or protracted mifery of her offspring, Ifabella 
 might juftly complain that her profperity as a 
 Queen had been more than counterbalanced by 
 
 ^ 
 
 her forrows as a mother. Thefe forrows, in con- 
 junction with advanced years, and a diforder of 
 the lungs, had exhaufted her conilitution. In 
 the 68th year of her age fhe expired 
 at Madrid, amidfl the lamentations of 
 her fubjecls, who had long experienced her 
 juftice and humanity. Her mildnefs, generofity, 
 and clemency, had fervcd to temper the inflex- 
 ible rigour of the unfeeling Ferdinand. She 
 was a liberal patronefs of genius and talents ; and 
 the munificent fpirit with which flic promoted
 
 350 HISTORY OF 
 
 the difcovery of a new world has illuflrated her 
 name in the pages of hiftory. 
 
 The celebrated difcoverer of America was 
 one of thofe who had the greatefl reafon to 
 lament the lofs of her patronage, Columbus was, 
 at that time, employed in his third and laft ex- 
 pedition, in which he difcovered the continent 
 of America. After a fuccefiion of adventures, 
 difficulties, and difaflers, which it would require 
 a volume to relate, he arrived in Spain, where 
 he foon received the fatal intelligence of the 
 death of Ifabella, on whofe favour were founded 
 all his expectations. This was the greatefl of 
 all his afflictions. His enemies at court re- 
 doubled their perfections. No one remained 
 to redrefs his wrongs, or reward his fervices; 
 and he had little to hope from Ferdinand, by 
 -whom he had long been oppofed and frequently 
 injured. But he was foon relieved from a life 
 of hardfhips and difappointments, which had 
 been fpent in braving the tcmpefts of the ocean 
 and encounteiing the malice and ingratitude of 
 man. Grief, anxiety, and the fatigues which 
 he had undergone, concurred to exhaufl his 
 waining ftrength. Columbus, one of the greatefl 
 of men in comparifon with whom the names of 
 
 blood-Rained conquerors fink into in- 
 A. D. 1506. . ] 
 
 fignificance, expired at Valladolid in
 
 SPAIN. 351 
 
 the fifty-ninth year of his age.* In his lad 
 moments he difplayed that magnanimity and 
 compofure of mind which had ever diftinguifh- 
 cd his characler, and thofe fentiments of piety 
 which in every occurrence of his life had mani- 
 fefled his fupreme refpecl for religion. 
 
 Ifabella, fenfible of the incapacity of her 
 daughter Joanna, had, by her teftanient, ap- 
 pointed Ferdinand Regent of Caftile, till Charles, 
 the fon of Philip and Joanna, fhould have at- 
 tained the age of twenty. In confequence of 
 this arrangement, Joanna and Philip were pro- 
 claimed Sovereigns of Caftile ; but Ferdinand 
 alfumed the reins of government, and his title 
 to the regency was formally acknowledged by 
 the Cortes. The Caftillian pride, however, could 
 not lubmit, without a murmur, to the govern- 
 ment of a King of Arragon ; and the jealous, 
 fevere, and parfimonious diipofition of Ferdi- 
 nand was ill adapted to the genius of that hig'n- 
 fpirited people. A powerful faction was form- 
 ed ; and the malecontents invited the Archduke 
 to take the adminiftration. That Prince, who 
 
 * His fon Diego Columbus, having long foliated, in vain, the 
 cflnblifhment of his right to the Viceroyalty of America, inftituted a 
 procefs againU Ferdinand, which being tried before the Council of the 
 Indies, the judges, greatly to their honour, gave a verdict in his favoui, 
 and Diego was accordingly veiled with that dignity. This exhibits a 
 lemaikiiblc proof that Ferdinand poflcfTt-d no power to infringe on thr 
 rights of his iubjecb. Kobcrtfon's Hill. Amcr. vol. I. p. iro".
 
 3.^2 HISTORY OF 
 
 did not confider the teftamentary difpofition of 
 Ifabclla as cither juft or genuine, feized this 
 favourable opportunity of refilling the pre- 
 tenfions of his father-in-law. Ferdinand was 
 formally required to retire into Arragon, and to 
 deliver the government of Caftile to fuch per- 
 fons as Philip ihould appoint. 
 
 From this period a fcries of dark intrigue was 
 carried on by Ferdinand and Philip ; and for 
 fome time their jarring pretenfions threatened 
 Spain with a civil war. Ferdinand even re- 
 folved to deprive his daughter and her pofterity 
 of the crown: he demanded, in marriage, Joanna 
 the fuppofed daughter of Henry IV. on the 
 ground of whofe illegitimacy Ifabella's right to 
 the fucceffion had been founded, and againfl 
 whofe claim he himfelf had fought a bloody 
 battle with the King of Portugal ; but being 
 difappointed in his application, he efpouled 
 Germaine de laFoix. niece to Louis XII. who 
 refignedj in her favour, all his claims to the 
 dominions of Naples.* 
 
 Philip, who had yet remained in the Nether- 
 lands, where he refided at the time of the death 
 of Iiabella, now began to prepare for his voyage 
 to Spain. But in order to divert Ferdinan.d 
 from oppofing his purpofe, he iuftrucled l*is 
 
 * Hen. Ab. Cluon. An. 1506,
 
 SPAIN. 353 
 
 kmbartadors to conclude a treaty with that 
 Prince, in which it was ftipulated that the 
 government of Caftile fhould be adminiftered 
 in the joint names of Joanna, Ferdinand, and 
 Philip, and that the two lad fhould enjoy the 
 revenues of the crown by an equal divifion. 
 But it was far from the intentions of Philip to 
 obferve the treaty which he had fubfcribed. 
 Accompanied by Joanna, he failed, in the depth 
 of winter, from Middleburg, with a numerous 
 fleet and a confiderable body of troops. Ferdi- 
 nand, in the mean while, having formed the 
 ilefign of oppofing his landing, was afliduous in 
 his endeavours to conciliate the affeclions of 
 die Caftilians. But all his attempts were in vain ; 
 and he was obliged to renounce his defisn of 
 
 o c 
 
 an armed refiftance. No (boner had Philip 
 difembarkcd at Corunna than the nobles, with 
 their numerous vaflals, crowded to his ftandard.* 
 Ferdinand^ feeing the general difaffc6lion, con- 
 fented, by treaty, to refign the regency of CafHle 
 and retire into his kingdom of Arra<>on : on 
 
 n o 
 
 thcfe conditions it was llipulated that he fhould 
 enjoy the Grand Maflerlhips of the three military 
 orders,^ and half of the revenues arifmg from 
 {he Indies, which had been affigncd to him by the 
 teftament of Ifabclla. 
 
 * Rohertfon's Hid. Charles V. vol. 2. book l. p. 17. 
 + S t. Jago, Calatrava, and Alcantara, 
 VOL. I. 2V
 
 3o4 HISTORY OF 
 
 In political intrigue and duplicity Phifrp ha<$ 
 fhewed himfelf fcarcely inferior to Ferdinand, 
 who had been fo long verfed in the aits of dif- 
 fimulation. In afferting his claims he had dif- 
 played considerable abilities; but his adminiftra- 
 tion was far from anfwering the expectations of 
 his fubjeBs. He fuffered himfelf to be governed 
 by his Flemifh favourites; and the pride of the 
 Caftilian nobles was wounded by the preference 
 given to a fucceflion of ftrangers, with whom 
 Philip lived in the utmoft familiarity, while he 
 maintained a haughty referve towards the gran- 
 dees of Spain. The indifference which he 
 fhewed for the unhappy Joanna contributed to 
 excite their difguft, and a general diffatisfaftion 
 was the refult of his prepofterous conduct. But 
 the Caftilians were foon delivered from a Prince 
 whofe character was fo little adapted to conciliate 
 their affeBions. While in a Hate of excefTr/c 
 perfpiration, he imprudently drank a large 
 quantity of Sherbet, cooled with ice. A fever 
 almoft inftantly enfued ; and after an illnefs 
 
 of fix days he expired in the twenty- 
 A. D. 1507. f 
 
 eighth year of his age. 
 
 On his demife the regal authority devolved on 
 Joanna; but the mock occafioned by the unex- 
 pected death of her hufband had completed tha 
 derangement of her understanding. Though in 
 the fixth month of her pregnancy, no remon-
 
 SPAIN. 355 
 
 Frances could prevail on her to leave him for 
 a moment during his ficknefs ; and, after he 
 expired, fhe continued to watch the dead body 
 with the fame tendernefs as if he had been alive 
 and fenfible of her affeftion. Even after it was 
 interred fhe removed it from the tomb to her 
 own appartment, and kept her eyes fteadily 
 fixed upon it, as impatient of the moment when 
 it mould again begin to breathe. In vain did 
 her minifters endeavour to recal her from her 
 frantic grief to the adminiftration of her king- 
 dom : her total incapacity for government was 
 vifible. In this emergency the majority of the 
 Caftilians judged it expedient to recal Ferdinand 
 to the regency ; but thofe nobles who had been 
 the tnoft violent in formerly oppofing his claims, 
 arid who dreaded his refentment, exhorted 
 Maximilian, the father of Philip, to aflert his 
 pretenfions as the natural guardian of his grand- 
 fon. The efforts of Maximilian, however, were 
 feeble; and he abandoned the caufe on the firft 
 appearance of difficulty. Ferdinand, at this 
 critical junfture, was abfent from Spain. Having 
 conceived fome fufpicion of the fidelity of the 
 Great Captain, he fuddenly departed for Naples, 
 and was in the territory of Genoa when he re- 
 ceived intelligence of the death of his fon-in-law. 
 His conduci, on this occafion, was fomewhat 
 extraordinary. So great was his impatience to 
 
 2 Y 2
 
 356 
 
 invefligate the conduft of Gonfalvo, that his 
 claim to the regency of Caftile could not induce 
 him to difcontinue his journey. Perhaps he 
 might rely on the zeal and abilities of his 
 minifter, and in this confidence he was not 
 deceived. 
 
 Of thofe who adhered to his interefts Cardinal 
 Ximenes, Archbifhop of Toledo, was the chief; 
 and his talents and exertions procured for Ferdi- 
 nand the regency of Caftile. Ximenes was one 
 of thofe extraordinary characters which feldom 
 appear in the world. Defcended from an 
 honourable but not opulent family, the circum- 
 ftances of his parents, as well as his own inclina- 
 tions, determined him to enter the church. He 
 began his ecclefiaftical career with fuccefs, and 
 eafily obtained feveral valuable benefices, which 
 opened the way to the higheft preferments. 
 But he refigned all thefe, and affumed the habit 
 of St. Francis, in a monaftery of Obfervantine 
 Friars, one ofthe moft rigid orders in the church. 
 In that fituation he foon became eminent for the 
 aufterity of his manners, and for thofe excefles 
 of devotion which are the proper charafteriftics 
 of the monadic life. His reputation for fanftity 
 procured him the office of confeflbr to Queen 
 Ifabella, which he undertook with the greateft 
 reluftance; but in a court he Hill preferved his 
 former aufterity of manners : he continued to
 
 SPAIN. 3jJ 
 
 make all his journeys on foot, and pcrfevered 
 in the feverity of his arts of mortification. He 
 was foon after promoted to the Archbifhopric of 
 Toledo, which, next to the papacy, was the 
 richeft dignity in the church. This high honour 
 he afleftcd to decline xvith a firmnefs which the? 
 authoritative injunction of the Roman Pontiff 
 alone could overcome ; and if fo fudden and fo 
 great an elevation did not feem fo glittering a bate 
 to ambition, his former indifference to prefer- 
 ment might give an appearance of fincerity to 
 his refufal. But the motives which actuated a 
 mind like that of Ximenes arc not to be eafily 
 penetrated. While he appeared to eftrange him- 
 felf from the world, he attentively ftudied its 
 movements and views, and made himfelf mailer 
 of the paflions of mankind while he avoided 
 their manners. No fooner was he called by 
 Ferdinand and Ifabella to take a principal (hare 
 in the adrr-inidration, than he difplayed talents 
 for bufinefs that aftonifhed the court and the 
 kingdom, as well as a patriotifm that was proof 
 againd every temptation. To this great ftatef- 
 nran Ferdinand had committed the care of his 
 intereds during his abfencc, and they could not 
 have been intruded to more able hands. While 
 the King of Arragon, by the drifted inquiries, 
 fatisfied hitnfelf of the loyalty of Gonfalvo and 
 the obedience of Naples, Ximcncs, by his argu-
 
 358 HISTORY OF 
 
 ments and addrcfTes, fo managed the difaflFeied 
 nobles of Caftilc, that he gained many of his 
 moft violent opponents. Ferdinand, therefore, 
 on his return, had little left to do but to afTume 
 the regency, which, on this occafion, was ex- 
 tended to the period when his grandfon Charles 
 fhould attain the mature age of twenty-five; 
 and after chailifing the turbulence of the city 
 of Cordova the tranquillity of his government 
 
 was eftablifhed. 
 
 The famous league of Cambray. 
 A. D. 1508. f 
 
 formed agaimtine Venetians, opened 
 
 a new field to the intrigues and the arms of 
 Ferdinand. Venice, enriched by trade and 
 manufactures, had adopted a warlike as well as 
 a commercial fyftem. By continual encroach, 
 ments the Venetians had extended their do- 
 minions ; and their power was an object of terror 
 to their neighbours. Pope Julius II. whofe 
 chara&er would have better fuited a camp than 
 the chair of St. Peter, was the fiift promoter of 
 this famous confederacy between the Holy See, 
 the Kings of France and Spain, and the Emperor 
 Maximilian, againft the republic. The view of 
 Julius II. was to humble his too powerful neigh- 
 bours, and to regain pofleffion of Faenza, 
 Rimini, and other places which the Venetians had 
 VvTcftcd from the ecclefiaftical ftate ; Ferdinand 
 expected to re annex to his kingdom of Naples
 
 SPAIN. 559 
 
 lome towns which the republic poflcfied on the 
 coaft of Calabria. Maximilian concurred in the 
 enterprife for the fake of a fubfidy : but Louis 
 XII. was only impelled by the defire of humbling 
 the arrogance of the republic; and for that 
 impolitic purpofe he joined in attacking the only 
 Italian ally in whom he could place any con- 
 fidence. 
 
 While Ferdinand was waiting for the moment 
 when the confederates fhould take the field, 
 the bold and vigorous mind of Ximenes, who 
 had been recently promoted to the dignity of 
 Cardinal, did not fuffer the martial genius of the 
 Caftilians to be damped by inactivity. He 
 employed the ample revenues of his Arch- 
 bifhopric in promoting the glory and extending 
 the dominions of Spain. In perfon, and at his 
 own expenfe, he undertook the conquefl of the 
 important fortrefs of Oran, on the coaft oi 
 Africa. His forces confided of ten thoufand 
 infantry and four thoufand cavalry, convoyed 
 by a ftrong fquadron of armed gallies ; and his 
 prefence gave energy to their operations. 
 The undifciplined bands of Africa appeared 
 in the field, but were unable to re fid the dcadv 
 valour of the Spaniards : they fled in conf-jfion *, 
 Oran opened its gates ; and the Chriftian banners 
 were difplayed on its walls. After this brilliant 
 expedition, of which he had formed the plan
 
 300 HISTORY OP 
 
 and directed the execution, Ximenes returned 
 into Spain, and in iludious retirement fecluded 
 himfelf from public applaufe. 
 
 The expedition againft Oran caufed no delay 
 in the operations of the confederates of Cambray. 
 The banners of Spain, in conjunction with thofe 
 of Rome, of France, and of Germany, were dif- 
 played on the frontiers of the Venetian territory, 
 in the commencement of the war the allies acled 
 with confiderable vigour. At the battle of 
 Aignadel. in which the King of France 
 commanded in pcrfon, the Venetians 
 were defeated with great lofs ; and Alviano, their 
 general, was {lain. But the viftory gained by 
 the French arms redounded chiefly to the advan- 
 tage of Rome and Spain. The Pope forced the 
 Venetians to evacuate all the towns which they 
 held in the ecclefiaflical Hates, and Ferdinand 
 expelled them from thole which they poflcrTed 
 on the coaft of Calabria, while the Kmperor 
 Maximilian, at the head of a powerful army, 
 advanced toward Venice, and the haughty re- 
 publicans were obliged to prepare lor the 
 defence of their capital. 
 
 But at the moment when Venice was on the 
 brink of ruin file wjs favcd by the difunion of 
 her enemies. 'I he league of Cambray was a 
 temporary alliance of powers that were jealous 
 of each other, and all of whom had different
 
 SPAIN. 361 
 
 Thterefts and views. They had united to humble 
 'the republic ; but their fuccefs foon revived 
 their ancient enmity. Both Julius and Ferdi- 
 nand had attained their objects, and they began 
 to fear left Louis fhould become the arbiter of 
 Italy. The Venetians profited by this difunion ; 
 and by well-timed conceffions to the Pope, the 
 King of Spain and the Emperor diffolved a con- 
 federacy which had threatened the extinBion of 
 their republic. But although they recovered 
 fcveral of their cities, they could never retrieve 
 their former influence and extent of territory. 
 The difcovery of the paffage round the Cape of 
 Good Hope to India, a few years before, was a 
 blow not lefs fatal to their commerce than the 
 league of Cam bray was to their political great- 
 nefs ; and from this epoch may be dated the 
 decline of Venice. 
 
 Louis XII. was not long before he was 
 
 awakened to a mortifying fenfe of the impolicy 
 
 of the meafures into which he had been led by 
 
 the Roman Pontiff. Julius II. elated by the fuc- 
 
 celsofhis political plans, refolved to attempt the 
 
 expulfion of the French from Italy. In this 
 
 view he formed a new league with Ferdinand, 
 
 with Henry VI 1 1. King of England, 
 
 the fon-in-law of Ferdinand, and with 
 
 the Swifs and the Venetians. 
 
 VOL. i. 2 z
 
 362 HISTORY OF 
 
 Before the confederacy was completely forfrt- 
 ed, the Pope had haftily begun the war by the 
 (iege of Mirandola, where he appeared in perfoa 
 in the trenches, and on the furrender of the city, 
 caufed himfelf to be carried in military triumph 
 through the breach which his batteries had made 
 in the wall. But Julius was unable, with his own 
 forces, to withftand, for any length of time, the 
 efforts of France; and he was clofely befieged 
 \vithin the walls of Ravenna, when the forces of 
 the confederates having entered Italy, ravaged 
 the Duchy of Milan, and advanced to Bologna, 
 delivered him from his perilous fituation. The 
 declining fortunes of the French were, for fome 
 time, fupported by a youthful hero, Gafton de 
 Foix, Duke of Nemours, nephew of Louis XII. 
 and brother of Germaine, Queen of Caftile and 
 Arragon. At an early age the martial talents of 
 this Prince (hone forth with diftinguifhed luftre ; 
 and his life was a fhort but rapid career of 
 victory. He had fcarcely attained the twenty- 
 third year of his age, when he undertook the 
 honourable but arduous tafk of reftoring the 
 fortunes and the fame of his country. He re- 
 lieved Bologna, captured Brefcia, and totally 
 defeated the Venetian general Baglioni. But 
 near the walls of Ravenna he met with a glorious 
 though untimely fate. Having laid fiege to thai
 
 SPAIN. 363 
 
 city, the confederates, under the command of 
 Raymond de Cordona, Viceroy of Naples, ad- 
 vanced to its relief.* On Eafter 
 Sunday, nth April, a decifive aftion 
 took place. The confederates were broken, 
 and feveral of their battalions were cut in pieces; 
 but amidft the general rout of the allies, the 
 Spanifh troops maintained their reputation for 
 Heady valour, and retired in firm and compaft 
 order, continuing, in their retreat, to repulfe 
 the attacks of their purfuers. The Duke of 
 Nemours, who had difplayed the qualities of a 
 consummate general and an intrepid foldier, 
 being impatient of rendering his viftory com- 
 plete, made a defperate charge on the Spaniards, 
 and fighting with the moft heroic valour, fell 
 covered with wounds. The fortunes of the 
 French feem to have expired with their general; 
 and his death was immediately followed by the 
 Jofs of the Milanefe.t This was the laft great 
 effort made by the Spaniards in the fupport of 
 the confederacy. 
 
 The politic Ferdinand had a more advan- 
 tageous objecl in view. The connexion of John 
 
 * The famous Gonfalvo de Cordova, although no proofs of his dif- 
 loyalty appeared, could never remove the fufpicions of Ferdinand, and 
 notwithftanding his tranfcendent abilities for war, the Great Captain 
 remained unemployed and died in retirement* 
 
 t Hen- Ab, Chron, An. 1512. 
 
 2 Z 2
 
 364 HISTORY OF 
 
 D'Albret, King of Navarre, with the court of 
 France, ferved Ferdinand as a pretext for feizing 
 his dominions. A numerous and veteran army, 
 commanded by the Duke of Alva, entered Navarre, 
 and the banners of Spain were difplayed before 
 the walls of Pampeluna, the capital. The natural 
 flrength of the place, for fome time, refifted the 
 efforts of the invaders, but the garrifon, being 
 at once affailed by famine and the fword, was 
 obliged to furrender. John D'Albret, who had 
 retired beyond the Pyrenees, in vain implored 
 the fuccours of France. Louis XII. hard preffed 
 on every fide by his enemies, was obliged to 
 refign the unfortunate Prince to his fate. And 
 by the conqueft of Navarre, the kingdom of 
 Spain acquired the extent which it has poffeiTed 
 in modern times.* 
 
 The death of Louis XII. tranfmitted 
 A.D.i 5 i 5 . . _ _ IT T 
 
 the crown or France to francis 1. 
 
 celebrated in hi (lory as the patron of letters. 
 This monarch was inflamed with the fame ardour 
 for tranfalpine conquefts as his two prede- 
 ceffors, Charles and Louis. At the head of a 
 numerous army he bur ft into Italy, and after a. 
 bloody defeat of the Swifs at Marignano. made 
 himfelf mafter of the Milanefc. The health of 
 Ferdinand was rapidly declining, and his fhattcreci 
 
 * Mar. lib. 30. cap. 12, c.
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 frame announced his approaching diffolution ; 
 bat the progrefs of the French monarch roufed 
 Lim from the couch of ficknefs ; and all Spain 
 refounded with his formidable preparations. 
 But while his meafurcs attracted the attention 
 of Europe, and the magnitude of his armaments 
 fpread alarm on the oppofite coafls of Africa, 
 Ferdinand was rapidly drawing near the final 
 period of his life. Having committed the ad- 
 miniftration of Spain, until the arrival of Charles, 
 to the vigorous hand of Cardinal Ximenes, he 
 expired in a fmall inn, in an obfcure village, on 
 
 his way to Andalufia. in the fixty- 
 A. D. 1516. 
 
 fourth year of his age. The character 
 
 of Ferdinand bears a ftrong refemblance to that 
 of his contemporary, Henry VII. King of Eng- 
 land, with whom he cultivated the ftricleit friend- 
 fhip. He pofTefled not the ardent and chivalrous 
 courage which was requifite to command the 
 admiration of the high-fpirited Spaniards ; yet in 
 every emergency he dilplayed a mind not only 
 calm but undaunted. The greateft part of his 
 reign was a feries of wars in which he was 
 generally fuccefsful. In his internal govern- 
 ment he was item, dccifive, and inflexible : he 
 checked the exorbitant power of the nobles, and 
 exalted the royal authority : he diminished the 
 (Irength of the feudal fvflem, gave vigour to
 
 366 
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 the executive power and efficacy to the laws. 
 But the benefits which the kingdom derived 
 from his adminiftration were balanced by an 
 evil of incalculable magnitude. The inquifition, 
 which has fo long fhackled the minds of the 
 people, and overclouded their happinefs with its 
 baneful fhade, owed to him its firft eftablifjhment 
 in Spain. Unfeeling, jealous, and unrelenting, 
 he viewed the merits of his fubje&s with a 
 fufpicious eye, and rewarded with a cold and 
 reluftant hand, although he punifhed with rigid 
 and exemplary juftice. Avarice has been con- 
 fidered as a principal trait in his character ; but, 
 perhaps, the impartial obferver will regard the 
 avarice of Ferdinand as a judicious parfimony. 
 Both in his private life and his public adminiftra- 
 lion he adhered to the principles of the ftricleft 
 economy, and the taxes levied on his fubjeBs 
 were fcrupuloufty devoted to the enlargement 
 of his dominions. Steeled againft every rernorfe 
 of conference, he paid little regard to the means 
 by which he obtained his ends; and his un- 
 grateful treatment of Columbus, and of the Great 
 Captain Gonfalvo, tarnifhed the glory of his 
 reign. But hiftory, in condemning his vices, 
 mull candidly acknowledge his abilities : he was 
 the greateft and mofl fuccefsful politician of his 
 time. By uniting the crowns of Caftile, ArragoiVv
 
 367 
 
 Grenada, and Navarre, he was the firft of the 
 fuccefTors of Pelagius, who could afpire to the 
 title of fovercign of Spain; and under his aufpices 
 that kingdom aflumed a commanding ftation in 
 she political i'y&em of Europe*
 
 CHAP. XII. 
 
 Acceffion of Charles V. Vigorous adminiitration of Cardinal 
 Ximenes. His death. His character. Perturbated flate of Spain. 
 Elefhon of Charles to the imperial throne of Germany. General 
 difcontent of the Spaniards. Charles departs for Germany. Revolt 
 of a great part of Spain. Eftablimment of the Holy Junta. War 
 of the Commons againft the ariftocracy arid the crown. Execution 
 of Don Juan de Padilla. Magnanimity of his widow Donna Maria. 
 Her vigorous defence of Toledo. SupprefTion cf the revolt of the 
 Commons. Fatal blow to the liberties of Spain. 
 
 ON the demife of Ferdinand, his grandfon, 
 Charles V. fucceedcd to the crowns of Spafn, 
 Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia. He had not yet 
 completed his fixteenth year ; but William de 
 Croy, Lord of Chievres, who, with Adrian of 
 Utrecht, fuperintended his education, had fuc- 
 cefsfully encouraged him to excel in martial 
 exercifes, and inltrucled him in the fcience of 
 government. From his fifteenth year, when he 
 a {Turned the adminiftration of Flanders, he had 
 been accuftomed to attend to bufinefs, to perufe 
 all the papers relative to (late affairs, and to be 
 prcfcnt at the deliberations of his privy coiin-
 
 369 
 
 fellors.* From fuch an education Charles had 
 acquired a gravity and a fteadinefs of thought 
 that could fcarcely have been expefted at fo 
 early an age, while his fubjecls were dazzled 
 by his graceful figure and exterior accomplish- 
 ments. 
 
 The gratitude of Charles, to his tutor, induced 
 him to appoint Adrian, of Utrecht, to the regency 
 of Spain. But the profound theologian foon 
 perceived himfelf unequal to the tafk of govern- 
 ing a great and turbulent nation ; and confcious 
 of the fuperior abilities of Ximenes, he fuffered 
 the whole power to remain in his hands, content- 
 ing himfelf with a nominal dignity. The critical 
 juncture of affairs, indeed, required the direction 
 of a more experienced flatefman than Adrian. 
 Charles had refolved to affume the title of King; 
 but by the laws of Spain, the crowns of Caftile 
 and Arragon belonged to his mother Joanna; 
 and though her infirmities disqualified her-from 
 governing, her incapacity had not been acknow- 
 ledged by any public aft of the Cortes; fo that the 
 pretenfions of Charles were considered as a diret 
 violation of their privileges. Ximenes, how- 
 ever, carried the meafure into efFecl with vigour 
 and promptitude. The title of Charles was re- 
 cognifed in Caftile; but the authority of Ximenes 
 
 * Mem, dc Bellai, p. II. 
 VOL, I. 3 A
 
 370 HISTORY OF 
 
 did not extend to Arragon, and Charles w 
 not acknowledged as King by the Arragonians- 
 until his arrival. 
 
 The Hate of Spain, at this juncture, was fucii 
 as required a vigorous hand. The feudal in- 
 ftitutions, though fhaken by Ferdinand, ftill 
 fubfifted : the nobles were ftill powerful and 
 turbulent : the cities were numerous and con- 
 fiderable, and their privileges and political in- 
 fluence extenfive : factions were bold and 
 daring, and difcontents were ready_to bur ft forth 
 into open infurreftion. Happily, however, for 
 Spain, the genius of Xirnenes was equal to every 
 difficulty; nor could the advanced feafon of his 
 life check his bold and commanding fpirit. To 
 extinguifh the formidable pretenfions of the 
 nobles, and eftablifh, on a firm foundation, the 
 royal authority, was his principal object. But 
 this could not be effected without an armed force 
 at the difpofal of the crown. By the feudal 
 conftitution the military power was lodged in 
 the hands of the barons, whom their vaflals 
 attended to the field, and on thefe the King was 
 obliged to rely in warlike operations. From 
 this Hate of dependence, Ximenes undertook to 
 deliver the crown. He ilfued an order to the 
 cities to enrol and train to arms a certain num- 
 ber of their burgefTes to fcrve asa national militia. 
 The nobility, who faw the tendency of the
 
 SPAIN. 371 
 
 nicafurc, excited the cities to difobedience ; 
 but the dccifive tone of the Cardinal Archbifhop 
 enforced fubmiflion ; and he foon prepared to 
 make ufe of the ftrength which he thus acquired. 
 He caufed a ftrift inquiry to be made into the 
 property of the barons: a confiderable part of 
 this corififted of grants obtained, or lands 
 wrefted from the crown in the moments of its 
 vveaknefs. To have traced all thefe encroach- 
 ments to their origin would have involved in- 
 calculable difficulties, and have thrown the whole 
 kingdom into confufion. But Ximenes prudently 
 confined his inquiry to the laft reign. The 
 parfimonious difpofition of Ferdinand was but 
 little inclined to ats of generofity ; yet as he 
 had been raifed to the throne by a faction ; and 
 his adherents had ftipulated their recompenfe, 
 the grants made under his reign had been far 
 from inconfiderable. Thcfe were all re fumed 
 by Ximenes on the principle of their reverfion 
 to the crown on the death of Ferdinand, and 
 ferved the minifter as a fund, which enabled 
 him to pay his militia, and replenifh the magazines 
 with warlike (lores. 
 
 The nobles being alarmed by the fucceffive 
 attacks of Ximenes, which threatened the total 
 abolition of their power and privileges, began 
 to think of an appeal from his decifions to the 
 fword ; but the Cardinal Archbifhop foon con- 
 
 5 A 2
 
 372 HJSTOUY OF 
 
 vinced them that it was too late. The Admiral 
 of Caflile, the Duke del Infantado, and the 
 Count de Benevento, being deputed to examine 
 the powers by which he ated, he produced the 
 teftament of Ferdinand, with the ratification by 
 Charles. But as they ftill feemed to be difTatisfiedj 
 Ximenes led them to a balcony from which they 
 had a view of a large body of troops in martial 
 array, with a formidable train of artillery. 
 Pointing to thefe, " Behold," faid he, " my 
 "powers. With thefe I govern Caftile ; and 
 " with thefe I will govern it, until the King, your 
 "matter and mine {hall take pofleflfion.''* An 
 anfwer fo bold and decifive difconcerted the 
 nobles : they were convinced of the danger of 
 arming againft a man fo well prepared for the 
 conteft, and abandoned all thoughts of a con- 
 federacy. But Ximenes found more difficulty 
 in oppofing the corrupt and venal fyflem of the 
 Flemifh courtiers of Charles. By their manage- 
 ment, all the moft important appointments in 
 Spain were expofcd to fale, and without any 
 regard to merit were conferred on the higheft 
 bidders. Ximenes inveighed againft the dif- 
 graceful traffic, and rcprefented the neccffity of 
 the royal prefence in Spain. 
 
 * Flech. Vie de Xim. sd 551. Herrcr. torn. 8. p. 433.
 
 SPAIN. ^373 
 
 Ferdinand having been a member of the holy- 
 league, Charles found himfelf, at his acceffion, 
 involved in a war with France. A treaty, 
 however, was concluded, and peace was reftored 
 between the two kingdoms. No fooncr had 
 this event taken place than Charles began to 
 think of his departure for Spain. But the afcen- 
 dency of his Flemifh courtiers, who dreaded an 
 interview between him and Ximenes, detained 
 him another whole year in the Netherlands. At 
 length, however, the repeated intreaties of the 
 Cardinal, and the murmurs of the Spaniards, 
 induced him to embark. He was accompanied 
 by Chievres, Lord of Croy, and a fplendid train 
 of nobles; and after a dangerous voyage landed 
 in Spain amidft the acclamations of his fubjccls. 
 Ximenes fet out to meet him as foon as he heard 
 of his arrival ; but his journey was arrefted by a 
 fevere indifpofition. Finding himfelf unable to 
 proceed, he di [patched a letter to his fovereign : 
 he advifed him to difmifs the Flemings in his 
 train, whole numbers and influence gave offence 
 to the Spaniards ; and he earneftly foliated an 
 interview, that he might inform him of the (late 
 of the nation and the temper of the people. 
 To prevent this, both the Flcmifli and Spanifh 
 nobles employed all their addrefs ; and the 
 Cardinal had the mortification to find all his 
 counfcls negleted. He received a letter from
 
 374 HISTORY OF 
 
 the King, who, after fome formal expreflions of 
 regard, granted him permifTion to retire to his 
 diocefe, that after a life of fuch long continued 
 labour he might end his days in tranquillity. 
 Whether his haughty mind could not brook dif- 
 appointment, or his patriotic fpirit could not 
 bear the contemplation of the misfortunes that 
 menaced his country, or, what is moft probable, 
 his thread of life was worn out by increaling 
 infirmities, he expired a few hours after receiving 
 this difmifTal. Among thofe writers who arc 
 unwilling that their heroes fhould make their 
 exit like ordinary men, feme have afcribed his 
 death to poifon, fome to chagrin, and others to 
 a combination of both ; but if we confider his 
 extreme old age, it is needlcls to fearch very far 
 for the caufe of his diffolution. 
 
 The character of Ximenes difplays a fingu'ar 
 mixture of qualities. To the prudence of the 
 ftatcfman.he united the magnanimous intrepidity 
 of the hero, and the fanaticifrn of the Monk, as 
 well as an incorruptible integrity, a quality fo 
 rarely found among politicians. Though in- 
 vefled with the high dignities of Cardinal and 
 Archbifhop of Toledo, and alib that of Regent 
 of C:;iti!c, he continued to practice all the 
 auflerities of a monadic life ; and although 
 obliged to difplay, in public, the magnificence 
 failed to his ftation, he conilantly wore, under
 
 SPAIN. 373 
 
 ins pontifical robes, the coarfe frock of St. 
 Francis. He never made ufe of linen, but wore 
 haircloth next his (kin : he always flept in his 
 habit, mod frequently on the ground or on 
 boards; and he did not tatte any of the delicacies 
 that were ferved up at his table, but invariably 
 confined himfelf to the fimple diet prefcribed by 
 the rules of his order. But with this fuper- 
 ititious adherence to Monkifh iiu'litutions, he 
 poiTefTed a genius profound and extcnfive, and 
 fertile in vaft and magnificent fchemcs. His 
 political condutt was remarkable for its bold- 
 nefs and originality, and he purfued all his 
 meafures with undaunted firmnefs and unre- 
 mitting afliduity. All his plans were diitinguifned 
 by their grandeur and fuccefs. His difinterefted 
 patriotifm was not lefs confpicuous than his 
 other exalted qualities : he lived not for himfelf 
 but for the public; and his immenfe revenues 
 were confecrated to the fervice of his country. 
 His reputation is flill high in Spain, and his 
 name deferves a diftinguifhed place in the lift 
 of ftatefmen : as he is the only prime minifter 
 mentioned in hiftory whom the people revered 
 as a Saint.* 
 
 Charles was foon awakened to a fenfe of the 
 lofs which he had fuftnined by the death of fa 
 
 * Robeufon. Hift- cap. $. vol. a, p. 36, 37, 61.,
 
 3?6 HISTORY OF 
 
 able a minifter. The Cortes of Caflile, aflembled 
 at Valladolid, confented to acknowledge him as 
 fovereign only in conjunction with his mother, 
 and under the exprefs condition that if, at 
 any future period, fhe fhould recover her 
 reafon, the whole royal authority fhould return 
 into her hands. At SaragolTa he found the 
 Cortes of Arragon (till lefs compliant; and it 
 was with difficulty that they were prevailed on 
 to recognife his title of King in conjunction 
 with his mother. The Cortes of Caftile had 
 voted a free gift of fix hundred thoufand ducats 
 to be paid in three years, a greater ftim than 
 they had granted to any of their former Kings ; 
 but thofe of Arragon limited their liberality to 
 two hundred thoufand. The fymptorns of di(- 
 content, indeed, were every where vifible. 
 Charles (poke the Spanifh language imperfeftly: 
 his difcourfe was confequently (low, and de- 
 livered with hefitation ; and from that circum- 
 ftance many of the Spaniards were induced to 
 regard him as a Prince of a flow and narrow 
 genius. But the greateft diflatisfaQion arofe 
 from his attachment to his Flemifh favourites, 
 who engroffed or expofed to fale every office of 
 honour or emolument, and whofe rapacity was 
 fo unbounded that they are faid to have remitted 
 to the Netherlands no lefs a fum than eleven 
 hundred thoufand ducats in the (pace of ten
 
 SPAIN. 37? 
 
 foonths. Chievres, in particular, had gained 
 over the youthful monarch the afccndency of a 
 parent rather than of a tutor; and the nomination 
 of his nephew, William de Croy, a young man 
 not of canonical age, to the Archbifhopric of 
 Toledo, was conficiered as both an injury and 
 an infult to the Spanifh nation. Thefe proceed- 
 ings excited a general murmur. Seville, Toledo, 
 Segovia, and others of the principal cities, 
 entered into a confederacy for the defence of 
 their privileges : they remonflrated, with bold- 
 nefs, again (I the preferment of ftrangers, the fale 
 of offices, the exportation of the coin, and the 
 increafe of taxes, and by thefe determined 
 meafures laid the foundation of that famous 
 union among the Commons of Caftile, which 
 afterwards fo dreadfully convulfed the king- 
 dom.* 
 
 While Spain, agitated by a general difcontent, 
 was ready for rebellion, a fpacious field was 
 opened to the ambition of her monarch. The 
 death of the Emperor Maximilian had left vacant 
 the imperial throne of Germany. The Kings 
 of Spain, of France, and of England, offered 
 themfeives as candidates for this high dignity > 
 but Henry VIII. after a train of long and ex- 
 penfive butufelefs negotiations with the German 
 
 Herrer. 8. p. 464, 
 VOL, I, B
 
 378 HISTORY OF 
 
 Princes, withdrew from the hopelefs conteftv 
 and left the field open to Charles and Francis. 
 The pretenfions of both thefe illuftrious can- 
 didates were fupported by powerful arguments, 
 founded on the exifting circumftances of the 
 empire and of Europe. The increafing magni- 
 tude of the Turkifh power was, at that period,, 
 the grand objecl of apprehenfion to Germany. 
 The conquefts of Selim II. had fpread a general 
 alarm throughout Europe : he had recently 
 added Syria and Egypt to his dominions, and 
 was ready to turn his arms againft chriftendom. 
 To refill this torrent it was requifite that the im- 
 perial fceptre of Germany mould be wielded by 
 fome hand that fhould be able to proteft the 
 empire againft the dangers by which it was 
 menaced. Charles poffefTed the hereditary do- 
 minions of the Houfe of Auftria, which, from 
 their fituation on the banks of the Danube, pre- 
 fented a natural barrier againft the Ottoman 
 arms ; and his agents enforced the ncceflity of 
 electing an Emperor, who, to extenfive territories 
 in that quarter, where the impreflion would firft. 
 be felt, joined the refources of a powerful 
 monarchy and an ample revenue.* Francis alib 
 reigned over a powerful and warlike nation, 
 and was already renowned for his perfonal 
 
 * Robertfon's Hift. Charles V. d, p. 72, &c.
 
 SPAIN. 379 
 
 Valour and martial abilities. His emifiaries re- 
 prefentcd that a monarch, who, in his early 
 youth, had triumphed over the valour and dif- 
 cipline of the Swifs, who had hitherto been 
 deemed invincible, would be a formidable 
 antagonift to the Ottoman Emperor. They 
 urged that it was time to convince the Houfe of 
 Auftria that the crown was elective and not 
 hereditary ; and all their arguments were fecond- 
 ed by immenfe gifts and boundlefs promifes to 
 all who had influence in the election. As the 
 convenient method of tranfmitting money by 
 bills of exchange was then little known, the 
 French ambafladors travelled with a train of 
 horfes laden with money to bribe thofe perfons 
 who might be ferviceable to the interefts of 
 their mafter. 
 
 While the whole machinery of intrigue and 
 corruption was put in motion by the two great 
 candidates, the other European powers had alfo 
 their interefts and views in the bufinefs. The 
 Swifs, recollecting their bloody defeat at Marig- 
 nano, and dreading the increafed power of a 
 neighbour fo potent and ambitious as Francis, 
 gave an open preference to Charles ; while the 
 Venetians, who had the fame reafon to apprehend 
 the aggrandizement of the Houfe of Auftria, 
 favoured the claims of the French monarch. It 
 would certainly have been to the advantage of 
 3 B 2
 
 380 HISTORY OF 
 
 the other powers of Europe, could they have 
 fucceeded in the meafure, to have excluded 
 both the competitors, as the imperial dignity 
 united to the crown of either France or Spain, 
 would place the new Emperor in too command- 
 ing a fituation. The penetrating eye of Leo X. 
 \vho then filled the apoftolic chair, perceived 
 that the election of either of the contending 
 monarchs would alike be dangerous to the in- 
 dependence of the Holy See, the tranquillity of 
 Italy, and the liberties of Europe; and he iecretly 
 advifed the German Princes to place one of 
 their own number on the imperial throne.* 
 
 The Diet being opened at Frankfort, the Elec- 
 tors, notwithstanding the artful reafonings of 
 
 J O O 
 
 the ambaflTadors of Charles and Francis, con- 
 fidered that the firft principle of German policy 
 \vas to limit the power of the Emperor, and that 
 the election of either of the two monarchs would 
 give them a matter inftead of a chief, and reduce 
 them to the rank of fubjets. Imprcffed by 
 thefe ideas they unanimoufly offered the impe- 
 rial crown to Frederick, Duke of Saxony, whofc 
 judicious rejection of the alluring propofai 
 difplayed his magnanimity and wifclom. He 
 advifed them to commit the fceptre to fome 
 more powerful hand than his, or that of any 
 
 * Guicciard. 13th. p. 160, Sec,
 
 SPAIN. 381 
 
 other German Prince. " In times of tranquil- 
 lity, " (aid he, ' ; we defire an Emperor who 
 "has not the power of invading our liberties: 
 " times of danger demand one who is able to 
 " to fecure our fafety. The Turkifh armies are 
 "ready to pour in upon Germany: to oppofe 
 " them we muft have recourfe to one of the rival 
 " monarchs ; but as the King of Spain is of 
 " German extraction, and a member of the 
 44 empire, as his dominions ftretch along the 
 "frontier which is mod expofed to the enemy, 
 "his claim is preferable to that of a ftranger to 
 " our language, to our blood, and our country."* 
 This diiinterefted and judicious advice com- 
 manded the affent of a majority of the Electoral 
 College ; and by the almoft unanimous confent 
 of the members, Charles was raifed to the impe- 
 A.D. 1519, rial throne. Thus ended this import- 
 ant conteft, in which every engine 
 
 * Dr. Robertfon puts this fpeech into the mouth of the Eleftor of 
 Saxony. Hifl. Charles V. vol. 2. book i. p. 81, 82. But Sleidanc 
 afcribes it to the Archb'fhop of Mentz, who gives it in different words, 
 feeming more to apprehend the ambition of the French King than the 
 Turkifh invafion. Sleidane's Commentaries, book i. fol. 11, &c. 
 According to Sleidanc the eleclion of Charles was vehemently oppofed 
 by the Arcbbifhop of Treves, \vho combated all the arguments of the 
 Archbiihop of Mentz, and declared that it was mofl proper to cleft a 
 German Prince ; but that if a foreigner was to be elected Francis ought 
 to be preferred to Charles. The Duke of Saxony gave his decided 
 opinion in favour ot Charles. The Electors, however, offered the impe- 
 rial crown to the Duke, which he abfolutcly refufed. Vide Sleidane's 
 Comm. book I- fol 13, &c. where a detailed account of the debates will 
 be found.
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 of intrigue and corruption had been fo actively 
 employed; and Francis I. after exhaufling his 
 coffers, had the mortification of feeing his 
 ilattering hopes difappointed. 
 
 Charles received the news of his election to 
 the imperial throne with the joy that was natural 
 to a young and afpiring mind. But his elevation 
 was far from affording the fame fatiifaclion to 
 his Spanifh fubjeCts, who forefaw that their 
 blood and their treafures would be lavifhed in 
 the fupport of German politics. A refractory 
 fpirit prevailed among all ranks of the nation ; 
 and the nobles of Valentia not only rcfufed to 
 admit the Cardinal Adrian as the royal repre- 
 fentative, but alfo declared that the fundamental 
 laws of Spain did not permit them to grant any 
 fubfidy to a fovereign who did not refide in the 
 country. Caftile was in a fimilar (late of agita- 
 tion : the principal cities remonftrated againfi 
 the departure of the King for Germany; and it 
 xvas not till every artifice had been employed 
 for gaining the nobles that the Cortes confented 
 to grant him a donative. The ecclefiaftics were 
 not lefs refractory than the other orders of the 
 ftate. The Pope had granted to the King the 
 tenth of ail benefices in Caftile, under the 
 pretence of enabling him to carry on a war with 
 greater vigour againft the Turks ; but the clergy, 
 in a general convocation, unanimoufly refufed
 
 SPAIN. 383 
 
 to levy that fum, on the ground that it ought 
 never to be exacted except when chriftendom 
 was a6lually invaded by the Infidels ; and 
 although Leo, in order to enforce their obedi- 
 ence, laid the kingdom under an interdift, fo 
 little regard was paid to his cenfure that the 
 fovereign himfelf was obliged to apply for its 
 removal. 
 
 Notwithftanding the general difaffeftion of 
 Spain, Charles having at length obtained from 
 the Cortes the fums which were neceflary for his 
 appearance in Germany with a fplendour fuitable 
 to the imperial dignity, refolved no longer to 
 delay his departure. He nominated the Cardinal 
 Adrian, of Utrecht, Regent during his abfence; 
 and conferred the vicerovalties of Arraoron and 
 
 j O 
 
 Valencia on Don Juan de Lanuza, and Don 
 Diego de Mendoza, Count de Melito. The 
 appointment of the two latter was univerfally 
 acceptable; but although the Cardinal was the 
 leaft obnoxious of all the Flemings, the Caftilian 
 pride was wounded by the preference of a 
 ftranger to their own nobility. But Charles, 
 without paying any regard to their murmurs, 
 embarked at Corunna for the Netherlands, in 
 order to proceed to Germany. Knowing that 
 the late conteft for the imperial crown had fown 
 the feeds of hoftility between him and the French 
 monarch, he was defirous of forming an alliance
 
 584 HISTORY OF 
 
 with Henry VIII. and in order to procure art 
 interview with that Prince touched at Dover. 
 From that port a meffage was fent to Henry, 
 who haftened to receive his illuftrious gueft 
 with every mark of diftinftion. Though the 
 moments of Charles, at that juncture, were 
 precious, and his ftay in confequence was fhort, 
 yet he had the addrefs to give the King of 
 England ftrong impreffions in his favour, and 
 to attach to his interefts Cardinal Wolfey, his 
 all powerful minifler, whofe avarice he gratified 
 by a liberal penfion, and whole ambition he 
 flattered by promifing, on the next vacancy, to 
 promote his fucceffion to the chair of St. Peter. 
 Henry, accompanied by his favourite, Wolfey, 
 foon after palfed over into the Netherlands ; 
 and at a fecond interview with Charles, at 
 Gravelines, the treaty was concluded between 
 the two monarchs. After taking thefe pre- 
 cautionary meafures Charles proceeded to Ger- 
 many, and at Aix-la-Chapelle the crown of 
 Charlemagne was placed on his head with all the 
 pompous folemnity which the Germans deemed 
 efTential to the dignity of their empire. 
 
 If magnitude of power were to be eflimated 
 by extent of dominion, Charles might, after his 
 acceflion to the imperial throne, be regarded as 
 by far the moil potent Prince in Europe. He 
 was Emperor of Germany 3 King of Spain and of
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 Naples, and fovereign of Auftria and the Nether- 
 lands : even the boundaries of the habitable 
 earth feemed to be enlarged that he might reign 
 over a new world ; and in the fame year which 
 beheld Charles Veiled with the imperial purple, 
 
 the conqueft of the rich and extenfive 
 1521. 
 
 empire of Mexico was completed by Ferdi- 
 nando Cortez.* Yet the effective ftrength of 
 the monarch was far from being commenfurate 
 with the extent of his dominions : his territories 
 were diftant and difjointed, and his authority- 
 over his fubjecls was limited. The different 
 nations which compofed his vaft empire were 
 ftrangers to each other: their cuftoms, laws, 
 and languages were different. They were often 
 actuated by mutual hatred, always by jealoufy, 
 and feconded with reluctance the defigns of 
 their common fovereign. Thefe political dif- 
 cordances, with the differences which arofe in 
 religious opinions, and the conftant rivalfhip 
 which fubfilled between him and Francis I. 
 rendered the reign of Charles a continued fcene 
 of agitation and turbulence. 
 
 The troubles which convulfed his dominions 
 and perplexed his reign, firft broke out in Spain. 
 Charles had no fooner embarked at Corunna 
 than the embers of public difcontent burft out 
 
 * Sec th? following chapter 
 VOL. I. g C
 
 386 HISTORY OF 
 
 into an open flame. As foon as it .was under- 
 flood that although the Cortes had voted him a 
 free gift, they had not obtained the redrefs of 
 any grievance, the indignation of the people 
 became general and uncontrollable. The citi- 
 zens of Toledo took arms, attacked the citadel, 
 and compelled the governor to furrender. 
 Having, in the next place, eftablifhed a demo- 
 cratical form of government, compofed of 
 deputies from the feveral parifhes of the city, 
 they levied troops, and appointed for their com- 
 mander Don Juan de Padilla, fon of the Com- 
 mendator of Caftile, a young man of an ambi- 
 tious and daring fpirit, and a great favourite 
 \vuh the populace. Segovia, Burgos, Zamora, 
 and feveral other cities, followed the example of 
 Toledo; and the Regent was alarmed in Valado- 
 lid at the rapid progrefs of the infurre&ion, The 
 opinions of the council were divided : one party 
 infifted on the neceffity of employing force 
 againft the infurgents : the other recommended 
 conciliatory meafures. The influence of the 
 Archbifhop of Grenada prevailed over the mild 
 difpofition of Adrian, who was naturally inclined 
 to lenity. Ronquillo, one of the King's judges, 
 a man of unrelenting feverity, was ordered to 
 repair with a confiderable body of troops to 
 Segovia. On his approach the citizens flew to 
 arms and fhut their gates. Enraged at the infult.
 
 SPAIN. 387 
 
 Ronquillo pronounced them rebels, and com- 
 menced the blockade of the city, but being 
 attacked by Don Juan de Padilla, who had 
 marched with a detachment from Toledo, he 
 was compelled to retire with the lofs of his 
 baggage and military cheft. 
 
 The Regent, on receiving intelligence of this 
 tranfaftion, ordered Antonio de Fonfeca, the 
 commander in chief in Caftile, to befiege 
 Segovia in form. In order to execute this 
 commiffion the general judged it expedient to 
 draw a train of battering artillery from Medino 
 del Campo, where Cardinal Ximenes had eftab- 
 lifhed his principal magazine of military ftores. 
 But the inhabitants refufed to deliver up thofe 
 arms to be employed in the deftruclion of their 
 compatriots, which had been prepared againft 
 the enemies of Spain. Fonfeca, exafperated at 
 their refiftance, commenced an affault on the 
 town ; and in order to divert the attention of 
 the citizens, commanded his troops to fet fire 
 to fome of the houfes. The flames rapidly 
 fpreading, a great part of the town was deflroyed, 
 and the warehoufes, which were replenifhed 
 with goods for the approaching fair of Segovia, 
 were involved in the conflagration. On receiv- 
 ing intelligence of this tran faction, the citizens 
 of Valadolid, whom the prefence of the Regent 
 had hitherto reftrained, caught the general con- 
 
 3C2
 
 388 HISTORY OF 
 
 tagion ; and having fhewn their deteftation of 
 Fonfccas' conduft. by burning his houfe to the 
 ground, they followed the example of the other 
 cities in electing new maeiftrates and levying 
 
 c 3 Jo 
 
 foldiers. The Regent, in order to appeafe the 
 people, difavowed the proceedings of the gene- 
 ral ; and the exhauiled ftate of the treafury 
 compelled him to difband the greateft part of 
 his troops. 
 
 The ftate of the kingdom, at this juncture, was 
 favourable to the views of the Commons. The 
 cities'of Spain were numerous, and many of them 
 large, populous, and opulent : they pofleffcd 
 valuable immunities and privileges ; and the 
 genius of their internal government was in a 
 great meafure democratical.* The fovereign 
 was abfent, the treafury exhauiled, and the army 
 in a feeble condition. All thefe circumftances 
 contributed to animate the popular chiefs, whole 
 firft care was to eftablifli a bond of union among 
 the infurgents. A general convention was 
 appointed to be held at Avila, to which the cities 
 fent their deputies. They bound themfelves 
 by a folemn oath to defend their privilege?., and 
 alfuming the title of the Holy Junta, proceeded 
 to deliberate concerning the national affairs. 
 Their caufe received a great acccffion of ftrength 
 
 * Robertfon's Hill. Charles V. vol. 2. p. 230. 231.
 
 SPAIN. 389 
 
 from the fuccefsful meafures of Don Juan de 
 Padilla. That general, after relieving Segovia, 
 fuddenly marched to Tordefillas, where Joanna 
 hadrefided fince the death of her hufband Philip. 
 Prefenting himfelf before her, he painted in glow- 
 ing colours the fufferings of her fubjecls under 
 the government of her fon. The unhappy 
 Princefs, as if awakened from a lethargy, 
 declared that flic had never heard of the death 
 of her father, adding this expreffion : " Until I 
 fi can provide a fufficient remedy, let it be your 
 * ; care to do what is neceffary for the public 
 u welfare." The words were readily feized by 
 Padilla : the Junta fixed their refidence at 
 Tordefillas, and pretended that the Queen had 
 recovered the ufe of her reafon. But if fhe had 
 enjoyed any lucid interval, fhe foon relapfed 
 into her former (late, and could never be 
 brought to exercife any of the functions of 
 royalty. 
 
 The Junta, however, endeavoured to conceal 
 her melancholy fituation. They announced her 
 recovery to the people, and carried on the 
 bufmefs of government in her name. And Don 
 Padilla being fent to Valladolid, diverted the 
 Regent of his authority, and brought away the 
 feals of the kingdom and the public archives. 
 In Germany, Charles received repeated in- 
 telligence of the commotions which agitated
 
 *90 HISTORY OF 
 
 Spain ; but the critical (late of his affairs did noc 
 permit his immediate return to that country. 
 His various embarraiTments induced him to try 
 the effect of conciliatory meafures : he offered 
 the infurgents a general pardon on condition of 
 laying down their arms : he promifed not to 
 exafcl the fubfidies granted by the late Cortes, and 
 engaged that no public office fhould, for the 
 future, be conferred on any but native Caftilians. 
 But. at the fame time, he exhorted the nobles to 
 defend the rights of the crown and the ariftocracy 
 againfl the exorbitant claims of the Commons, 
 and appointed the High Admiral and the High 
 Conflable of Caflile to acl as Regents in con- 
 junction with Adrian. 
 
 But the influence of the people had attained to 
 fuch a height as not to be eafily repreffed; and 
 the junta, relying on the unanimity and 
 ardour difplayed by the cities, refolved not to 
 re II fatisfied with the redrefs which they had de- 
 manded before the departure of the King. The 
 objecls at which they aimed were publifhed in a 
 bold remonflrance, diftinclly ftating the abufes 
 of which they had demanded the reform. They 
 required that the King fhould return and rcfidc 
 in vSpain, and that, on any neccffary abfence, he 
 fhould commit the regency to a native of the 
 kingdom. Be fides the exclufion of foreigners 
 from office, they demanded that their naturaliza-
 
 SPAIN-. 
 
 tion fhould not be permitted : that all taxes 
 fhould be reduced to the fame ftate as they were 
 at the death of Queen Ifabella. and that all aliena- 
 tions of the royal revenues, fince that period, 
 fhould be refumed : that in all future Cortes 
 each city fhould fend three reprefentatives, one 
 of the clergy, one of the nobility, and one of the 
 Commons, each to be elefted by his own order : 
 that no member fhould receive any office or 
 penfion from the King; and that the Cortes, 
 whether fummoned by the fovereign or not, 
 fhould meet every three years to deliberate on 
 the affairs of the nation. Such were the principal 
 articles whi'ch the Commons propofed to the 
 crown. At the fame time they refolved to 
 humble the ariltocracy. They demanded the 
 revocation of all privileges which the nobles 
 had, at any time, obtained to the prejudice of 
 the Commons : that they fhould not be appointed 
 governors of cities or towns, and that their 
 poffeffions fhould be fubjeft to all public taxes 
 in the fame manner as thofe of the people. 
 
 This was the critical junBure of Spanifh 
 liberty. Till this time the ariilocratical and 
 democratical parties had perfeftly harmonized : 
 the grandees of Spain, defirous of curtailing the 
 royal authority, favoured the caufe of the Com- 
 mons fo long as their proceedings and views were 
 directed foldy againit the power of the crown,
 
 392 HISTORY OF 
 
 But they no fooner perceived the privileges of their 
 own order invaded, than the fcene was entirely 
 changed. Apprehending the extinction of their 
 power and influence from the efforts of a levelling 
 democracy, which was conftantly extending its 
 claims, they prepared to refift the ftorm ; and 
 feeing the unavoidable neceffity of obeying 
 either the Prince or the people, they ranged 
 themfelves on the fide of the crown. 
 
 In the mean while the deputies, whom the 
 Junta had appointed to prefent their remonftrance 
 to the Emperor, having been informed that they 
 could not proceed to Germany, but at ihe rifk of 
 iheir lives, returned without executing their 
 commiffion. This circumftance increafed, to 
 the higheft pitch, the indignation of the Com- 
 mons : that a King of Caftile fhould deny his 
 fubjecls accefs to his prefence, was regarded as 
 an unprecedented and intolerable inftance of 
 tyranny ; and the Junta refolved on the moft 
 vigorous meafures for oppofing the combined 
 pou'ers of the crown and the ariftocracy. Twenty 
 thoufand men immediately ranged themfelves 
 under the popular ftandard; but an egregious 
 error was committed in the choice of a com- 
 mander. Don Juan de Padilla was the idol of 
 the infurgents : the inclinations of the foldiers 
 and the people were united in his favour; but 
 Don Pedro de Giron ? eldeft fon of the Count de
 
 SPAIN, 393 
 
 tjruena, who, through private refentment againft 
 the King, had joined the Commons, was pre- 
 ferred by the Junta on account of his illuftrious 
 birth, a fingular reafon at a time when the obje6l 
 in view was the exaltation of the people, and the 
 humiliation of the fuperior orders. The effecls 
 of their miftake foon became vifible. Don 
 Giron, though perhaps true to thecaufe in which 
 he had engaged, potreflcd not abilities equal to 
 fo important a truft. Confiding in the fuperi- 
 ority of his numbers, he advanced to Rio Seco, 
 where the army of the Regents, commanded by 
 the Count de Haro, was pofted, and having 
 feized the avenues attempted to cut off their 
 fupplies of provifions. But a confiderable con- 
 voy having pafled fafe through his pofts, he dif- 
 covered the impracticability of the meafure; 
 and feeing himfelf difappointed in his defign, he 
 fuddenly marched to Villa Penda, where the 
 Regents had their principal magazines. This 
 movement left Tordefillas open to the royalifts; 
 and the Count de Haro did not fail to profit by 
 the overfight. Marching rapidly to that town, 
 he furprifed and cut to pieces a regiment of 
 priefts, who had undertaken to guard the place, 
 made himfelf mailer of the perfon of the Queen, 
 recovered the great feal of the kingdom and the 
 other infignia of royalty. 
 VOL. i. 30
 
 394 
 
 This was a fatal blow to the Commons. Don 
 Giron, their general, was evidently incapable 
 of contending again ft the fuperior fkili and 
 experience of the Count de Haro, and the un- 
 fuccefsful rcfult of his manoeuvres had rendered 
 his fidelity fufpecled. Confcious of having loll 
 the popular confidence, he immediately refigned 
 the command of die army. Don Juan de 
 Padilla was, by the Junta, nominated as his fuc- 
 ceffor: his appointment reftored the fpirits of 
 the people, and his ftandard was daily joined by 
 new levies. On both fides the molt vigoroua 
 preparations were made for continuing the con- 
 left. The difficulty of procuring money was to 
 both parties the greateft embarraffment. On 
 the fide of the Commons it was in a great meafure 
 removed by the bold and decifive meafures of 
 Donna Maria Pacheco Padilla, the wife of Don 
 Juan, the popular general. Superior to the 
 fcruples of fuperftition, and the fears of weak 
 minds, me propofed to feize the rich ornaments 
 of the cathedral of Toledo ; and the manner of 
 executing the projecl fhewed the acutenefs of 
 her genius. To avoid the imputation of facri- 
 lege, me marched to the church in lolemn pro- 
 ceflion, devoutly implored the pardon of the 
 faints, whofe fhrines the caufe of her country 
 compelled her to violate ; and by this artifice 
 reconciled the minds of the multitude to fo ex-
 
 SPAIN. 
 
 traordinary a proceeding. The Regents laboured 
 under the lame want of money } but they dared 
 not have recourfe to fimilar expedients. They 
 railed a fcanty fupply from the Queen's jewels, the 
 plate of the nobility, and a trifling loan nego- 
 tiated in Portugal. After an ineffectual attempt 
 to compromife matters by treaty, the hoftile 
 armies again took the field ; and that of the 
 Commons, under Padilla, carried Torrelobaton 
 by aflault. But while the Junta had been 
 amufed with overtures of peace, a confiderable 
 number of their troops, difgufted with inaction, 
 or defirous of enjoying the booty which they 
 had acquired, withdrew from the camp ; and 
 when the army of the Regents advanced, Padilla, 
 difcouraged by the defertion of his foldiers, 
 endeavoured to retreat to Toro. But before 
 he could reach the gates of that city, the appear- 
 ance of the Count de Ilaro, at the head of his 
 cavalry, compelled him to rifk an action in a 
 deep and miry ground. The troops of the 
 Junta, exhaulted with fatigue, were broken by 
 the vigorous charge of the royalifts. Padilla in 
 vain attempted to rally them by his example : 
 rufhing, with his principal officers, on the ranks 
 of the enemy, he was wounded and taken 
 pnfoner; and without even the form of a trial, 
 was led to execution. He viewed the approach 
 of death with calm and dauntlefs compofure, In 
 302
 
 396 
 
 a letter written to his wife a few hours before he 
 fuffered, he difplayed- a fpirit fuperior to his 
 fate : in another addrefTed to his native city of 
 Toledo, he exulted in the caufe for which he was 
 to die ; and he fubmitted to the ftroke of the 
 executioner with the fortitude of a hero and 
 the refignation of a Chriftian. 
 
 The fall of Don Juan de Padilla was followed 
 by the fubmiffion of the cities of Caftile. Toledo 
 alone, animated by the prefence of his widow, 
 continued to brave the royal authority. Their 
 admiration of her courage and abilities, their 
 fympathy for her misfortunes, and their venera- 
 tion for the memory of her hufband, fee u red to 
 her the fame afcendency over the minds of the 
 citizens which he himfelf had poifefTed ; and to 
 maintain it fhe employed every artifice that her 
 fertile genius could fuggefl. She marched 
 through the ftreets of Toledo with her infant fon 
 clad in deep mourning, preceded by a itandard, 
 on which was reprefemed the manner of his 
 father's execution, and caufed crucifixes inftead 
 of colours to be carried before her troops. By 
 thefe expedients flic kept up, during the fpacc 
 of fix months, the enthufiafm of the citizens, 
 who defended the town with vigour, and routed, 
 in repeated fallics, the forces of the Regents. At 
 firfl her caufe was efpoufed by the clergy; but 
 her neceflities obliging her to require their coru
 
 SPAIN. 397 
 
 tribution towards the expenfe of the conteft, 
 they became her enemies. By their arts they 
 gradually diminifhed her influence ; and fhe 
 found herfelf on the point of being abandoned 
 by the populace. In this extremity fhe retired, 
 with a few determined followers, to the citadel, 
 in which, with the moft aftonifhing fortitude, fhe 
 maintained herfelf four months longer ; and at 
 laft, making her efcape in difguife, (lie took 
 refuge in Portugal, after ftamping, by her heroic 
 exploits, a lading celebrity on her name. 
 
 During thefe tranfaclions the Province of 
 Yalentia was rent by commotions ftill more violent 
 than thofe of Caftile. But the refentment of the 
 Commons was directed againfl the ariflocracy 
 rather than the crown. They drove the nobles 
 out of the cities, affauked and plundered their 
 caftles, and wafted their lands. The councils, as 
 well as the troops of the infurgents, were con- 
 dueled by low mechanics, who, by the violence 
 of their proceedings, acquired the confidence 
 of the multitude. The Commons of Valentia, 
 however, carried on the war with greater vigour 
 and perfeverance than could have been expecled 
 from fo tumultuous a body, condu6led by fuch 
 ignorant leaders. Ferocity and determined 
 refolution fupplied the want of taclical fkill and 
 regular difcipline : the troops which the barons 
 had raifed among their vaflals were repeatedly
 
 398 HISTORY OF 
 
 defeated, and the ariftocratical order was 
 threatened with total deftruclion. But after the 
 defeat of Don Juan de Padilla had enabled the 
 Regents to join their forces to tliofe of the Count 
 de Melito, who commanded the army of the 
 Valendan barons, the Commons were incapable 
 of refilling the united ftrength of the nobles and 
 the crown : their troops were defeated, and their 
 leaders fell in battle, or by the hand of the 
 executioner : the cities were reduced to obe- 
 dience; and this famous druggie, like all un- 
 fuccefsful infurreftions, only tended to eftablifh 
 the defpotifm of the crown, and to rivet the 
 fetters of flavcry on the people.
 
 SPAIN. 399 
 
 CHAP. XII I. 
 
 Difcovcry of Mexico. Expedition of Cortcz. His quarrel with the 
 governor of Cuba. His war with the Tlafcalans. The Tlafcalana 
 fu'bmit and join Cortcz in the war againfl: Mexico. Negotiations 
 with Montezuma. Madacre of Cholula. The Spaniards and their 
 allies arc received into the city of Mexico. Defcription of Mexico 
 and its fituation. Cortez feizes the Emperor. Defeats Pamphilo dz 
 Narvacz. Returns to Mexico. General armament of the Mexicans. 
 Death of Montezuma. Retreat ol the Spaniards out of Mexico. 
 Siege and capture of Mexico. 
 
 VvHILE Charles was eftablifhing himfelf on 
 the throne of Germany, and creeling the fabric 
 of defpotifm in Spain, his adventurous fubjecls 
 were extending his dominions in the new world 
 in a manner and degree which aftonifhed man- 
 kind. Diego Velafquez, who, in the year 1511, 
 had conquered Cuba, and continued to govern 
 that ifland as the deputy of Don Diego Columbus, 
 fitted out, in 1517, an expedition for making 
 difcoveries to the weftward, and gave the com- 
 mand to Francifco Hernandez de Cordova, an 
 opulent planter-j and a man of diitinguifhed
 
 400 HISTORY OF 
 
 courage, xvho joined with the governor iri 
 advancing the money requifite for the under- 
 taking. At the'ir expenfe three fmall veffels 
 were equipped, and a hundred and ten Spanifh 
 adventurers embarked under the command of 
 Cordova, and the direction of Antonio Alaminos, 
 a fkilful pilot who had ferved under the firfl 
 difcoverer, Columbus. The expedition failed 
 from St. Jago de Cuba, on the 8th February 
 1517, and after a courfe of twenty-five days to 
 the weft arrived at the coaft of Yutacan. The 
 Spaniards continued their courfe along the coaft 
 as far as Campeachy, where they were received 
 in a friendly manner by the people of the 
 country. Cordova then proceeded to the mouth 
 of a river near Potonchon 3 but on landing his 
 men to take in water, he was fo furioufly attacked 
 by the natives that forty-feven of the Spaniards 
 were killed on the fpot, and only one man of 
 the whole body efcaped unhurt. The com- 
 rnander,however, although covered with wounds, 
 directed the retreat with a prefence of mind 
 equal to the courage which he had difplayed 
 in the engagement. After this fatal rencounter 
 the Spanifh adventurers haftened back to Cuba. 
 On their paffage they fuffered extreme diftrefs, 
 from their wounds, from ficknefs, from the heat 
 of the climate, and from want of water. Many 
 of them funk under this combination of hardfhips,
 
 SPAIN. 401 
 
 and their commander expired foon after he 
 arrived at St. Jago. 
 
 No fcenes of difafter or diflrcfs, however, 
 could damp the fpirit of enterprife among the 
 Spaniards in the new world. An extenfive 
 country had been difcovered : its appearance 
 was fertile; and from the ornaments of gold, 
 which Cordova and his followers had procured, 
 there was reafon to conclude that it abounded 
 in wealth. This fuppofition was fufficient to 
 excite romantic expectations among defperate 
 and daring adventurers. Velafques, defircus 
 of diftinguifliing himfelf by fome fplendid 
 lervice, fitted out, at his own expenfe, four (hips 
 for another voyage. Two hundred and forty 
 volunteers embarked for the enterprife, under 
 the command of Juan de Grijalva, whofe inftruc- 
 tions were tooblerve the nature of the country, 
 to traffic with the natives for gold, and, if circum- 
 ftances were inviting, toeflablifh a colony. On 
 the 8ih April, 1^18, Grijalva failed from St. 
 {ago ; and after arriving on the Mexican coaft, 
 he landed all his troops, and fomc field-piece?, 
 near the place where the Spaniards had received 
 their former defeat. The determined valour 
 of the natives, however, foon convinced the 
 invaders that in this country they would meet 
 with inch a refidance as they had never expe- 
 ncnced in any other part of the new world.
 
 402 HISTORY OF 
 
 After gaining a difficult viclory Grijalva re- 
 embarked his troops, and, failing along the coail,, 
 the Spaniards obferved, with furprife,the promif- 
 ing afpect of the country, and the novelty of 
 the objecls which prefented themfelves to their 
 view. They difcovered a number of villages 
 fcattered along the coaft, and could diftinguifh 
 feveral houfes of {lone. The appearance of the 
 country, fo different from any thing they had 
 hitherto met with in America, led them, in the 
 warmth of their imagination, to fancy that it 
 refembled their native land ; and with unani- 
 mous confent they gave it the name of New 
 Spain. In the province fince known by the 
 name of Guaxaca, they were received by the 
 people with the refpeft paid to fuperior beings ; 
 and in the fpace of fix days the Spaniards obtain- 
 ed ornaments of gold, of curious workmanfhip 9 
 to the value of fifteen hundred pefos, in ex- 
 change for European toys. Several of thofe 
 defperate adventurers propofed to eftablifh a 
 colony, and wait for reinforcements to enable 
 them to accomplifh their fchemes of conqueft 
 and plunder. But many of the men being fickly, 
 and the provifions nearly exhaufted or rendered 
 unfit for ufe by the heat of the climate, the com- 
 mander regarded it as too perilous an under- 
 taking, in fuch circumftances, to attempt the 
 fubjugation of a people whom he perceived to
 
 SPAIN. 403 
 
 fee intelligent and warlike, and not, like the 
 fava^e tribes of the iflands, fubjeft to a number 
 of petty chiefs, but united under one powerful 
 monarch. Having explored feveral hundred 
 miles of the Mexican coaft, and difcovered that 
 the country was every where fertile and opulent, 
 he confidered himfelf as having accomplifhed 
 all that it was poffible to perform with fo feeble 
 an armament, and, after a voyage of fix months, 
 returned to St. Jago. 
 
 Thefe important difcoveries excited an uni- 
 verfal fpirit of enterprife among the Spaniards 
 of Cuba. Don Velafques immediately made pre- 
 parations for a conqueft which promifed to gratify 
 both his ambition and avarice. He exerted 
 all his influence in engaging the moft diftinguifhed 
 perlons in the ifland to undertake the fervice, 
 and advanced a confiderable fum towards de- 
 fraying the expenfes of the expedition. At a 
 time when the fpiritof adventure fo pre-eminently 
 characterized the Spanifh nation, a number of 
 foldiers, ready to embark in any daring enter- 
 prife, foon appeared. But Velafques found 
 himfelf greatly embarraffed in the choice of a 
 commander of abilities equal to fo arduous an 
 undertaking, without poffeffing either influence 
 or fortune fufficient to enable him to afpire to 
 any higher rank than that of the deputy of him 
 from whom he had received his nomination, 
 
 3 E 2
 
 HISTORY OF 
 
 With this view he gave the command to Ferdi- 
 nando Cortez, who had, in the moft trying h'tua- 
 tions, difplayed the mod tranfcendant abilities ; 
 but whole poverty was fuch that Velafques did 
 not regard him as an object of jealoufy. Cortez 
 had no fooncr received his commiffion than he 
 creeled his ftandard, and exerted all his activity 
 in urging the preparations for the expedition. 
 He expended all the money that he poffefled, 
 and all that he could borrow on a mortgage of 
 his lands, amounting in the whole to fix thoufand 
 pefos,* in purchafing military flores and pro- 
 vifions, or in affording affi fiance to fuch of his 
 followers as were not able to equip themfelves 
 for the fervice. On the i8th November, 1518, 
 Cortez failed from St. Jago de Cuba, and pro- 
 ceeded to Trinidad, a fmall fcttlemcnt, where he 
 \vasjoined by feveral adventurers, and received 
 a fupply of provifions and military (tores. But 
 the armament was fcarcely out of fight before 
 the jealous mind of Velafques was alarmed by 
 the fuggeftions of the enemies of Cortez. They 
 reprefented the commander as aiming to eitablifh 
 an independent authority over his troops, and 
 endeavouring to fecurc their refpecl and obe- 
 dience by an oftentatious liberality. Their in- 
 finuations had the defired effect. Velafques 
 
 * About i, r ,col. fterlirs-
 
 SPAIN. 405 
 
 difpatched inflruclions to the chief magiftrate at 
 Trinidad to deprive Cortez of his commiffion. 
 The commander, aware of his danger, loft no 
 time in proceeding to the Havannah in order to 
 engage more volunteers, and to complete the 
 victualling of his fleet. At that place feveral 
 perfons of diftinclion entered into the fervice 
 and engaged to fupply what provifions were ftill 
 wanting. In the mean while Velafques dif- 
 pa'ched to the Governor of the Havannah a 
 peremptory injunction to arrefl Cortez, and 
 fend him, under a ftrong guard, to St. Jago, and 
 to countermand the failing of the armament till 
 further orders. Timely notice of this was given 
 by a Francifcan friar to Father Bartholomew de 
 Olmcida, chaplain to the expedition; and Cortez 
 being thus forewarned of his danger, had leifure 
 to take his precautions. Having affembled his 
 troops, he difcovered to them the intentions of 
 Velafques. Both officers and foldiers exprefTed 
 their aftonifhment and indignation at the conducl 
 of the governor. Impatient to proceed on an 
 expedition in preparing for which moft of them 
 had expended their whole fortune, with one 
 voice they declared that they would fhed the 
 laft drop of their blood in maintaining the au- 
 thority of their general, and denounced ven- 
 geance againft thofe who fhould obftrucl: the 
 execution of his defigns,
 
 406 HISTORY OF 
 
 Although the Governor of Cuba had furnished 
 a conficierable part of the expenfes of the arma- 
 rnent, and although each adventurer had ex- 
 haufted his ftock or ftrained his credit; the fleet 
 confifted of only eleven fmall vefTels, the largeft 
 of a hundred tons, three of feventy or eighty, 
 and the reft fmall open barks. The whole num- 
 ber of men amounted to fix hundred and feven- 
 teen, of whom five hundred and eighty were 
 foldiers, and a hundred and nine were feamen 
 and artificers. As fire-arms were fcarce, and 
 like all other articles of military equipment, 
 executively dear in America, only thirteen foldiers 
 were armed with mufkets, thirty-two were 
 crofbow-men, and all the reft had fwords and 
 fpears. Fordefenfive armour, the foldiers wore 
 jackets quilted with cotton, which the Spaniards 
 had found, from experience, to be a fufficient 
 fafeguard againft the weapons of the Americans. 
 Their horfes were only fixteen in number: they 
 had four falconets and ten fmall field-pieces, 
 which compofed their whole train of artillery. 
 As religious enthufiafra was conftamly united 
 with the fpirit of adventure among the Spaniards 
 in the new world, a large crofs, with an ap- 
 propriate infcription, was difplayed in their 
 ftandarcls. 
 
 With this feeble armament Cortez undertook 
 the conqueft of an empire more extenfive than
 
 SPAIN. 407 
 
 all the dominions of Spain. On the loth of 
 February, 1519, he fet fail from the Havannah, 
 and (leering to the weft, arrived at the Ifland of 
 Cozumel, where he had the good fortune to meet 
 with Jerome de Aguilar, a Spaniard, who had 
 been eight years a prifoner among the Indians, 
 and jiaving learned their language, was extremely 
 ufcful as an interpreter. Cortez then proceeded 
 to the river of Tabafco, where, meeting with an 
 unfavourable reception from the natives, he 
 commenced hoftilities. Their refiftance was 
 obftinate; but the terrible appearance of the 
 horfes, and the deftruclive effects of the fire- 
 arms, obliged them to fue for peace ; and Cortez 
 obtained a fupply of provifions, with fome 
 cotton clothing, a fmall quantity of gold, and 
 twenty female flaves, among whom was one 
 afterwards known by the name of Donna Marina, 
 who, being a Mexican by birth, was perfectly 
 acquainted with the language of that empire, a> 
 well as with that of Yucatan, which Aguilar had 
 acquired, and ever after ferved Cortez as an 
 interpreter.* 
 
 The Spanifh commander, having re-embarked 
 his forces, proceeded along the coait to St. Juan 
 
 * Donna Marina understanding the Mexican and Yucatan language?, 
 and Aguilar understanding the Yucatan and Spanifh, a regular moac of 
 interpretation was efUbliOied, Roberts, Hill. Aiacr, vol. 2, p, 162.
 
 408 HISTORV OF 
 
 de Ulna. In that harbour two perfons of 
 diftinclion carne on board, who announced 
 themfelves as deputies from Teutile and Pilpatoe, 
 two officers to \vhom the government of the 
 province was committed by a great monarch 
 whom they called Montezuma. and faid that 
 they were come to inquire what were his inten- 
 tions in vifiting their coaft, and to offer him 
 whatever afliftance he might need for profecuting 
 his voyage. Cortez affured them that his inten- 
 tions were friendly, and that he had matters of 
 great importance to communicate to the monarch. 
 The next morning Cortez landed his troops, and 
 began to fortify his camp ; and on the following 
 day Teutile and Pilpatoe made their appearance 
 with a numerous retinue. TheSpanifh General 
 received them with the mod formal and ceremo- 
 nious refpeft. He informed them that he came 
 as ambaffadorfrom the King of Spain, thegreateft 
 monarch of the Eaft. and required them to con- 
 duel him, without lofs of time, to the prefence of 
 ;hcir fovercign. The Mexican officers were 
 iiartledatthe propofal.and in order to induce him 
 r.odefift from his purpofe they endeavoured to 
 conciliate his favour by prefents of cotton cloth, 
 plumes of various colours, and ornaments of 
 gold and filver of curious workmanfhip and 
 considerable value. The difplay of thefe riches 
 produced a very different effecl: from what th?
 
 SPAIN. 409 
 
 Mexicans intended. They rendered the Spaniards 
 impatient of becoming matters of a country 
 which appeared to abound with fuch precious 
 productions ; and Cortez peremptorily infifted 
 on being conducted to a perfonal interview with 
 Montezuma. 
 
 During this interview fome painters, who ac- 
 companied the Mexican chiefs, were employed 
 in delineating, upon white cotton cloth, figures 
 of the (hips, the horfes, the artillery, and foldiers. 
 Cortez being informed that thefe pictures were 
 to be fent to Montezuma, in order to convey to 
 him a juft idea of thefe flrange objects, which 
 appeared to them fo ftrange and wonderful, he 
 refolved to render the fcene ftill more ftriking, 
 by exhibiting fuch a fpeclacle as might give 
 both them and their monarch an awful im- 
 preffion of the extraordinary powers of the 
 Spaniards, and the irrefiftible force of their arms. 
 Having ordered the trcmpets to found an alarm, 
 the troops, in a moment, formed in order of 
 battle, the infantry performed fuch martial 
 exereifes as were moft proper for difplaying the 
 efFecls of their different weapons : in various 
 evolutions the horfes fhewed their ilrength and 
 agility, and the cannon being pointed againft the 
 woods near the camp, their fire made a dreadful 
 havock among the trees. The Mexicans con- 
 templated the fcene with filent amazement : at 
 
 VOL, I. 3F
 
 410 HISTORY OF 
 
 the explofion of the cannon many of them flecf/ 
 others fell to the ground, and all of them were 
 terrified and confounded at the fioht of men 
 
 D 
 
 \vho feemed to be armed with fupernatural 
 powers. 
 
 Meffengers were immediately difpatched to 
 Montezuma with the painted reprefentations of 
 the wonderful objects which they had feen, and 
 an account of all that had paffed. Cortez alfo 
 took that opportunity to fend to the Mexican 
 Emperor a prefent of fome European curiofities. 
 As regular pofts were eftablifhed in Mexico, a 
 refinement in police unknown at that time in 
 Europe, he received, in a few days, an anfwer 
 to his demands, accompanied with prefents 
 becoming the magnificence of a great monarch.* 
 They confided of coiton fluffs of a delicate 
 texture, refembling filk, pictures of animals, 
 trees, and other objects, formed with feathers of 
 different colours, fo fkilfully difpofed as to rival 
 the works of the pencil. But what chiefly 
 attracted the attention of the Spaniards was two 
 large plates of a circular form, one of maffive 
 gold reprefenting the fun, the other of filver, 
 being an emblem of the moon. Thefe were 
 accompanied with bracelets, rings, and other 
 ornaments of gold ; and feveral boxes filled 
 
 * Vide Robcrtfoa's Hift, America, vol. 2. book 5. p. 166, i6fr
 
 SPATX. 411 
 
 :witli pearls, precious ftones, and grains of un- 
 wrought gold, which gave the invaders a com- 
 plete idea of the riches of the country. 
 
 Cortez received thefe prefents with all the 
 appearance of profound veneration for the 
 -monarch by whom they were fent. But when 
 the Mexicans informed him that Montezuma 
 would not permit foreign troops to approach the 
 capital, the Spanifh commander infilled on his 
 firft requifidon, declaring that he could not, 
 without difhonour, return to his own country 
 until he had been admitted to an audience of the 
 monarch, to whom he was fent as ambaflador. 
 The Mexicans aftonifhed at feeing any man dare 
 to difpute the will of their fovereign, and dread- 
 ing a rupture with fiich formidable enemies, re- 
 .quefted him to wait the return of another 
 mcHenger from Mexico. 
 
 Had Montezuma at firft aBed with decifion, 
 he might, without doubt, have expelled this 
 handful of Spaniards from his dominions. Bold 
 and vigorous meafures were congenial to his 
 character : he was haughty, violent, and im- 
 patient of control : his fubjccls regarded him 
 with awe, and his enemies with terror : his 
 dominions were of great extent : his people were 
 numerous and warlike, his authority unbounded, 
 and his refources confiderable : his political and 
 military talents were univerfally acknowledged,, 
 
 3 F 2
 
 412 HISTORY OF 
 
 and his victories had fpread through the neigh- 
 bouring countries the dread of his arms. But 
 in this extraordinary and novel conjuncture, 
 inftead of taking fuch refolutions as the confciouf- 
 nefs of his power and the remembrance of his 
 former exploits might have infpired, he de- 
 liberated with hefitation and anxiety. His 
 timidity and embarraffment on this occafion may 
 be referred to two principal caufes, the im- 
 preffion which the Spaniards had made by the 
 novelty of their appearance, and the fuperftitious 
 apprehenfion of impending calamity. Accord-- 
 ing to the mod authentic Spanifh hiflorians, an 
 opinion almoft univerfally prevailed among the 
 Americans that a formidable race of invaders 
 fhould come from the regions towards the riling 
 fun to conquer and devaflate their country. 
 It is impoffible to difcovcr from what fourcc 
 this difquieting apprehenfion had originated ; 
 but it feems to have been firft fuggefted by 
 the aftonifhment which the appearance of the 
 Spaniards had excited. As the Mexicans were 
 of all the American nations the moft prone to 
 gloomy fupcrftitions, they were the moft deeply 
 impreffed with this terrific idea, which equally 
 difmayed the monarch and his fubje6ls, who 
 fufpefted the Spaniards to be the inftruments 
 deftined to effecl this dreaded revolution. But 
 in contemplating the chain of caufes and
 
 SPAIN. 413 
 
 in the complication of human affairs, it is evident 
 that if the mcafures of Montezuma had been as 
 vigorous and decifive, as they were feeble and 
 pufillanimous, if he had inftantly collccled all 
 his forces and overwhelmed Cortez, and his 
 (lender band of adventurers, the fatal period of 
 the Mexican monarchy cou-d only have been 
 for a fliort time poftponed : that opulent empire 
 muft have fallen when the Spaniards had become 
 powerful in Cuba and the other iflands. 
 
 Montezuma, however, on being informed that 
 Cortez had declared his intention not to return 
 without vifiting the capital, fent him a pofnive 
 order to depart inftantly out of his dominions; 
 and the peremptory refufal of the general to 
 comply with the injunction, put an end to all 
 friendly intercourfe between the Spaniards and 
 the Mexicans. A confiderable degree of terror 
 and anxiety, however, pervaded the Spanifh 
 camp as well as the court of Mexico. Among 
 the adventurers a variety of fentiments prevailed 
 in regard to their future proceedings. Many of 
 them confidered it as an aft of frenzy to attack 
 fuch an empire as Mexico with fo feeble and ill- 
 provided a force : others had formed fuch ex- 
 travagant ideas of the wealth of the country that, 
 defpifing dangers and hardfhips, they were eager 
 to attempt the conqueft. Cortez, who favour- 
 ed the advocates for bold meafures 3 by his
 
 414 HISTORY OF 
 
 confummate addrefs found means to infpire the 
 whole army with his own fentiments ; and the 
 foldiers with loud acclamations conjured him to 
 lead them to Mexico. Being now fare of the 
 affection of his followers, and perceiving their 
 ardour for proceeding in the enterprife, Cortez 
 refolved openly to caft off his dependence on 
 the Governor of Cuba. For this purpofe he 
 eftablifhed a colony on the model of a Spanifh 
 corporation. The magiftrates were elected by 
 the army, and confifted of perfons the mod 
 firmly attached to the general, and the inftru- 
 ment of their elelion was drawn up in the name 
 of the King of Spain. Into their hands he 
 refigned his authority, and from them, as the 
 reprcfentaiives of the King, he received a new 
 commiflTion of chief juftice of the colony and 
 captain general of the army. By this fagacious 
 meafure Cortez firmly attached the troops to his 
 imerell, and obliged the officers to perfevere in 
 the enterprife by implicating them in his re- 
 bellion againft the Governor of Cuba. Some of 
 the adherents of Velafquez exclaimed againti; 
 thcfe proceedings as illegal. Cortez immediately 
 arreftcd Diego de Orde>z, Juan Efcudero, and 
 Velafquez de Leon, and fent 'them in irons on 
 board of the fleet. But as he was more clclirous 
 of reclaiming than punifhing the prifoners, who 
 were officers of diltinguifhed merit, he courted
 
 SPAIN. 415 
 
 their f'riendfhip with fuch afliduity that he foon 
 brought them over to his party. In all his pro- 
 ceedings at this critical junclure, Cortez owed 
 much of his fuccefs to the Mexican gold, which 
 he diftributed among his troops with a liberal 
 hand,* and thus rendered the prefents of 
 Montezuma conducive to the fubverfion of his 
 empire. 
 
 Cortez, having thus rendered the union 
 between hirnfelf and the army indiffoluable, had 
 the further good fortune to conclude a treaty of 
 peace and alliance with the Caziques of Zem- 
 poalla and Ouiabiflan. From thefe chiefs he 
 learned various particulars concerning the flate 
 of the Mexican empire, the tyranny of the 
 Emperor, and the difaffeclion of many of the 
 provinces. Thefe accounts infpired Cortez with 
 new hopes : he perceived that the vaft empire 
 which he defigned to attack was not perfectly 
 united, nor its fovereign univerfally beloved; 
 and he refolved to render thefe circumftances 
 fubfervient to his purpofe. He artfully declared 
 that his principal obje6t in coming fo far from 
 his own country was the relief of the opprefTcd 
 and the chaftifement of the oppreffors. The two 
 Caziques, eager to (hake off the yoke of Monte- 
 , readily agreed to acknowledge the King 
 
 "' Robertfor. vgL :. i> ib'o-
 
 4] 6 HISTORY Or 
 
 of Spain as their Sovereign, and to unite their 
 forces with thofe of Cortez n the war againfl 
 Mexico ; and the Totanaques, a fierce people, 
 who inhabited a mountainous part of the coun- 
 try, followed their example. 
 
 Amidft all thefe favourable appearances, how- 
 ever, Cortez was not without apprehenfions. He 
 dreaded the vengeance of the Governor of Cuba; 
 and in order to prevent its effects, he perfuaded 
 the members of the colony to fend a deputation 
 to the King to juftify their conduct. Montejo 
 and Portocarrero, the chief magistrates of the 
 colony, were appointed to carry the difpatches, 
 accompanied with rich prefents to procure them 
 a more favourable reception ; and they had 
 pofitive orders to avoid touching at Cuba in their 
 paffage to Spain. While the delegates were 
 preparing for their departure, an unexpected 
 event excited great alarm. Some of the foldiers 
 and feamen, fecretly attached to Velafquez, or 
 intimidated at the profpetl of danger, formed the 
 dcfign of feizing one of the brigantines, and 
 making their cfcape to Cuba, in order to give 
 the oc"ernor inch intelligence as midu enable 
 
 o o o 
 
 him to intercept the veflel that carried the 
 prefents and difpatches ; but the plot was betray- 
 ed by one of the confpirators at the moment 
 v.'hcn it was rcadv for execution. A variety of 
 reflections, however, filled the mind of Corto-
 
 SPAIN. 417 
 
 with difquieting apprehenlions. Me obfcrved 
 that fcvcral ofhir followers were already defirous 
 of returning to Cuba; and he had reafon to 
 f'ufpect that cxccfiTive fatigue and the appearance 
 of extraordinary danger would incline them to 
 abandon the arduous enterpnfe in which they 
 were engaged. From thcfe confiderations he 
 concluded that the only method of alluring him- 
 felf of their perfeverance was to cut off all pof- 
 fibility of a retreat. Being for his own part re- 
 folved to atchicve the conquelt of Mexico, or 
 perifh in the attempt, he determined to deflroy 
 his fleet in order to oblige them to adopt the 
 lame relolution by which he was animated. But 
 us he durfl not venture on fo defperate a meafure 
 by his own authority, the great difficulty was to 
 convince his followers of its expediency. His 
 addrefs, however, was equal to the emergency. 
 By perfuading them that the mips were unfit for 
 further fervice, by obferving to them the accef- 
 fion of Itrcngth that would be derived from the 
 junflion of a hundred men hitherto ufelefsly 
 employed as failors, and by reprefenting the 
 brilliant profpecls of wealth before them, he 
 obtained their concurrence to the boldeft 
 meafure ever adopted by an army. With gene- 
 sal confcnt the Ihips were drawn afhore and 
 broken in pieces, the fails, rigging, iron works, 
 &c. being taken out and preferved. Thus, 
 VOL. i, 3 c
 
 418 HISTORY OF 
 
 c; from an effort of magnanimity," fays Dr, 
 Robertfon, " to which there is nothing parallel 
 " in hiftory, five hundred men voluntarily con- 
 " fented to be fhut up in a hoflile country filled 
 "with numerous and unknown nations; and 
 "having precluded every means of efcape, left 
 " themfelves without any reiource but their own 
 " valour and perfeverance." The whole tranf- 
 aclion ftrikingly difplays not only the dauntlefs 
 refolution of Cortez, but his confummate addrefs 
 and peculiar talent of gaining the afcendency 
 over the minds of thofe with whom he was con- 
 nected. 
 
 This important affair being fettled, the Spanifh 
 general, at the head of five hundred infantry and 
 fifteen cavalry, with fix field pieces, began, on 
 the i6th of Auguft, his march towards Mexico. 
 The reft of his troops were left as a garrifon at 
 Vera Cruz, under the command of Efcalante, 
 an officer zealoufiy attached to Cortez. The 
 Spaniards, accompanied by four hundred armed 
 Zempoallans, befides two hundred others, who 
 were employed in carrying the baggage, drawing 
 the artillery, and other neceffary labours, pro- 
 ceeded, without oppofition. to the confines of 
 Tlafcala. The inhabitan ts of that province 
 were a warlike and independent people : their 
 government was republican, and they were 
 implacable enemies to the Mcxicans s againft
 
 SPAIN. 419 
 
 whofe fuperior power they had maintained an 
 obftinate and fuccefsful conteft. But, fuppofing 
 that the defign of Cortez, in vifiting Mexico, 
 was to form an alliance with Montezuma, they 
 rcfufed him a pafTage through their dominions. 
 A war between the Spaniards and the Tlafcalans 
 \vas the confequence of this refufal. The 
 Tlafcalans brought fuch numerous armies into 
 the field as might have been fufficient to over- 
 whelm die Spaniards; but they could never make 
 any impreflion on their (lender battalion. Their 
 tumultuous attacks, though renewed with great 
 courage and perfeverance, were eafily repelled 
 by European taftics and difcipline ; and various 
 battles and fkirmifhes, in which many thoufands 
 of Tlafcalans fell, but not a (ingle Spaniard was 
 killed or taken, though feveral were (lightly 
 wounded, proved the inefficacy of American 
 weapons.* The Tlafcalans began to regard the 
 Spaniards as a race of fuperior beings, againft 
 whom no human power could prevail ; and the 
 latter had reafon to prefume that nothing in 
 America could refill the efforts of their arms. 
 The Spaniards, however, belides being exhaufted 
 with the fatigue of hard fervice, unavoidable 
 among a (mall body of men furrounded by mul- 
 
 * Thcfe were chiefly fpears of wood pointed at the end, arid fometimes 
 headed with flints, bones, See. 
 
 302
 
 420 HISTORY OF 
 
 titudes of enemies, were in want of provifions 
 and other necc (Tiries, and many of them were 
 fickly. Both parties were therefore defirous of 
 peace : the Tlafcalans made propofals which 
 were readily accepted : they acknowledged 
 themfelves vaflals to the crown of Spain, and 
 engaged to afiifi Cortez. with the whole force 
 of their republic, in his operations againil 
 Mexico. 
 
 The treaty being concluded, the Spanifh 
 general remained ab >ut three weeks at Tlafcala, 
 in order to refrcfh his troops ; and, during this 
 interval ofrepofe, he obtained information con- 
 cerning every particular refpecling the Rate of 
 Mexico and the qualitic -s of its fovereign that 
 could be of nfe in regulating his future pro- 
 ceedings. In iiis daily conferences with the 
 Tlafcalan chiefs he found that their enmity to the 
 Mexicans was implacable, and perceived, with 
 the higheft fatisfaclion, what benefit might be 
 derived from the aid of fueh powerful allies. 
 As foon as his troops were fit for fervice he 
 refolved to continue his march to the Mexican 
 capital. Being reinforced by 6000 Tlafcalans, 
 the Spaniards advanced toCholula, a confider- 
 able town about five leagues diftam fiom Tlaf- 
 cala. Montezuma having lent the general an 
 invitation to proceed to that place with the 
 promife of a friendly reception. Cortez wa.s
 
 SPAIN. 421 
 
 received in the town with much apparent 
 refpecl ; but the interpreter, Donna Marina, 
 ibon difcovered that a plan was formed for his 
 deftruclion, and that a bony of Mexican troops 
 lay concealed near the town for that purpofe. 
 Three of the chief priefts being arrenVd and put 
 to the torture. Cortex extorted from them a con- 
 fcflion that confirmed the intelligence. Cholu'.a 
 being regarded by the Mexicans as the chief 
 fanftuary and feat of their Cods, was famed for 
 the re fort of pilgrims, and the number of human 
 victims facrificed in its principal temple; and 
 it is probable that Montezuma had fclected this 
 place for cutting off the Spaniards, in the fuper- 
 ftitious hope of carrying his defign into execu- 
 tion with greater certainty of fuc eel's under 
 the immediate protection of his divinities. 
 Cortez, however, refolved to anticipate the 
 blow, and to (trike the Mexicans with terror. 
 The Spaniards and the Zempoallans were drawn 
 up in a large court near the centre of the city, 
 and the TJafcalans, who were encamped on the 
 outfide, had orders to advance. On a fignal 
 being given the attack began : a horrible (laugh- 
 ter was made of the citizens: the priclts were 
 confurncd in the {lames of their temples ; and 
 fix thoufiind of the Cholulans were dcflroyed 
 without the lofs of a (ingle Spaniard.
 
 422 HISTORY OF 
 
 On the 29th October Cortez advanced from 
 Cholula direftly towards Mexico, which was 
 only about fixty miles diftant. In every place 
 the Spaniards were received as beingsof cceleftial 
 origin, fent to deliver the people from the 
 tyranny of Montezuma; and the fymptoms of 
 difaffeclion to the government, which appeared 
 not only in the remote provinces but in the 
 vicinity of the capital, infpired Cortez with the 
 mod fanguine hope of conquering an empire, of 
 which the natural ftrength was thus divided and 
 impaired. The foldiers, in the mean while, were 
 animated by the magnificent profpecls before 
 them. In defcending the mountains of Chalco 
 the vaft plain of Mexico opened to their view. 
 When they firft beheld this profpeft, one of the 
 mod ftriking and beautiful on the face of the 
 earth, when they favv fertile and cultivated fields 
 Jlrctching farther than the eye could reach, with 
 a lake, refembling the fea in extent, encompaired 
 with large towns, and the metropolis of the 
 empire rifing upon an ifland near the weftern 
 fide, like Venice in the Adriatic, they were 
 ftruck with aftonifhment and admiration in con- 
 templating the fingular and ftupendous fcenery. 
 They were fati.sfied that the country was rich 
 beyond any conception which they had hitherto 
 formed, and they flattered thcmfelves that all
 
 SPAIN. 423 
 
 their hardships, dangers, and toils, would be 
 
 amply compenfated.* 
 
 The city of Mexico is fituated in a fpacious 
 
 plain environed by lofty mountains. Standing 
 on (he banks of the lake and on fome fmall 
 iflan is, this capital of Montezuma's dominions 
 was, during the rainy feafon, completely infu- 
 lated by the water overflowing the flat and low 
 countty.t On the eadern fide the city could 
 be approached only by canoes: on the !;>nd 
 fide the accefs was by railed caufeways, in wMch 
 feveral openings, covered with bridges of timber 
 and earth, were left to facilitate the Cowing of 
 the waters. Thefe Cdiiibways were three in 
 number : that of Taenba. on the welt, extended 
 a mile and a half; that of Tepeaca, on the 
 north weft, three miles; and that ofCuoyaean 
 was not lels than fix miles in length. The city 
 
 * The magnificent proipect of the plain, the lake, and the City of 
 'Mexico, is defcribed in terms of rapturous admiration by Ban! ol. del 
 Caflillo, quoted by Dr. Robertlon. Hift. Amer vol. 2. p. 206, and 
 7iote IOQ. The lake is compofed of two pieces of water communicating 
 with each other by a ftrait, beui^ altogether about ninety miles in 
 circuit. The whole plain dilp'avs the moft luxuriant fertility. Although 
 fituated in the torrid Zoi.e th ' .ur is temperate, but moiftand unhealthy. 
 
 t The prefent city of Mexico {lands o:i the lame groundasthc ancient 
 capital ot Monte/.uma, but the r>icuit A the lake has been coniiderably 
 diminifhed by means of is canal nhich h..., been cut through the moun- 
 tains, ami which, by letting off pan of the waters, has left dry the flat 
 fhore. Modern M J xico, theiefore, i-> iot leafed on an ifland, as it has 
 been generally repreiented, bijt on the margin of the lake, in a marfh 
 Jnterfcfled by numerous C:i .Is. The city is built on piles. Vide 
 D'Autcroche, p. 4 1 , and the plan of Mexico annexed to his dclcription .
 
 4:24 HISTORY OF 
 
 \vis inierfccL-d with numerous canals, and ccm- 
 tain^d fcveral open places or fquares, one of 
 which, aliotied for the 2;reat market, is faid to 
 
 O J 
 
 have been fufficiently fpacious for forty or fifty 
 ihoufand perfons to tranfacl their bafinefs. The 
 temples of the Gods,* the palace of the monarch, 
 and the houfes of perfons of diftinction, were of 
 ilone : the habitations of the common people 
 v.'ere oi-:v mean huts ; but they were placed in a 
 rcTular manner on the banks of the canals which 
 
 O 
 
 p. .Tied through the city in fome of its diftricls, 
 rind in others alon.gr the fides of the ftrects. The 
 
 O 
 
 population ol Mexico has been varioufly com- 
 puted : but fro: -i the loweil eilimate it appears 
 to have comprifcd at leaft 60.000 inhabitants. t 
 
 As ilie Spaniards approached the city a number 
 of meficngers arrived fucceffively from Monte- 
 zuma, who fome times granted them permiffion 
 io advance, and at other times fent them oiders 
 to retire, as Ins hopes or his fears alternately 
 prevailed. Cortez, however, difregarding the 
 fbntinients of the Emperor, continued his inarch 
 ,'dong the caufe\vay which led to Mexico. When 
 the Spaniards drew near the city they were met 
 by about a thoufand perfons, clothed in mantles
 
 SPAIN. 425 
 
 of firlc cotton and adorned with plumes. Thefe 
 announced the approach of Montezuma, and 
 his harbingers foon after appeared. Two 
 hundred peri'ons in a uniform drefs, with large 
 plumes of feathers, marched two and two in 
 profound filence, barefooted, with their eyes 
 fixed on the ground. Thefe were followed by a 
 company of higher rank in fplendid apparel, in 
 the midft of whom was Montezuma in a chair, 
 richly ornamented with gold and feathers of 
 various colours. He was carried on the {boulders 
 of four of his principal attendants, and others 
 bore a canopy of curious workmanfhip over his 
 head. Before him inarched three officers vvitli 
 golden rods, which they lifted up at certain 
 intervals, and at that fignal all the people bowed 
 their heads. When he approached the Spaniards, 
 he alighted from his chair, and Cortez, difmount- 
 ing at the fame time, accofted him with profound 
 reverence after the European etiquette. Monte- 
 zuma returned the falutation according to the 
 Mexican mode ; and afterwards conducled the 
 Spaniards to their quarters. The place afiigned 
 for that purpofe was a houfe. the appartments 
 and courts of which were fo Ipacious as to 
 accommodate both the Spaniards and their allies; 
 and the whole was furrounded by a wall of (lone 
 with towers at proper diitances. The fir ft care 
 of Cortez was to provide for his fecurity, by 
 VOL, T, 3 H
 
 426 HISTORY OF 
 
 planting the artillery fo as to command the 
 avenues ; by appointing guards, porting centi- 
 nals, and enjoining the fame vigilant difciplinc 
 as if he had been within fight of a hoftile camp. 
 
 In the evening Montezuma returned to the 
 Spanifh quarters, and his vifit was accompanied 
 with prefcnts of great value, not only forCortez 
 and his officers, but alfo for the privates. A 
 long conference took place, in which the Emperor 
 declared it to be an eflablifhed tradition among 
 the Mexicans, that their anceftors having origi- 
 nally come from a remote region, and conquered 
 the countries now forming their empire, the 
 Great Captain, who had conducted the colony, left 
 them with a promife that at feme future period 
 his defcendants fhould vifit them and reform 
 their conftitution and laws. Montezuma alfo 
 exprefTed his belief that Cortez and his followers 
 were the perfons whofc appearance had fo long 
 been expecled, and that he had accordingly 
 received them not as foreigners, but as his 
 relations of the fame blood and parentage, adding 
 that both lie and his fubjecls fhould always be 
 ready to comply with their will. Cortez being 
 fenfible of the advantage that might be derived 
 from fuch an opinion of the origin of the 
 Spaniards, artfully endeavoured to confirm thofe 
 ideas in the mind of the Mexican monarch. But 
 it is eafy to trace a vein of artifice in the dif-
 
 SPAIN. 427 
 
 courfc of Montezuma. The general opinion 
 which prevailed throughout America refpefting 
 the arrival of a formidable hoft of ftrangers has 
 already been mentioned ; and Montezuma, 
 although his imagination was undoubtedly haunt- 
 ed by the Mexican traditions and predictions, 
 appears to have modelled them in fuch a manner 
 as might lull the Spaniards into a fatal fecurity, 
 and facilitate the execution of his plans for their 
 deftruclion. 
 
 Cortez, however, began ferioufly to reflect on 
 his fituation. The Tlafcalans had conflantly 
 endeavoured to diffuade him from entering a 
 city of fo peculiar a fituation as Mexico, where 
 they would be fhut up as it were in a inare ; and 
 they a (lured him that the priefts had, in the 
 name of the Gods, advifcd their fovereign to 
 admit the Spaniards into the capital in order to 
 cut them off with greater facility. Previous to 
 their leaving Cholula, Cortez had been informed 
 
 O * 
 
 of an occurrence that gave him considerable 
 alarm. Afkirmifh having taken place between 
 the garrifon ofVera Cruz and a body of Mexi- 
 cans, a Spaniard was furrounded and taken by 
 the enemy. The head of this unfortunate 
 captive was cut off, and after being carried in 
 triumph to different cities to convince the people 
 "hat their invaders were not immortal, was lent 
 
 7 II 2
 
 428 HISTORY OF 
 
 to Mexico. This circumftance, however, had 
 riot prevented Cortez from continuing his march, 
 and having entered the capital, he refolved to 
 maintain his flation. By breaking- the bridges 
 
 O O 
 
 or deftroying part of the caufeways his retreat 
 might be rendered impracticable, but even if he 
 fhould be permitted to retire, fuch a meafure 
 would fruftrate all his expectations of conqucft. 
 At the fame time he was confcious that nothing 
 but extraordinary fuccefs could procure him 
 the favour of his fovereign, and protect him 
 from the vengeance of the Governor of Cuba. 
 From all thefe confiderations it was neceffary to 
 maintain his pofition, as defperate meafures 
 alone could extricate him from his various 
 difficulties. 
 
 The refources of his mind were equal to 
 his arduous fituation, and he fixed on a plan 
 no Icfs extraordinary than daring. As he had 
 obferved the extreme veneration of the Mexicans 
 for the pcrfon of their monarch, and their im- 
 plicit fubmiffion to his will, he refolved to feize 
 Montezuma and carry him to the Spanifh quar- 
 ters, fo that bv having the fovereign in his power, 
 he might, by ufing his name, obtain the govern- 
 ment of the empire, or at leaf!, by retaining in 
 his hand fo facrcd a pledge, allure himfclf of the 
 peaceable deportment of the people, The
 
 SPAIN. 429 
 
 meafure being warmly approved by the mofl 
 intelligent and refolute of his followers, Cortez 
 went to the palace, accompanied by Alvarado, 
 Lugo, Daviia, Sandoval, and Velafquez de 
 Leon, five of his principal officers, and the 
 fame number of his boldeft foldiers. At the 
 fame time thirty chofcn men followed, not in 
 regular order but ftraggling at fome diftance fo 
 as not to excite fufpicion : fmall parties were 
 poflcd at proper intervals; and the reft of the 
 troops were under arms in the quarters, ready 
 to (ally out on the firft alarm. Cortez, with his 
 attendants, being admitted as ufual to a private 
 audience of the Emperor, began to accufe him 
 of being the author of the hoftiliiies which had 
 taken place near Vera Cruz. Montezuma afiert- 
 ing his innocence, Cortez pretended to be fully 
 fatisfied, but declared that it would be im- 
 poffible to convince the Spanifh troops of his 
 pacific intentions unlefs he would confent to fix 
 his refidence for fome time in their quarters, in 
 order to remove all caufe of fufpicion. The 
 monarch remonftrated : Cortez infilled. The 
 altercation had continued three hours, when 
 Velafquez de Leon exclaimed, with an air of 
 impatience, " Why wafte more time. Let us 
 " cither inftantly feize him or (tab him to the 
 J; heart." Montezuma, although he did not
 
 430 HISTORY OF 
 
 underftand the words, was (truck with the de- 
 termined tone of voice and the menacing 
 
 (3 
 
 countenance of the Spanifh officer. He faw 
 the unavoidable neceffity of compliance, and 
 abandoning himfelf to his fate, confented to ac- 
 company Cortez to the quarters. 
 
 The Mexican courtiers being called, Monte- 
 zuma communicated to them his intention. 
 How highly foever they might difapprove of the 
 rneafure, they prefumed not to difpute the will 
 of their fovereign, but carried him in filent 
 pomp to the Spanifh quarters. The people, 
 aflembling in a tumultuous manner, threatened 
 the Spaniards with inflant deftruclion for their 
 audacity in carrying away the Emperor. But 
 Montezuma declaring that he went, by his own 
 choice, to refide a fhort time among his new 
 friends, the multitude immediately difperfed. 
 Hiflory affords no fimilar inftance of a powerful 
 monarch, who commanded many millions of 
 fubjccls, being thus feized by eleven Grangers,* 
 in his own palace, in the centre of a populous 
 capital, and carried away as a prifoncr without 
 oppofition. 
 
 Montezuma was received in the Spanifh quar- 
 ters with ihe mod ceremonious refpet : he was
 
 SPAIN. 431 
 
 attended by his own domeftics : his officers and 
 courtiers had free accefs to his prefence ; and in 
 regard to external forms lie experienced no 
 change in his condition ; but he was watched 
 with all the vigilance that was natural in guard- 
 ing fo important a prize. The Spaniards had 
 now gotten into their hands an engine by which 
 every thing might be accomplifhed. BypoiTefTing 
 the perfon of the monarch, Cortez acquired the 
 fovereignty over Mexico ; and availing himfelf 
 of the power which he derived from being able 
 to aft in the name of Montezuma, he Cent fome 
 Spaniards, accompanied by feveral Mexicans of 
 diftinfclion, to vifit the different provinces of 
 the empire, with orders to examine the foil and 
 productions, to furvey with particular care the 
 diftricls which yielded gold or filver, and to fix 
 on proper ilations for colonies. In the name 
 and by the authority of Montezuma he alfo dif- 
 placed fome of the principal officers of the 
 empire, whofe talents or independent fpirit had 
 excited his jealoufy, and in their (lead appointed 
 perfons from whom he expe&ed lef's oppofition 
 in executing his defigns. 
 
 Cortez, having now acquired a complete 
 afcendency over the Mexican monarch, required 
 him to acknowledge himfelf a vaffal of the crown 
 of Spain, and to fubjeft his empire to the pay- 
 ment of an annual tribute. With this humiliating
 
 432 HISTORY OF 
 
 requifuion Montezuma complied.* By the! 
 direction of Cortez he convened an afTembly of 
 the chief perfons of the empire, and in a folemn 
 harangue reminded them of the traditions and 
 prophecies which led them to expeft the arrival 
 of a people fprung from the fame (lock with 
 themfelves, in order to a flu me the fovereignty 
 of the empire, declaring his belief that the 
 Spaniards were the promifed race, and that he 
 acknowledged himfelf the vaffal and tributary of 
 their monarch. The declaration of Cortez that 
 Montezuma Pnould ftill enjoy the royal dignity, 
 and that no innovation fhould be made in the 
 conftitution and laws of the empire, together 
 
 i ' O 
 
 with their dread of the Spaniards, and the 
 example of their monarch, extorted the confent 
 of the affernbly. Montezuma accompanied his 
 profefiion of fealty and homage with a magnificent 
 prefent, and his fubjc6ls following his example, 
 increafed its value by liberal contributions. 
 
 The Spaniards being impatient to divide all 
 the gold and filver which had been received in 
 prefents from Montezuma or extorted from his 
 i'ubjecls, Cortez complied with their rcqucft; 
 and, the whole being melted, the value, cxclufive 
 
 * DC Sulis aliens that the propofal of recognifing tlic paramount 
 fovereignty oF the crown of Callile c;<mc from Montezuma himfelf, 
 
 nnd that lu- hoped hv (his tiu-alurc to induce the Spaniards to depart, 
 Hill. Coricjueft of Mexico, book 4. cap. 3.
 
 SPAIN. 433 
 
 of jewels and ornaments, which were preferved 
 as objeBs of curiofity, amounted to fix hun- 
 dred thoufand pefos.* As the Spaniards had 
 exercifed the greateft rapacity, and Montezuma. 
 had exhaufted his treafures in the hope of 
 fatiating their third for gold, this fum appears 
 to have included a great part of the bullion in 
 the Mexican empire, although it bears fo fmall 
 a proportion to the modern producl of its mines. t 
 But among the Mexicans gold and filver not 
 being ufed as the medium of commerce, or the 
 ftandard of value, was employed only in orna- 
 ments confecrated to their gods, or worn as 
 marks of diftinclion by their chiefs. The 
 demand for thofe metals was therefore too fmall 
 to afford any inducement to exercife their 
 induftry and ingenuity in working the rich mines 
 with which their country abounded. J What 
 gold they had was gathered in the beds of rivu- 
 lets, and as filver is feldom found pure, and the 
 Mexicans were ignorant of the art of refining, lift 
 quantity of that metal was ftill lefs confiderable. 
 The riches of Mexico, like thofe of other coun- 
 tries in the new world, were difregarded by its 
 
 * 135,000!. ficr'ingat 45. 6d. per pefoe. 
 
 t A proof of the abundant producl of the Mexican mines mav be 
 adduced from the coinage. According to the official regiften. 18,063,688 
 pcfoes, or 4,064,329!. i6s. fterhng, were, in 1790, iffucd from the mint 
 of Mexico. Helms, p. 257. 
 
 + This \vas the cafe among all the American nations, vide Life of 
 Columbus. Heirera. Hifl. Gen. Robatfon's HifU Amen &c. 
 AOL, I, 3 I
 
 4M HISTORY OF 
 
 ancient inhabitants, and firft brought into circula- 
 tion by the Spaniards. 
 
 The divifion of the Mexican treafures being 
 made, a fifth part of the whole vas fet apart as 
 the tax due to the King. A fiun of the remain- 
 der was allotted to the commander in chief. 
 The fums advanced by individuals towards 
 defraying the expenfe of the armament were 
 alfo deducted. The remainder oeing divided 
 among the troops in proportion to military rank, 
 the [hare of a private man amounted to about 
 a hundred pefoes.* This furn fell fo far fhort of 
 their expectations as to excite a general murmur. 
 As the crown had contributed nothing toward 
 the expedition the foldiers were exafperated 
 at feeing it fweep away fo large a proportion of 
 the fpoil ; and it required all the addrefs of 
 Cortez to appeale their indignation. 
 
 Cortez had hitherto carried every point with 
 fuccefs, but he failed in an attempt to induce 
 Montezuma and the Mexicans to embrace chrif- 
 tianity. He found the monarch and his fubjecls 
 equally inflexible, and from that moment they 
 began ferioufly to meditate the expulfion or 
 deflruclion of tjhe Spaniards. The priefts and 
 
 * Equal to zi\. IDS. fterling at 4. 6d. per pefoe. But in the beginning 
 of the fixteenth century the effective value of money was at leaft ten 
 times as great as at prefcnt, and loo psfaes were therefore equivalent to 
 
 above 2ool.at this day.
 
 SPAIN. 435 
 
 ieading men held frequent confutations on the 
 f'ubjeft. But as violent proceedings might have 
 proved fatal to the captive monarch, it was 
 neceflary to ti / gentle means. Having called 
 Cortez into his prefence, Montezuma informed 
 him that as the purpofes of his million were 
 fully accomplifhed, the gods had declared their 
 \vill and the people fignified their defire that he 
 and his followers mould return to their own 
 country. This unexpected requifition, and the 
 determined tone of Montezuma, led theSpanifh 
 general to conclude that fome deep laid fcheme 
 was concerted. But conceiving that fome 
 advantage might be derived from a feeming 
 compliance, Cortez replied, with the greateft 
 compofure, that the propofal exaftly coincided 
 with his own wifh and intention; but that as he 
 had deftroyed his fleet, fome time was requifite 
 for building new vefiels. This appeared fo 
 reafonable that a number of Mexicans were fent 
 to Vera Cruz to cut down timber, and fome 
 Spaniih carpenters were appointed to fuperintend 
 the work; while Cortez flattered himfelf that 
 during the interval fome favourable occurrence 
 might extricate him from his critical fituation, 
 as he daily expected the return of the deputies 
 who had fo long ago failed with his difpatches to 
 Spain. 
 
 3 l 2
 
 436 HISTORY OF 
 
 During the fpace of almoft fix months Cortez 
 had maintained an eafy fovereignty over Mexico 
 by governing its monarch. But thisftate of things 
 could not continue. The obfequioufnefs of the 
 Mexicans had proceeded from the novelty of cir- 
 cumftances : their lubmiffion was reluBant: their 
 veneration for the Spaniards began to decline ; 
 and it was irnpoflible that fo feeble a force 
 as Cortez commanded mould hold a vaft empire 
 in fubjeftion. While the mind of the general 
 was in this Mate of anxious uncertainty intelli- 
 gence was brought to Mexico that fome mips had 
 appeared on the coaft. At firfthe imagined that 
 his mefTengers had arrived from Spain, and 
 flattered hirnfelf with receiving reinforcements 
 and a royal commiffion. But his hopes were 
 quickly extinguifhed by learning that the fleet 
 which had made its appearance was an armament 
 fitted out againft him from Cuba. Velafquez, 
 the governor, having obtained from the King 
 the patent of Adelantado of New Spain, had, by 
 extraordinary exertions, equipped an armament, 
 confiding of eighteen mips, having on board 
 eighty cavalry and eight hundred infantry, of 
 whom eighty were mufqueteers, and one hundred 
 and twenty crofsbow-men. with a train of twelve 
 pieces of cannon. The command was given to 
 Paniphilo de Narvaez, with infhuftions to feize 
 Cortez and his principal officers, to fend them
 
 SPATN. 437 
 
 prifoners to Cuba, and then to complete the 
 reduction of the country. 
 
 Narvacz, foon after his landing, was joined by 
 three of the Spaniards who had been fent out 
 in fearch of mines, and from them he learned the 
 ftate of affairs and the fituation of Cortcz in 
 Mexico. On the other hand a prieft, whom 
 Narvaez had fent to fummon the garrifon of 
 Vera Cruz, being, with his attendants, feized by 
 the governor and fent to Mexico, Cortez, by 
 careffes and prefents, obtained from them an 
 account of every particular relative to the force 
 and the objecl of the new expedition. 
 
 Imagination can fcarcely conceive a fituation 
 more trying than that in which Cortez was placed 
 at this critical juncture. He had now to begin 
 a new conteft, not with ill armed and undifci- 
 plined Americans, but with an army of his own 
 countrymen, equal to his own in courage and 
 taftical fkill, in number far fuperior, and afting 
 under the fan&ion of the royal authority. He 
 was fcnfible that by waiting the approach of 
 Narvaez, in Mexico, deftruftion was inevitable; 
 for while the Spaniards prefled him from without, 
 the inhabitants would not fail to feize fo favour- 
 able an opportunity of viftory and vengeance. 
 On the other hand it was evident that he could 
 not abandon the capital without relinquifhing all 
 his advantages. By gaining a bloody viftorv
 
 438 HISTORY OF 
 
 over his antagonift his force would be too much 
 weakened to maintain its ftation in a hoftile 
 country, and if vanquifhed by Narvaez he had 
 nothing to expert but the fate of a rebel and 
 traitor. 
 
 After contemplating in every point of view 
 the various dangers by which he was furrounded, 
 Cortcz, with the deofive intrepidity fuited to 
 defperate fituations, refolved to make, under 
 every disadvantage, a bold effort to extricate 
 himfelf from his difficulties. He knew that the 
 corned muft be decided by arms, but in order to 
 juftify his conduct, he thought it expedient to 
 make an offer of negotiation. For this purpofe 
 he fent Father Bartholomew d'Olmeida to the 
 enemy's camp. Narvaez rejected every pro- 
 pofai with contempt ; but Olmeida met with 
 better fuccefs among the troops. By his 
 petiuafive addrefs and fplendid promifes, fecond- 
 cd by prcfcnts, judicioufly diftributed, he fuc- 
 ceeded in alienating them from their com- 
 mander, and brought many, both of the officers 
 and foldiers, to incline fecretly to the party of 
 Conez. 
 
 His propofals for accommodation being re- 
 peeled, Cortez determined inftantly to march 
 again ft Narvaez. He left 150 men in Mexico, 
 under the command of Pedro de Alvarado, 
 f.o whom he committed the care of the city,
 
 SPAIN. 439 
 
 and of the captive monarch, from whom he 
 endeavoured, by all poflible means, to conceal 
 the caufe of his departure. His force, even 
 after he was joined by the garrifon of Vera Cruz, 
 did not exceed two hundred and fifty men. 
 During his march, Cortez fent to Narvaez 
 fucceffive mefTengers, who, under the pretence 
 of foliciting peace, found means to complete the 
 corruption of his troops. Narvaez, in the mean 
 while, iffued a proclamation in which he declared 
 Cortez and his adherents rebels and enemies to 
 their country, and fet a price on the heads ol 
 him and his principal officers. 
 
 Cortez having advanced within a league of the 
 enemy's camp, took a ftrong pofuion on the 
 banks of a river, which, running along his front, 
 lecured him from an attack. But the neceffity 
 of haftening his return to the fupport of his 
 feeble garrifon in Mexico, did not permit him 
 to remain long on the defenfive. The urgency 
 of his affairs obliged him to bring the conteft to 
 a fpeedy termination ; and he refolved to attack 
 the pofition of Narvaez in the dead of night, 
 when the furprife and terror of the enemy might 
 counterbalance the fuperiority of his numbers. 
 The fuccefs of the meafure proved the juftnefs 
 of his calculation. His foldiers and officers, 
 fenfible that no refource remained but in a 
 defpcrate efi'ortj advancedj in profound filence-,
 
 440 HISTORY OF 
 
 to the attack. The enemy's artillery was inftantly 
 feized. Narvaez, Tallying out of his quarters, 
 \vas wounded, made prifoner, and immediately 
 loaded with fetters. The darknefs of the night 
 increafed the confufion of his foldiers; and, after 
 a fhort refiftance, the whole army capitulated. 
 Cortez gave them the choice of being fent back 
 to Cuba, or of engaging in his fervice on the 
 fame conditions as his own troops. The latter 
 propofal, feconded by a feafonable diftribution 
 of prefents, with dazzling reprefentations of the 
 glorious profpe&s before them, was almoft uni- 
 verfaily accepted, and the readinefs with which 
 they ranged themfelves under the banners of 
 Cortez, as well as the eafy decifion of the conteft, 
 with the lofs of only two men on the victorious 
 fide, and no more than two officers and fifteen 
 privates of the adverfe party, exhibit a proof, 
 almoft convincing, that the ruin of Xarvaez was 
 effecled by the arts as much as by the arms of his 
 antagonift. 
 
 The promptitude of Cortez, infringing the 
 affair fo fpeedily to an ifTue. was neceilary for 
 faving the feeble corps which was left in Mexico. 
 Soon after his departure the Mexicans, feeing 
 their invaders engaged in a civil war among 
 themfelves, had feized the favourable oppor- 
 tunity to attack the Spanifh quarters. Several 
 of the Spaniard^ were killed and many more
 
 SPAIN, 441 
 
 wounded, their magazines of provifions were 
 deftroyed, and although, under the conduct of 
 Alvarade, they defended themfelves with daunt- 
 lefs refolution, they had no other profpeft than 
 either to perifh by famine or to be overwhelmed 
 by the multitude of their enemies. The danger 
 being too imminent to admit of deliberation 
 or delay, Cortez, on receiving the intelligence, 
 inflantly prepared for marching back to Mexico. 
 In pafling through Tlafcala he was joined by 
 two thoufand chofen warriors. From that place 
 he advanced rapidly to Mexico; and what is 
 moft aftonifhing, the Mexicans fuffered him 
 again to enter the city without oppofition, and 
 to take quiet poiTeffion of his former flation, 
 a conducl for which it is difficult to affign any 
 feafon. 
 
 The arrival of Cortez delivered Alvarado 
 from his perilous fituation ; and the people, for 
 a while, were awed into tranquillity. But the 
 calm was of fhort duration. The great accef- 
 fion of ftrength which Cortez had received by 
 the junction of the troops of Narvaez, rendered 
 him lefs careful in difguifing his fentiments, and 
 the Mexicans, who had flattered themfelves that 
 the Spaniards were about to depart, no longer 
 doubted of their intention to fubjugate the 
 country. Excited by the fpirit of patriotifm 
 mid vengeance they flew to arms. Their numcr- 
 V-OL. i. K.
 
 442 HISTORY OF 
 
 ous multitudes advanced with extraordinary 
 martial porqp to affault the Spanifh quarters;- 
 and their undaunted courage aflonifhed their 
 enemies. Though every blow of the Spanifh 
 weapons fell with a mortal effeft on their unpro- 
 tected bodies though the artillery, playing 
 againft the numerous affailants crowded together 
 in narrow ftreets, fwept off multitudes at every 
 discharge, nothing could abate the impetuofuy 
 of their attacks. Frefh combatants rufhed for- 
 ward to occupy the places of the flain, and meet- 
 ing with the fame fate were fucceeded by others 
 not lefs intrepid and defperate ; and it required 
 all the abilities of Cortez, as well as ali the valour 
 and difcipline of his troops, to defend the 
 fortifications with which their ftation was fur- 
 rounded. 
 
 In the evening the Mexicans, according to 
 their general cuftom of warfare, retired from 
 the aflault ; and the next morning Cortez re- 
 folved to make a grand effort in order to become 
 matter of the city, or at lead to compel the 
 enemy to liften to terms of accommodation. In 
 this view he fallied forth at the head of a con- 
 fiderable body of his troops. But he found the 
 Mexicans prepared to receive him. Their force 
 was greatly augmented by frefh levies which 
 continually poured in from the country. Led 
 on by their nobles, and inflamed by the exhorta-
 
 SPAIN. 443 
 
 tions of their priefts, they difplayed an enthu- 
 fiaftic contempt of danger and death. Though 
 thoufands of them fell, and part of the city was 
 deftroyed by fire, their defperate ardour was 
 nothing abated. The Spaniards, wearied with 
 inceirant exertions, and preffed by multitudes 
 fucceffively rufhing forwards, were obliged to 
 retire to their quarters with the unufual lofs of 
 twelve foldiers killed and fjxty wounded. A 
 fccond fally, in which Cortez received a wound 
 in the hand, was equally ineffectual. The 
 Mexicans grew every day more daring, as their 
 dread of the Spaniards began to abate fince they 
 difcovered them to be neither immortal nor 
 invincible. 
 
 Cortez. who had little expefted to meet with 
 fo determined an oppofition from a people who 
 had fo long continued paffive under his yoke, 
 perceived, too late, that he could neither main- 
 tain his pofition in Mexico, nor effecl: a retreat 
 without imminent danger. His only refource 
 was to employ the authority of Montezuma to 
 overawe his ferocious and exafperated fubje&s. 
 The Mexicans, nothing difcouraged by their lofs 
 in the preceding actions, and determined to 
 exterminate the Spaniards, approached to renew 
 the attack on their quarters. In this emergency 
 the unfortunate monarch was brought forward 
 to the battlements, arrayed in. his royal robes. 
 3 K 2
 
 444 HISTORY OF 
 
 At the fight of their fovereign, whom they had 
 been accuftomed almoft to revere as a Deity, 
 the infurgents bowed their heads, and many of 
 them fell proftrate on the ground. The unfor- 
 tunate Monarch addreffed them in a harangue 
 which Cortez had dictated, and in \yhich he 
 employed every argument to induce them to 
 ceafe from hoftilities. But no fooner had he 
 concluded his fpeech than a murmer of difappro- 
 bation was fucceeded by tranfports of iury which 
 made them forget every fentiment of refpeft for 
 their fovereign. Flights of arrows and vollies 
 of flones were inftantly poured upon the ram- 
 parts. The attack was fo fudden that before 
 the Spanifh foldiers could fcreen him with their 
 bucklers, Montezuma was ftruck by the blow of 
 a ftone to the ground. On feeing him fall the 
 Mexicans, ftruck with aftonifhment and remorfe, 
 inftantly fled with horror, as if they dreaded the 
 vengeance of heaven for their crime.* Monte- 
 zuma being conveyed to his appartments Cortez 
 endeavoured to confole him under his misfor- 
 tune. The unhappy monarch, however, re- 
 folved not to furvive his degradation ; he tore 
 the bandages from his wounds, and refufed with 
 fuch obftinacy lo take any nouiifhment that he 
 
 * It appears, from the whole narrative of thcfe iranfaftions, that how 
 much foevcr Montezuma \vas hated in the provinces, he was idolized a) 
 the capital,
 
 SPAIN'. 415 
 
 expired in a few days. The Spaniards endea- 
 voured in vain to convert him to the chriflian 
 faith ; but it is no wonder that the Mexican 
 Emperor refufed to embrace chriftianily when 
 preached to him by fuch Apollles as Cortez and 
 his followers, whofe actions were a tiffue of 
 fraud and violence, and whofe injuftice he had 
 fo fatally experienced. 
 
 The death of Montezuma having freed the 
 Mexicans from that reilraint which their venera- 
 tion for his perfon and dignity had impofed on 
 their con duel ; they breathed nothing but war 
 and vengeance. Their chiefs, in whom the right 
 of electing the Emperor was vefted, immediately 
 raifed his brother, Ouetlavaca, to the throne. 
 This Prince was not lefs diftinguifhed by his 
 courage and prudence than by his inveterate 
 enmity to the Spaniards : and he immediately 
 began his arrangements for the vigorous profe- 
 cution of hoftilities. The tower of the great 
 temple, which overlooked the Spanifh quarters, 
 being occupied by a body of cbofen warriors, 
 the troops of Cortez were conflantly expofed to 
 their miffile weapons. In attempting to dif- 
 lodge them from this commanding poft a ftrong 
 detachment of Spaniards, under Juan d'Efcobar, 
 were thrice repulfed. Cortez, putting himfelf 
 at their head, rufhed fword in hand to the 
 attack ; and the Spaniards, animated by the
 
 446 HISTORY OF 
 
 prefence of their general, returned to ihe charge 
 with fuch vigour, that they forced their way up 
 the fteps, and drove the Mexicans to the 
 platform on the top.* Here two Mexican 
 chiefs, refolving to facrifice their lives for the 
 benefit of their country, feized on Cortez, and 
 precipitated themfelves headlong from the fum- 
 mit, in the hope of dragging him with them in 
 their fall; but Cortez, by an effort of ftrength 
 and agility, refcued himfelf from their hands, 
 and both of them perifhed in their defperate 
 attempt. t After a horrible carnage of the Mexi- 
 cans the Spaniards became maflers of the plat- 
 form, and fct fire to the tower. 
 
 The prodigious lofs which the Mexicans 
 fuftained in every coriflicl at length induced 
 them to change their fyftem of warfare. Under 
 the direction of their new Emperor they arranged 
 their plans with greater judgment and forefight 
 than they had hitherto difplayed, and inftead of 
 inceffdntly attacking the Spaniards, they re- 
 folved to keep them clofely blockaded, and to 
 effetl their extermination by famine. Ever 
 
 * The great temple at Mexico was a folid mound of earth, faced partly 
 with flone, thirty yards fquare at the bafe and ten yards fquareat the top, 
 the afcent was by fteps on the outfide. Robertfon'sHift, Amcr. vol. 3. 
 p. 149. 
 
 + Clavigero, in his Hiftory of Mexico, feems to give little credit to 
 this relation, the action, however, is recorded by Herrera. Dec. 2. lib. 
 jo. c. 9. on whofe authority it is inferted byRobenfon in his Hifjory 
 of America, vol. 2. p. 253,
 
 SPAIN. 447 
 
 iince the death of Montezuma, Cortcz had fore- 
 feen the necefllty of a retreat, and he was now 
 determined to retire, without lofs of time, from 
 this fcene of diftrefs and danger. But he was 
 not ignorant of the difficulty of carrying the 
 meafure into execution ; and he chofe the 
 filent hour of midnight as the mo ft favourable to 
 the attempt. The Spaniards and Tlafcalans 
 began their retreat in three divifions. Sandoval 
 led the van ; Cortez commanded the centre, in 
 which he placed the prifoners, among whom 
 were a fon and two daughters of Montezuma and 
 feveral Mexican nobles, with the artillery, the 
 baggage, and a portable bridge of timber for 
 paffing the breaches which the Mexicans had 
 made in the caufeway ; and Alvarado and 
 Velafquez de Leon conducted the rear. They 
 advanced in profound filence along the caufeway 
 that led to Tacuba, and having reached the firft 
 breach without moleftation, they flattered them- 
 felves that their retreat was undifcovered. 
 
 But the Mexicans had carefully watched their 
 motions and made proper difpofitions for a 
 formidable attack. While the Spaniards were 
 occupied in paffing the breach by means of their 
 bridge, they were fuddenly alarmed by the 
 tremendous found of warlike inftruments, and 
 affailed by innumerable multitudes of enemies, 
 All Mexico was in arms - } and the lake was
 
 448 HISTORY OF 
 
 covered with canoes. The bridge being wedged 
 jTo faft by the weight of the artillery that it could 
 not be moved, the Spaniards advanced with 
 precipitation and difmay towards the fecond 
 breach. The Mexicans rufhing forward with 
 fearlefs impetuofity prefTed them on every fide. 
 Crowded together on a narrow catifeway, the 
 difcipline and military (kill of the Spaniards were 
 of little avail. The aflaults were inceffant: 
 frefh warriors inftantly fupplied the place of 
 thole who fell ; and fucceffive multitudes con- 
 tinually pufhed forward thofe in the front with 
 irrefiitible violence. The Spaniards fought with 
 their ufual intrepidity ; but at length being 
 worn out by violent and continual exertion, and 
 unable to fuftain the weight of the torrent that 
 poured in upon them, they began to give way, 
 and a dreadful fcene of confufion and Daughter 
 enfued. Part of them broke through the 
 enemy, many overwhelmed by the multitude of 
 aHailants, fell covered with wounds, and num- 
 bers periflied in the lake ; but the mod unfor- 
 tunate of the f offerers were thofe who, being 
 taken alive, were hurried away to be facrificed 
 to the God of War. Cortcz, with about a 
 hundred foot and a few horfe. forced his way 
 over the two remaining breaches in the caufe- 
 way, but was obliged to return to the affiftance 
 of thofe who had not yet effected their retreat,
 
 SPAIN. 449 
 
 Before daylight appeared all who had efcaped 
 were afTembled at Tacuba. But trie morning 
 exhibited a melancholy fcene. Many officers 
 of diftinftion had fallen, and among thefe was 
 Velafquez de Leon, who was regarded as the 
 fecond perfon in the army. More than half of 
 the Spaniards and above two thoufand Tlafcalans 
 had perifhed.* The greater part of the horfes 
 were killed, and all the artillery, ammunition, 
 and baggage were loft, together with moil of 
 their treafure.t 
 
 Some rcpofe being neceflary for the wearied 
 foldiers, molt of whom were covered with 
 wounds, Cortez took pofleffion of a tempte 
 where he not only found fome provifion, but 
 was able, without difficulty, to repel the reiterated 
 
 * The different accounts which the Spanifh authors have given of 
 the lols fuftained in this reueat, (hew how little reliance is to be had on 
 numeiical ftatements m lnftory. Cortez, whole intcreft it was at that 
 juncture tj conceal from the court of Spain the full extent of his lofs, 
 ftates in his diipatches the number of Spaniards who perifhed at only 
 150. Barth. Diaz, one of his officers, lolicitous to magnify the fufFer- 
 ings of himfelf and his companions, flates them at 860, and fays that 
 only 440 elcaped out ot Mexico. Other hittcrians equally difagree in 
 their (latements. But Cortez had upwards of 1200 men, and from his 
 numbers after that event he mull have loft at lead 660. Vide Robert- 
 Ton's Hi ft. Amer. vol. 2. note 1 18. 
 
 \ Dr. Robertlon kerns to have fallen into a ftrange inconfiftency if 
 v.v compare p. Ciib with p. 257, vol. 2. Hid. Amer. In the former 
 place he afierts that on the divifion of their treafure, the fhare of a 
 private foldier -A as only 100 pefoes : in the latter he fays that many of 
 the foldiers fell viflims to their avarice by loading themfelves with ban 
 of gold. Where and when had they met with the opportunity of 
 obtaining all tins gold after the divifion was made. Surely the weight 
 of too pelbes, 2'^!. ics. flerling, moft of it in gold, very little being in 
 f'lvci, could not greatly overload a ioldicr. 
 
 VOL, i, 31.
 
 450 HISTORY OF 
 
 attacks of the Mexicans. He then directed his 
 
 march round the north end of the lake towards 
 
 Tlefcala, the only place where he could hope 
 
 for a favourable reception. The Spaniards 
 
 marched, during the {pace of fix days, through 
 
 an ill-cultivated country, producing fcarcely any 
 
 provifions. While famine was wafting their 
 
 ftrength and depreffing their fpirits, their fitua- 
 
 tion required the moft vigorous and unremitting 
 
 exertions, their retreat being inceffantly harrafTed 
 
 by the defultory attacks of numerous bodies of 
 
 Mexicans, who had ifTued from the capital, or 
 
 were collected in the provinces. But they were 
 
 animated by the example of their commander, 
 
 who was foremoft in every danger, and under 
 
 this fad reverfe of fortune difplayed an unfhaken 
 
 magnanimity. 
 
 On the fixth day of their march they arrived 
 at the valley of Otumba, through which they 
 were obliged to pafs, and where the Mexicans 
 were prepared to make a grand effort to inter- 
 cept their retreat. On afcending an eminence 
 the Spaniards beheld the whole plain covered 
 with an immenfe army, extending farther than 
 the eye could reach. At this fight the boldeft 
 began to defpair. But Cortez, without allowing 
 time for their fears to operate, briefly warned 
 them that no other alternative remained than 
 victory or death, and inftantly led them to the
 
 SPAIN. 451 
 
 charge. The Mexicans fought with dauntlefs 
 intrepidity ; but the fuperiority of the European 
 difcipline and arms produced the fame effects as 
 in every other encounter. The impreffion of 
 the fmall battalion of Spaniards was irrefiftible, 
 and what way foever its force was directed, it 
 penetrated and difperfed the numerous multi- 
 tudes of the enemy. But fucceflive bodies of 
 combatants continually advancing, the Spaniards^ 
 though fuccefsful in every charge, yet feeing no 
 end of their toil, were ready to fink under their 
 reiterated efforts. At this critical moment 
 Cortez, at the head of fome of his braveft 
 officers, puming forward with an irrefiftible im- 
 petuofity, killed the Mexican General, and 
 feized the great ftandard of the empire, on the 
 fate of which the fuccefs of every battle was 
 fuppofed to depend. The moment that the 
 ftandard difappeared, the Mexicans, ftruck with 
 an univerfal panic, threw down their arms and 
 fled with the greateft precipitation. The 
 Spaniards having collected the fpoils, found 
 them fo valuable as to be fome compenfation for 
 the treafures loft in Mexico ; and the following 
 clay, 8th of July, 1520, they entered the Tlafcalan 
 territories, where they were received with the 
 greateft cordiality. 
 
 The dangers, the hardfhips, and the lofs which 
 had attended their retreat, induced many of the 
 312
 
 452 HISTORY OF 
 
 Spaniards to be defirous of abandoning, as foon 
 as poffible, a country which had proved fo fatal 
 to their hopes. But Cortez, whofe mind was as 
 eminent for perfeverance as for enterprife, 
 perfifted in his original refolution of conquering 
 the Mexican empire or lofing his life. Full of 
 this idea he began to prepare for renewing the 
 war, and difpatched an officer of confidence with 
 four fhips to Hifpaniola and Jamaica to engage 
 adventurers, and to purchafe horfes, gunpowder, 
 and other warlike {lores. The martial fpirit of 
 the Tlafcalans, and their inveterate enmity to 
 the Mexican name, together with a liberal dif- 
 tribution ofprefentsto their chiefs, encouraged 
 him to expecl, and enabled him to obtain what- 
 ever aid he required from their republic. As 
 he knew it would be in vain to attempt the 
 reduclion of Mexico without fir ft fecuring the 
 command of the lake, he gave orders to cut. 
 down timber in the mountains of Tlafcala, and 
 to prepare materials for the conftruclion of 
 twelve brigamines. fo that they might be carried 
 thither in pieces, and launched when necefTary. 
 
 But, in the midft of his preparations, he was 
 greatly embarraffed and alarmed by the fpirit of 
 mutiny which broke out among his troops, 
 The original adventurers were animated by the 
 fame fpirit as their leader; but thofe who had 
 come with Narvacz were lefs bold and perfc-
 
 SPAIN. 453 
 
 vering. In joining the ftandard of Cortcz they 
 had expected to fliare in the fpoils of a conquered 
 empire, but inftead of fuch good fortune they 
 found themfelves engaged in a dangerous war. 
 As foon as they faw themfelves flint up in Mexico 
 they difcovered their miftake, and execrated 
 their weaknefs in giving credit to the delufive 
 promifes of their new leader. Their fubfequent 
 misfortunes had confirmed them in their averfion 
 of the enterprife. Such of them as had the good 
 fortune to furvive the perilous adventures in 
 which they had been involved, trembled at the 
 thought of being a iccond time expofed to fimilar 
 calamities; and no fooner were they apprized of 
 the intentions of Cortez than they prefented a 
 remonftrance againft the imprudence of attack- 
 ing Mexico with his fhattered forces, and de- 
 manded to be inftantly led back to Cuba. 
 
 Cortez employed arguments, entreaties, and 
 prefents, to incite them to perfeverance, and 
 prevailed fo far as to induce them to defer, for 
 fome time, their departure. In order to prevent 
 the indulgence of difagreeable reflections he 
 kept his troops employed in various expeditions 
 againft the adjacent provinces. Thefe being 
 conducted with invariable fuccefs, his followers 
 again became accuftomed to viclory, and return- 
 ed to a fenfe of their fuperiority, while the 
 power of the Mexican empire was weakened, and
 
 454: HISTORY OF 
 
 the Tlafcalan warriors acquired the habit of 
 a6ling in conjunction with the Spaniards. 
 
 Amidft the numerous difficulties in which 
 Cortez was fo frequently involved feveral 
 kiftances of good fortune are obfervable. The 
 armament of Narvaez, which was defigned for 
 his deftruftion, had added between eight and 
 nine hundred men to his forces. At this junc- 
 ture two fhips, which had been fent by the 
 governor of Cuba, with a fupply of men and 
 military ftores for that general, whofe fuccefs 
 Velafquez had confidered as certain, being 
 decoyed into the harbour of Vera Cruz, were 
 feized by Cortez ; and the foldiers readily agreed 
 to follow his (landard. Another fhip of con- 
 fiderable force, fitted out by the governor of 
 Jamaica, for the purpofe of intruding into fome 
 part of New Spain, and dividing with Cortez the 
 glory of the conqueft, was, after a feries of dif- 
 afters, compelled by famine to enter the port of 
 Vera Cruz, where the adventurers inlifted under 
 the banners ofCortez. A veflel alfo arrived from 
 Spain, freighted with military ftores by fome 
 private merchants in the hope of a profitable 
 market; and Cortez, having purchafed the cargo, 
 which to him was invaluable, eafily perfuaded 
 the crew to engage in his fervice. From thefe 
 various quarters the army of Cortez was aug- 
 mented by 180 men and twenty horfes; and
 
 SPAIN. 455 
 
 having received this reinforcement, he difrniffed 
 fuch of the foldiers of Narvaez as remained with 
 reluftancc in his fervice, and whofe difaffection 
 was fo vifible that he could place no reliance 
 on their fidelity. 
 
 The army of Cortez now amounted to five 
 hundred and fifty Spanifh infantry, of which 
 eighty were armed with mufkets or crofs-bows, 
 forty horfrnen, with a train of nine field-pieces, 
 and ten thoufand Tlafcalans. With this force 
 he began his march towards Mexico on the 28ih 
 December, 1520, almolt fix months after his dif- 
 aitrous retreat from that city. Having met with 
 little oppofuion in his route, he took poifeffion 
 of Tezeuco, the fecond city of the empire, 
 fituated near the banks of the lake, about twenty 
 miles from Mexico. Here he eftablifhed his 
 head-quarters, as the moft proper Ration for 
 launching his brigantines. 
 
 In the mean while the Mexican Emperor, 
 Ouetlavaca, was a6lively employed in providing 
 for the defence of the capital, which he ftrength- 
 ened with fuch fortifications as the fkill of his 
 fubjecls was capable of conftrucling. Befides 
 filling his magazines with provifions, and collect- 
 ing, in abundance, the ufual weapons of war, he 
 gave directions for making long fpears, headed 
 with the fvvords and daggers taken from the 
 Spaniards, in order to oppofe the charge of
 
 4.56' HISTORY OF 
 
 cavalry. He fummoned the people in every 
 province of the empire to take arms ; and he fent 
 to TJafcala ambafladors, who, by the moft artful 
 addrefs, and the moft plaufible arguments, endea- 
 voured in vain to detach the chiefs of that repub- 
 lic from their alliance with the Spaniards. But 
 while Quetlavaca was arranging his plans he 
 died of the fmall pox, a diforder unknown 
 in America till it was introduced by the Euro- 
 peans, but which raged at that time in Mexico 
 with a fatal malignity. In confequence of this 
 event, Guatimozin, nephew and fon-in-law of 
 Montezuma, a young Prince of diftinguifhed 
 abilities and valour, was railed to the Mexican 
 ihrone. 
 
 Three months elapfed before the brigantines 
 were completed; but to Cortez this long inter- 
 val was not a time of inaftion. He reduced 
 by arms fome of the towns fituated round the 
 lake, and attached others to his party by negotia- 
 tion. Molt of the cities adjacent to Mexico 
 had originally been the capitals of independent 
 {hues : fome of them had been recently fubje&ed 
 to the Mexican empire, and bore the yoke with 
 impatience. By promifmg to free them from the 
 Mexican dominion he induced the people of 
 Icvcial confiderable diftrifts to acknowledge the 
 fovcrcignty of the crown ofCaftile, and to aflilfr 
 i':C Spaniards in carrying on the war. The.
 
 SPAIN. 457 
 
 defection was fo general that Cortez collected 
 an army of 140,000 Mexican fubjefts to affifl 
 him in his operations againft the capital. 
 
 But while the general thus (Irengthened his 
 army with American auxiliaries, a confpiracy 
 among the Spanifh troops was near proving fatal 
 to his plans and his life. Some of the foldiers of 
 Narvaez had feemed willing to remain when the 
 others departed; but on a nearer view of the 
 dangers which they had to encounter in affaulting 
 a city of fo difficult accefs as Mexico, and defend- 
 ed by fo numerous an army, their refolution 
 began to fail, and their averfion to the enterprife 
 was increafed by the machinations of Antonio 
 Villefragna, a private foldier of an artful and 
 intriguing difpofition. Under his direction a con- 
 fpiracy was formed for aflaffinating Cortez and 
 his principal officers, and electing new command- 
 ers. But the plot being difcovered by one of the 
 confpirators, Cortez, accompanied by fome of his 
 confidential officers, inftaritly repaired to the 
 quarters of Villefragna, and having fecured the 
 traitor, feized a paper containing the names of 
 all the confpirators. Having retired to read 
 the paper he found fome names which he had 
 little expecled to fee in fuch a lift. But as, at 
 fo critical a juncture, a ftricl: fcrutiny might have 
 been dangerous, he confinedhis judicial inquiries 
 to Villefragna alone, who, after afhort tria! 3 was 
 
 T ."OL, I. 3 M
 
 458 HISTORY OF 
 
 condemned, and the next morning was feerf 
 hanging before his quarters. Cortez having 
 affeinbled his troops explained to them the juftice 
 of the punimment inflitled on VilJefragna, and 
 artfully declared that as the traitor had fuddenly 
 fwallowed a paper and could not be induced to 
 make any confeffion, he was ignorant of many 
 particulars relating to this horrid tranfaftion, as 
 well as of the names of the parties concerned. 
 By this judicious procedure Cortez had the 
 advantage of being able to obferve the conduct 
 of thofe whom he knew to be difafTefted, while 
 they, flattering themfelves that their guilt was 
 unknown, endeavoured to avert fufpicion by 
 redoubling their zeal and aftivity. 
 
 The materials for building the brigantines 
 being prepared, the timber and iron works, the 
 fails, cordage, and all the infinite variety of 
 articles requifite for their conftruclion, were to 
 be carried fixty miles overland, acrofs a moun- 
 tainous country, by a people who had no beafts 
 of burden, nor any machines to aid their opera- 
 tions. The painful tafk was performed by 8000 
 Tlafcalan labourers, who carried the whole on 
 their moulders, while 1500 of their warriors 
 accompanied them as a guard ; and a body of 
 200 Span ifh infantry, and fifteen horfemen, with 
 two field-pieces, under the command ofSandoval, 
 being fent by Cortez for their protection againft
 
 459 
 
 ii^e panics of Mexicans which were feen con- 
 Rantly hovering around them, the whole convoy 
 arrived in fafcty at Tezeuco. About the fame 
 time four fhips from Hifpaniola arrived at 
 Vcra Cruz with two hundred foldiers, eighty 
 horfes, two pieces of battering cannon, and a 
 confiderable fupply of ammunition and ftorcs. 
 
 To facilitate the launching of the brigantincs 
 a number of Indians had been employed during 
 the fpace of two months in deepening a fmall 
 rivulet which ran from Tezeuco into the lake, 
 and forming it into a canal nearly two miles in 
 length ; and, in fpite of the attempts of the Mexi- 
 cans to prevent it, the work was completed. 
 On the 28ih April, 1521, the whole army being 
 drawn up in martial array on the banks of the 
 canal, the brigantines were launched, and the 
 rites of religion being employed to render the 
 fpcctacle more imprefTive, they received the 
 benediction of Father Olmeida as they fell down 
 towards the lake. 
 
 Every thing being in readinefs for com- 
 mencing operations againft Mexico, Cortex de- 
 termined to attack the city from three different 
 quarters by the three caufeways. He appointed 
 Sandoval to command the attack to be made 
 from Tcpcaca; Pedro dc Alvarado that from 
 Tacuba; and Chriftoval dc Olid that from 
 Cuyocan. The general himfclf took the com- 
 ; M 2
 
 460 HISTORY OF 
 
 mand of the brigantines, each of \vhich was 
 manned with twenty-five Spaniards, and carried a 
 fmall piece of cannon. The Mexicans, dreading 
 the operations of thefe vefTels, refolved to 
 attempt their deftrudion. They covered the 
 lake with their canoes, and rowed boldly for- 
 ward to the charge. But the brigantines eafily 
 broke through their fleet, funk many of their 
 canoes, and difpcrlbd the whole armament with 
 fuch (laughter as convinced the Mexicans that 
 the fuperiority of the Spaniards was greater on 
 the water than they had found it on the land. 
 Cortez being now matter of the lake formed the 
 brigamines into three divifions, appointing one 
 of them to cover each of the three caufeways by 
 which it was neceffary to make the approaches. 
 From all the three Rations the attack was carried 
 on againfl the city with equal vigour. Each 
 morning the troops affaulted the barricadoes, 
 which had been erefted on the caufeways, forced 
 their way over the trenches which had been dug 
 and the canals where the bridges had been 
 broken down, and endeavoured to penetrate 
 into the city, expecling by this meafure to bring 
 the war to a fpeedy termination. But the obfti- 
 nate valour of the Mexicans difputed every inch 
 of ground, and each day the affailams faw their 
 toils and their dangers renewed. During the 
 (pace of a month the Spaniards continued their
 
 SPAIN. 461 
 
 attacks in this manner without being able to 
 reach the city ; and the Mexicans, however 
 inferior in fkill, fhowed themfelves equal to 
 their enemies in courage. 
 
 The Spanifh general having loft many of his 
 foldiers in thele furious and almoft continual 
 conflicts, and feeing the reft ready to fink under 
 the p re flu re of unremitted fatigue, determined 
 to make one grand effort to gain poffeffion of 
 the city. With this view he fent orders to 
 Sandoval and Alvarado, to advance to a general 
 afTault by the caufeways of Tepeaca andTacuba, 
 while he conducted in perfon the attack by the 
 caufeway of Cuyocan. Animated by his pretence 
 the Spaniards rufhed forward with refiftlefs 
 impetuofity. Having broken through all the 
 barricacloes, and forced their way over the 
 breaches in the caufeway, they entered the city in 
 fpite of the number and ferocity of their oppo- 
 nents. But this brilliant fuccefs was the fore- 
 runner of a dreadful difafter. Julien de Alderete, 
 was left by Cortez to fill up the gaps in the 
 caufeway, in order to fecure a retreat if circum- 
 ftances fhould render it necefTary. But that 
 officer efteeming it inglorious to be thus employ- 
 ed while his companions were ruming on to 
 victory, neglected the important duty, and 
 inconfiderately hurried on to join the comba- 
 tants.
 
 462 HISTORY OF 
 
 The Mexican Emperor was no foonerinforme4 
 of the circurnftance than he ordered his troops 
 to (lacken their efforts, in order to allure the 
 Spaniards to advance, while he difpatched a 
 numerous body of chofen warriors, by different 
 flreets, towards the great breach in the caufeway. 
 On a fignal, the priefts in (he principal temple 
 began to beat the great drum confecrated to the 
 God of War. The Mexicans, on hearing itsdoleful 
 folemn found, adapted to infpire them withenthu- 
 fiaftic ardour, ru filed on their enemies with frantic 
 rage. The Spaniards, unable to refift their impetu- 
 ous attack, began to retire at firft in good order; 
 but when they came to the great breach in the 
 caufeway, being clofely preffed by the enemy, the 
 terror and confufion became fo great that horfe- 
 men and infantry plunged in promifcuoufly, 
 while the Mexicans, whofe light canoes carried 
 them over fhoals which the brigantines could 
 not pafs, poured upon them on everv fide. 
 Cortez, while exerting himfelf to fave fome of 
 thofe who had plunged into the water, was feized 
 by fix Mexican captains, who were hurrying him 
 off when two of his officers refcued him at the 
 cxpenfe of their own lives. In the ftru^le, 
 
 i OO ' 
 
 however, he received fevcral dangerous wounds. 
 Betides a great number of Tlafcalans, above 
 twenty Spaniards were killed or drowned : but 
 uhat was infinitely more calami tou. , forty more
 
 463 
 
 fell alive into the hands of the Mexicans, and 
 were offered in facrifice to their fanguinary 
 deities. 
 
 The night exhibited a folemn and horrible 
 fcenc. All Mexico refounded with the clamour 
 of the barbarous triumph and horrid feftival 
 with which they celebrated their victory. Every 
 quarter of the city was illuminated, and the great 
 temple (hone with fuch fplendour that the 
 Spaniards, from the (lations of both Cortez and 
 Aivarado, could clearly perceive the people in 
 motion, and the priefts employed in facrificing 
 the prifoners. After the performance of thefe 
 horrid rites they fent the heads of the Spaniards, 
 whom they had immolated, into the adjacent pro- 
 vinces, afluring the people that the God of War, 
 appeafed by the blood of the victims, had de- 
 clared that, within the fpace of eight days, the 
 invaders fhould be finally exterminated. The 
 prediction obtained univcrlal belief among a 
 people prone to fuperftition, and the Indian 
 auxiliaries, accuftomed to revere the fame deities 
 with the Mexicans, and to give the fame implicit 
 credit to their priefts, abandoned the Spaniards 
 as a race devoted to deftrufction. Cortez, con- 
 lidering that time would foon difpel the delufion, 
 fufpended all military operations during the 
 period marked out by the oracle, and under
 
 464 HISTORY OF 
 
 cover of the brigantines his troops lay in fafety 
 till the fatal term was expired. After fo ftriking 
 a proof of the fallacy of the prediction, his allies 
 returned to their itation, and he immediately 
 re-commenced the operations of the fiege. 
 
 Warned by the preceding difafters, Cortez 
 now changed his fyftem. He made his advances 
 gradually and with every poffible precaution: 
 and as the Spaniards pufhed forward, the Indians 
 repaired the caufeways. In this manner they 
 at length reached the city. The Mexicans, how- 
 ever, continued their refiftance with unbated 
 vigour, and incredible numbers of them fell in 
 the conflicts which were daily renewed. At the 
 fame time the ravages of famine were added to 
 thofe of war. No fewer than 200^000 people 
 are fuppofed to have been in Mexico during the 
 fiege;* and the ftores which Guatimozin had 
 laid up were exhaufted by the multitudes which 
 had crowded from the country into the capital 
 to defend their fovereign and the temples of 
 their gods. The Spanifh brigantines having 
 the entire command of the lake, prevented the 
 entrance of any fupplies by water, and the 
 Tlafcalans and other auxiliaries blocked up all 
 the avenues by land. 
 
 * Dr. Robcrtfon's Hid. Arncr. note J2i. This, however, it was 
 imooffible to afcertain.
 
 SPAIN, 465 
 
 Vv'hiie the Mexicans laboured under thefe 
 calamities, the Spaniards gradually advanced, till 
 at length, on ihe 2yth July, all the three divifions 
 Penetrated into the great fquare in the middle 
 of the city. Three-fourths of Mexico were now 
 reduced and laid in ruins ; and the remaining 
 quarter being incapable of much longer refift- 
 ance, Guatimozin refolved to retire from the 
 capital, in order to erect his ftandard and renew 
 the war with preater advantage in fome diftant 
 
 o o 
 
 part of the empire. In order to facilitate his 
 cfcape, he endeavoured to amufe Cortez by 
 negotiations. But the Spanifh General fufpeQ:- 
 ing his intention, ordered the commanders of the 
 brigantines to keep a IlriB watch. By their 
 vigilance and activity the Mexican Emperor was 
 difcovered and captured in attempting to crofs 
 {he lake in a canoe. As ibon as the fate of the 
 Sovereign was known, all refinance on the part of 
 the Mexicans coaled ; and on ihe 13th Auguft, 
 i ")2i. the Spaniards took poifcffion of that fmall 
 part of the city which remained undeftroyed.* 
 Thus terminated the memorable fiege of Mexico 
 after feventy-five days of almoft inceiumt attack, 
 attended wilh an incredible ilauiihter. of its in- 
 
 v A narrative of the conqucft of Mexico is found in IIcJTCia, extend- 
 .gfrum D^. '.'.. lib. 4.c. ij, to Dec. j, lib. a. c. 7,
 
 466 HISTORY OF 
 
 habitants. But the plunder of the city was far; 
 from anfwering the expectations of the con- 
 querors. Guatimozin, aware of his impending 
 fate, had ordered his treafures to be thrown into 
 the lake : the Indian auxiliaries had, at different 
 times, carried off the greateft part of the fpoils of 
 the city; and the infignificant fum of 120,000 
 pefocs, was all the gold and filver that the 
 Spaniards could collecl: amidft fcenes of carnage 
 and defolation,. Exafperated at the difappoint- 
 ment, they loudly accufed the general and his 
 confidents ofembezzling the wealth that ought to 
 have been brought to the common flock ; and 
 their turbulence impelled Cortez to fubjecl 
 Guatimozin to the torture, in order to extort 
 from him a difcovery of the royal treafures 
 which he was fuppofed to have concealed. The 
 monarch fupported his fufferings with invincible 
 fortitude, and Cortez, ftruck with horror at the 
 fcene, gave orders for his liberation. Guatimo- 
 zin, however, was referved for future calamities. 
 On the flight fufpicion, confirmed by very im- 
 perfeft evidence, that he had formed a fcheme 
 for exciting his former fubjefts to caft off the 
 Spaniih yoke. Cortez ordered the unfortunate 
 monarch, with the Caziqucs of Tezeuca and 
 Tacuba. to be hanged without the formality of a 
 trial : by thcfc and other aO.s of cruelty he
 
 SPAIN. 467 
 
 tarnifhed the luftre of his arms and the glory of 
 his fplendid atchievements. 
 
 The fate ofCortez refembled, in fome meafure, 
 that of Columbus; and the conqueror of Mexico, 
 like the difcoverer of America, experienced the 
 malevolence of his enemies in Europe. While 
 acquiring for the crown of Spain fuch extenfive 
 dominions, he was deftitute of any commiflion 
 or authority from the fovereign whom he was 
 ferving with fuch unparalleled fuccefs, and was 
 regarded as a feditious fubjecl;. By the influence 
 of Fonfeca, Bifhop of Burgos, and prefident of 
 the Council of the Indies, his conduft, in afluming 
 the government of New Spain, was declared to 
 be an irregular ufurpation in contempt of the 
 royal authority ; and Chriftoval de Tapia was 
 fent with a commiflion to fupercede him, to 
 feize his perfon, and confifcate his effefts. But 
 Cortez, by a feries of negotiations, conducted 
 with the moft confummate addrefs, baffled the 
 machinations of his enemies. The public voice 
 declared loudly in his favour. And Charles V. 
 who, about that time, arrived in Spain, preferring 
 the fenfe of the nation to that of his intriguing 
 courtiers, appointed him Captain-General and 
 Governor of the country which he had con- 
 quered, a reward certainly not too great for 
 his merit. The exploits of Cortez, with his
 
 HISTORY OF SPAIN, 
 
 handful of Spaniards, have produced greatei 
 ef lefts than have refulted from all the pro- 
 jects which at that time agitated the minds of the 
 monarchs and minifters of Europe.* 
 
 * Cortez, after being eflabliftied in his government, re-built Mexico, 
 is now the largeft and mcft opulent city in America, 
 
 IN'D OF VQI,, t 
 
 W. SV.eardown, 
 High-Strett, Do 
 
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 Los Angeles 
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