Africans and the cavalry of Merida, Carmona, Ecija, and Seville, with the people of Algarve, these forces being led by his brother Abderahman, by Abu Giafar, Wali of Santamaria, and by the Wali of Merida, Abu Othman Said Ben Haraum. The enemies of Suleiman did not neglect to foment and encourage the disobedience and discontent prevailing in the various provinces, and sought to do him injury in every manner that they could devise.

The

And now, after many skirmishes and combats of comparatively slight importance, the two hosts met in the Comarca of Medina Talca, which is in the territory of Seville, when, as of one accord, they commenced a furious battle. The Africans fought with a barbarous valour, enforced by the example of their intrepid leaders, and above all by that of their king, Suleiman Ben Alhakem, who went raging like a maddened lion through the hottest of the fight. But yielding at length to the superiority of numbers, he began to retire as the day drew near its close, withdrawing his troops in good order, and proposing to reach the fortress, there to take shelter for the night, when he was suddenly attacked by the greater portion of his own men. soldiers had been induced to that mutiny by the shameless treason of their Andalusian officers, who followed the breath of fortune: and that inconstant one, according to her usual practice, had that day abandoned Suleiman Ben Alhakem for ever. Thus the two brothers, their horses lying dead beneath them, and themselves covered with wounds, were surrounded by the boldest of their enemies, and fell almost expiring into their hands. At that time there lay by the side of Suleiman, bravely fighting for whom they had sacrificed their lives, his faithful vizier, Ahmed Ben Said, lord of Santamaria, in Algarve, with his son-in-law, Said Ben Haraun of Merida; other cavaliers of Algarve, who had also kept their faith to their lord, very narrowly escaping the same fate. The field remained concealed beneath the corpses of the slain for a vast distance

On the following day, the victors entered Seville without any resistance, and continuing their march from that city, they took possession of Cordova with equal facility. The old man Alhakem Ben Abderahman, being made acquainted

by the fugitive Africans with the misfortunes of his sons, had no wish to restrain the triumphant course of Aly Ben Hamud, the avenger, nor any power to do so, even had he felt the wish.

No sooner had the allies entered Cordova, than Aly Ben Hamud made himself master of the Alcazar, took the Wali Alhakem Ben Abderahman prisoner, and commanded that his two sons Suleiman and Abderahman should be brought to his presence, although they were then dying of the many and grave wounds they had received in the battle. Aly then enquired of the noble old chief, and said, “Oh, man of many days, what hast thou done with the King Hixem, and whither hast thou borne him ?" Whereunto the old man answered that he knew nothing of the matter. Then said Aly, "Ye have put him to death." But Alhakem replied, "No, by Allah, that have we not; nor do we know whether he be living or dead, or where he now is." Thereupon Aly drew his sword, and said, "These heads do I offer to the vengeance of Hixem El Muyad Billah, and so do I fulfil my charge." Then Suleiman raised his eyes and said, "Let thy sword fall on mine alone, Aly Ben Hamud, for these my father and brother have done nothing to offend any man, or to merit death." But Aly disregarded his words, and with his own hand he beheaded them all three, removing each head by one firm and well-directed blow. The death of Suleiman, of Alhakem his father, and of his brother Abderahman, took place on a Sunday, the 20th of the moon of Moharram, in the year of the Hegira 407.

Aly now commanded that King Hixem should be sought with great care and there was no apartment and no dungeon of the royal palaces and dwellings wherein he did. not cause search to be made; but all this was only vain labour,-Hixem El Muyad Billah never appeared again either in life or as the dead, and his departure from this world was at length made public, giving occasion for the setting about among the people of many strange fables and groundless rumours.

CHAP. CX.-OF THE REIGN OF ALY BEN HAMUD.

By the counsels of Hairan Alameri the Sclavonian, Aly Ben Hamud was now proclaimed in Cordova as King of Spain, with the titles of Motuakil Billah* and of Anasir Ledinallah,† that proclamation being made on the 13th day of Giumada Segunda, in the year 408. The Chotba or public prayer was then made for their new sovereign in all the mosques; and Aly wrote to the Walies and Governors of provinces, making known to them that King Hixem El Muyad Billah had declared him successor to the throne before losing his liberty, and expressing his hope that they would come to his capital, as loyal subjects should do, to take the oath of fidelity and allegiance to his rule.

From the Walies of Seville, Toledo, Merida, and Saragossa, Aly Ben Hamud received no replies to his letters; a circumstance which caused the king to conceive much fear and distrust, more especially of the Alameries. The Sclavonian Hairan, moreover, made many extravagant demands on him, and appeared to believe that he was failing in the fulfilment of the conditions agreed on between them; wherefore, fearing that general's influence in Cordova, the King Aly Ben Hamud dismissed him from the Court, and commanded him to repair to his government of Almeria: but Hairan departed in great displeasure, offended by that proceeding on the part of Aly Ben Hamud, and meditating revenge against the proud and ungrateful king.

Moved by these feelings, the Sclavonian general incited other leaders to rebellion as he passed onwards to his government; and many of the Alameries joining his party, Hairan entered into a conspiracy against Aly Ben Hamud, with the Alcaides of Arjona, Jaen, and Baeza, in conjunction with whom he wrote to Almondar, the Wali of Saragossa, exhorting him to unite with them for the purpose of driving Aly from the throne and restoring the same to the Omeyas, who were in fact the lawful heirs, and to whom

* Motuakil Billah-Confiding in God.

† Anasir Ledirallah, or Ledin Allah-Defender of the Law of God. + A.D. 1018.

Aly Ben Hamud, in his treaty with the allied leaders, had promised the restitution of their just claims.

And now, to give their enterprise the more weight, and secure the consideration of the people, the Walies assembled in Guadix, where they took a solemn oath to maintain with all their power the war by which a legitimate prince of the house of Omeya, to whom all might pay a rightful obedience, should be placed on the throne of Cordova.

Such were the purposes which they publicly declared; but the stipulations secretly made and agreed to among them were of a less generous character: they were in fact more eagerly seeking their private interests than the general welfare, aiming at nothing less than the permanence and security of their governments and offices, each hoping to secure that which he held in his own family, and proposing to obtain their cities or provinces as the hereditary possession of their houses, in reward for the zeal they were displaying and the labours they were about to undertake.

With the plausible pretext set forth as above mentioned, the Walies assembled a large host, the natural love of the people for their ancient sovereigns causing all to hope that they might recover their previous calm and prosperity under the shadow and within the protection of their Omeyan princes.

Mulgehid Edim had meanwhile remained in possession of that large portion of the island of Sardinia which he had conquered; but he now found that his people were becoming weary of the war, of the unhealthy climate, and of the long absence they had endured from their beloved country. He perceived also that the popular voice, which had previously applauded him, was beginning to change; his followers were even heard to murmur at his ambition and covetousness, many of them saying, "This Ameer is not content with the riches and fertility of his own states, which are among the most delightful regions of Spain, and with the Yebisat Islands, but he must needs cross the sea, affronting all the great perils and perpetual changes of the inconstant waters for the purpose of making new acquisitions: but of all this what profit does there accrue to us, who follow his banners with so much labour and endanger our lives for

the furtherance of his rash and ambitious enterprises? What is our reward? To be the sport of death and the food of voracious beasts of prey.

These complaints of the discontented, which daily increased, did not fail to reach the ears of Mugehid; and their frequent repetition, with the arrival of the Christians, who came in large numbers with a well-appointed fleet, determined that leader to desist from his undertaking; wherefore, gathering together the riches, captives, and flocks which he had taken, he gave orders that all should be embarked for his return home.

But for that purpose he chose a haven very badly adapted to his intent, acting in this matter against the advice of Abu Charaub, the captain of his ships. The latter, moreover, assured him, as we are informed by Abu Feth El Thabit, who was present, that a great storm was threatening, and that it would be better to wait and offer battle to the Christians on land, than brave the fury of the tempestuous ocean; but the Ameer would not listen to his counsels, and all embarked as he had commanded.

Then did God call forth immediately a most fearful tempest of impetuous and contrary winds; waves rose up that were like mountains, the ships climbed at one moment as to the clouds, and were lost at the next in the abysses of the sea, which were seen foaming and of horrible aspect, but only by the terrible and fugitive lightnings, seeing that all heaven was veiled in darkness, while these were accompanied by frightful peals of thunder, and they, joining the perpetual roar of the raging sea, caused all hearts to tremble, when the dazzled eyes of the discouraged people could see nought before them but fearful images of death.

All the labours and pains of the mariners could not prevent the ships from dashing against each other. Abu Charoub called out to them, commanding that the barks should be kept off the coast, where many of them were suffering wreck upon the rocks, while others were swallowed by the waves; but all his efforts were vain.

The Christians were meanwhile contentedly watching the destruction of their enemies from the shore; and as the poor shipwrecked creatures were cast forth to land, they