HISTORY

OF THE

DOMINION OF THE ARABS IN SPAIN.

CHAP. XCVIII.-OF THE HONOURS WHICH THE HAGIB MUHAMAD ALMANZOR CONFERRED ON MEN OF LEARNING, AND OF OTHER EVENTS.

BUT a short time only in each year did the Hagib Muhamad Almanzor pass in his expeditions to the frontier: the place which he most commonly made his abode was Cordova, and when there his house was as a sort of academy or place of assemblage for men of learning and genius. Among the many by whom it was frequented, one of the most distinguished was Obada Ben Abdallah Ben Measemai Abu Becri, of Malaga, who was one of the best poetical writers then living in Andalusia. He wrote the History of the Spanish Poets, with a Borda or eulogy on the Anabi* Muhamad, that was much renowned. To obtain permission for paying a visit to the vizier of Muhamad Almanzor, Ahmed Ben Soaid Ben Hezam, Obada composed an extempore copy of verses of singular eloquence, which were much admired by the vizier, who gave him a hundred dinars of gold for the same, and from that moment commanded that his house should be open to the poet at all hours. Another of the eminent persons by whom the house of the Hagib Almanzor was most assiduously frequented, was * Anabi or Nabi, Prophet.

Abdelwariz Ben Sofein; but there were besides many others from the most illustrious families of Cordova, who were constantly to be found there.

Muhamad Almanzor likewise established an academy or school for the tongues, wherein the most learned men, and those already known for the production of useful or ingenious works in the various branches of erudition, were alone permitted to hold chairs. The Hagib was a diligent visitor to the Aljamas, the colleges, and the Madrisas or schools for youth, where he would seat himself among the students and disciples, not suffering that the course of instruction should be interrupted either by his entrance or departure. To those who most distinguished themselves in these institutions he gave prizes; and that not to the students only, but to the masters also. By this his acquaintance with the students, or by the means here described, the Hagib always knew where to find the person he required when a choice was about to be made of learned Cadies for the principal Aljamas of the kingdom, or if an election were taking place of Mocries and Alchatibes, who are readers and preachers for the mosques:

The King Hixem Ben Alhakem El. Muyad Billah. continued meanwhile to live in the retirement of his different palaces, and to amuse himself among the delicious gardens. that surrounded those residences. None could visit him without the permission. of the Sultana mother, or of the Hagib Muhamad Abdallah Ben. Abi Amer. He was never named unless it were in the Chotba. or public prayer of the Juma; that weekly mention, with his name on the Coin and on certain Inscriptions, being the sole evidence. of his existence. When the young sovereign repaired to the Pascuas, the Easter solemnities that is to say, or other festivals celebrated in the mosques,, he never came forth from the Macsura* until every other person had left the

*The Macsura was a tribune or gallery but slightly raised above the pavement, placed in the principal part of the mosque; it was surrounded by a grating formed of gilt rods, and here the kings took their place when they appeared at the Zala or public prayers. In all the Mosques, the boys were placed behind. the old men, and the women behind the boys; by whom they were entirely separated from the men. At the close of the worship, the men remained to wait until all the

building, when he also departed, but so closely surrounded by his attendants and guard, that none could behold his person, and he was thus reconducted to his Alcazar, which was at no great distance from the mosque, almost without the people having remarked or been aware of his presence.

Now, from the year 365, Alhassan Ben Kenuz had remained at the court of Nasar Ben Maad, the Soldan of Egypt, to which he had retired, as has been related, after leaving that of the King Alhakem Almostansir Billah, at Cordova. It was now the year 373, and the Soldan Ben Maad wrote letters to his General Balkim Ben Zeiri Ben Menad, who governed Africa in his name, commanding him to favour the enterprises of Alhassan in the land of Magreb. With these letters, Alhassan Ben Kenuz repaired to the city of Tunis, where he was received with much honour by Balkim. Ben Zeiri, who had no sooner read the letters of the Soldan, than he made instant preparations for paying obedience to the tenor of the same. He furnished Alhassan with three thousand horse, and this force being increased by the adherence to his party of several Cabilas from different parts of Barbary, Alhassan Ben Kenuz entered Almagreb, when he was proclaimed sovereign in many of the towns.

Intelligence of these things having been sent to Cordova, the Hagib Muhamad Almanzor instantly despatched a select. body of cavalry, conducted by his vizier Abu Alhakem Omar Ben Abdallah Ben Abi Amer, to whom he gave the government of: Almagreb, with that of all its dependencies.. Alhassan, on his part, had no sooner been made acquainted with the approach of the armament bearing these troops, than he hastened to the coast, met the Andalusians on their landing, and attacking them at once, a sanguinary conflict ensued, which was maintained for some time with equal obstinacy on both sides. But Alhassan was at length the conqueror; defeating the Andalusian forces, he compelled them to retreat, and they hastened to take refuge in Medina Cebta, where Alhassan besieged them for some days. Abu Alhakem Omar then wrote an account of his misfortune to Cordova, when the Hagib Almanzor women had disappeared. No maiden went to a mosque where there was not a place set apart for the reception of the virgins; and every woman was carefully wrapped up and covered with her veils.-Condé.

sent his own son, Abdelmelic Abu Meruan, who, although very young, was already highly esteemed for his qualities as a military leader. He now hastened with all speed to the assistance of Abu Alhakem, who was his uncle, having been furnished by the Hagib with a well-appointed army for that purpose.

Muhamad Almanzor himself had meanwhile proceeded once more into the East of Spain with a very powerful host: marching at the head of the Cordovan cavalry, he passed by Garnata, Baza, Lorca, and Tadmir, remaining for some time in the last-named city, where he hoped to be joined by the forces of Algarve and others whom he had commanded to be brought to him by the ships of that coast.

Here Muhamad Almanzor was entertained in the house of the Amil or governor of the city, Ahmed Ben Alchiteb Ben Dagim, who during the three and twenty days of the Hagib's abode in his dwelling, daily feasted all the generals and other cavaliers by whom Almanzor was accompanied, and that most splendidly: nay, the horses and servants who were in attendance on those nobles were in like manner fed at the cost of the governor.

For the principal personages among his guests, Abmed Ben Alchiteb caused the most delicate baths of rose-water to be prepared, expending a profusion of rich perfumes and aromatic essences, moreover, during every meal, and at all the assemblies in his apartments of those highly honoured visitors. Each person was supplied with a commodious and pleasant chamber, having a bed covered with precious stuffs of silk and gold: at a word, the entertainment was in every respect most princely.

When the Hagib Muhamad Almanzor was about to take his departure from the house of that magnificent host, he said to the latter, in the presence of all his generals and cavaliers, "Of a truth, Ahmad Ben Alchiteb, thou dost not know how to lodge men whose occupation is war, and I shall take care to send none of the troops thy way when they are proceeding to the frontier, or bound for Algihed:* the repose of such men should be fighting, and their best ornaments are their arms. Yet to a man of such liberality and so generous a heart, the treatment of a mere tax-paying

*The sacre war.

vassal is by no means suited, and therefore, in the name of our lord the King Hixem Ben Alhakem, I make thee free of all tribute for the remainder of thy life." This happened on the twelfth day of the moon Dylhagia, in the year 374. We find it related, that when the Hagib Muhamad Ben Abdallah Ben Abi Amer Almanzor departed from Cordova for this expedition, there went forth with him Abu Omar Ahmed Ben Chateb, called Alhazin, and that this man entertained the Hagib, with all his company, at his houses on the way, as he did at his dwelling in Murcia, when the latter was proceeding on the expedition to Barcelona, causing him to be there met and received by Aben Soheid, Prefect of the Asadaca, and by all the principal persons of the city. The son of this Alhazin, called Abulasbaz Muza, entertained in like manner Abdelmelic Abu Meruan, the son of the Hagib Muhamad, with all his cavaliers and followers, in a journey, during which the latter passed through Murcia, and for these causes both father and son were rendered free of the gates of Cordova, a privilege which had once before been granted to their house by the Meruans. Yet in these days, that illustrious family is living in some remote part-God only knows the place--miserable and despised like the most wretched of Alarabes. But doth not Allah see all things?

Abu Meruan Ben Hayan, in his History of the Alameries, gives us to know that the march of the Hagib Muhamad Almanzor upon Barcelona took place in the year 375, being the twenty-third expedition undertaken by that leader. He directed his steps towards the East of Spain, by Elvira and Basta to Tadmir, and at Murcia, which is the seat of the Alcaides of Tadmir, he was entertained as aforesaid in the house of Aben Chateb, where, according to the same Aben Hayan, he remained thirteen days, all his servants and cavaliers daily receiving bread, flesh, and fruit at their Posadas from the same liberal hand. To Muhamad Almanzor and his generals, the splendid feasts presented each day, with conserves and fruits of every kind, were matter of marvel. When the Hagib, being about to leave the city, was informed by his viziers and the masters of accounts that Aben Chateb had supplied all their wants, he returned thanks in the name of their lord, the King Hixem Ben Alhakem; and on his return to Cordova,