CHAPTER X

REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN II.; REIGN OF MOHAMMED

Accession of Abd-al-Rahman II.--Defection of Abdallah--Invasion of the Gothic March--Embassy from the Greek Emperor--Revolt of Merida--Sedition at Toledo--Incursion of the Normans--Persecution of the Christians--Death of Abd-al-Rahman--His Love of Pomp--His Virtues--His Patronage of Art and Letters--Ziryab--His Versatility--Conspiracy of Tarub--Stratagem of Mohammed--His Bigotry--Toledo again Revolts--Rise of the Beni-Kasi--War with the Asturias--Rebellion of Ibn-Merwan--The Serrania de Ronda--Ibn-Hafsun, his Origin and Exploits--Death and Character of Mohammed--Incipient Decadence of the Moslem Power 475