CHAPTER XIII

REIGN OF AL-HAKEM II.

Splendid Ceremonial at the Accession of Al-Hakem II.--His Wise and Prudent Measures--Ordoño seeks an Audience--His Baseness--Successful Expedition against the Christians--Disturbances in Africa--Army of the Khalif Defeated--The Berber Chieftains are corrupted, and their Forces disband--Importance of Cordova as a Religious Centre--Description of the Great Mosque--Death of Al-Hakem--His Literary Attainments--His Patronage of Letters--The Library--Institutions of Learning--General Prevalence of Education--Public Improvements--The Khalif the Exemplar of the Highest Culture of his Age--Prosperity of the Empire 634