CHAPTER VIII

THE OMMEYADES; REIGN OF ABD-AL-RAHMAN I.

The Ommeyade Family--Its Origin--Its Hostility to Mohammed--The Syrian Princes--Their Profligacy--Splendors of Damascus--Luxury of the Syrian Capital--Rise of the Abbasides--Proscription of the Defeated Faction--Escape of Abd-al-Rahman--His Romantic Career--He enters Spain--His Success--Defeat and Dethronement of Yusuf--Constant Insurrections--Enterprise of the Khalif of Bagdad--Its Disastrous Termination--Invasion of Charlemagne--Slaughter of Roncesvalles--Death of Abd-al-Rahman--His Character--His Services to Civilization--Foundation of the Great Mosque--The Franks reconquer Septimania 367