CHAPTER IX

REIGN OF HISCHEM I.; REIGN OF AL-HAKEM I.

Custom of Royal Succession violated by the Will of Abd-al-Rahman--Accession of Hischem--Revolt of Suleyman and Abdallah--They are routed and their Armies dispersed--Clemency of the Emir--Invasion of Septimania--Defeat of the Franks--Indecisive Results of the Campaign--Public Works of Hischem--His Noble Character--His Partiality for Theologians--The Southern Suburb of Cordova--Death of Hischem--General Distrust of Al-Hakem--Suleyman and Abdallah again in Rebellion--Civil War--The Gothic March--Siege and Capture of Barcelona--Apathy of the Emir--Importance of the Conquest--The Edrisite Dynasty--Disturbances at Toledo--“The Day of the Ditch”--The Royal Body-Guard--Revolt of the Faquis--Its Results--League of the Asturian and Frankish Princes--Legend of St. James the Apostle--Death of Al-Hakem--His Character 421