CHAPTER XVIII

Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada

by Washington Irving

CHAPTER XVIII, CHRONICLE OF THE CONQUEST OF GRANADA by Washington Irving

HOW MULEY ABUL HASSAN PROFITED BY THE MISFORTUNES OF
HIS SON BOABDIL.


An unfortunate death atones, with the world, for a multitude of
errors. While the populace thought their youthful monarch had
perished in the field nothing could exceed their grief for his loss
and their adoration of his memory; when, however, they learnt
that he was still alive and had surrendered himself captive to the
Christians, their feelings underwent an instant change. They decried
his talents as a commander, his courage as a soldier; they railed at
his expedition as rash and ill-conducted; and they reviled him for
not having dared to die on the field of battle, rather than
surrender to the enemy.

The alfaquis, as usual, mingled with the populace and artfully
guided their discontents. "Behold," exclaimed they, "the prediction
is accomplished which was pronounced at the birth of Boabdil! He
has been seated on the throne, and the kingdom has suffered
downfall and disgrace by his defeat and captivity. Comfort yourselves,
O Moslems! The evil day has passed by; the prophecy is fulfilled:
the sceptre which has been broken in the feeble hand of Boabdil is
destined to resume its former sway in the vigorous grasp of Abul
Hassan."

The people were struck with the wisdom of these words: they rejoiced
that the baleful prediction which had so long hung over them was at
an end, and declared that none but Muley Abul Hassan had the valor
and capacity necessary for the protection of the kingdom in this
time of trouble.

The longer the captivity of Boabdil continued, the greater grew
the popularity of his father. One city after another renewed
allegiance to him, for power attracts power and fortune creates
fortune. At length he was enabled to return to Granada and establish
himself once more in the Alhambra. At his approach his repudiated
spouse, the sultana Ayxa, gathered together the family and treasures
of her captive son, and retired, with a handful of the nobles, into
the Albaycin, the rival quarter of the city, the inhabitants of which
still retained feelings of loyalty to Boabdil. Here she fortified
herself and held the semblance of a court in the name of her son.
The fierce Muley Abul Hassan would have willingly carried fire and
sword into this factious quarter of the capital, but he dared not
confide in his new and uncertain popularity. Many of the nobles
detested him for his past cruelty, and a large portion of the soldiery,
besides many of the people of his own party, respected the virtues
of Ayxa la Horra and pitied the misfortunes of Boabdil.

Granada therefore presented the singular spectacle of two
sovereignties within the same city. The old king fortified himself
in the lofty towers of the Alhambra, as much against his own
subjects as against the Christians; while Ayxa, with the zeal of a
mother's affection, which waxes warmer and warmer toward her
offspring when in adversity, still maintained the standard of
Boabdil on the rival fortress of the Alcazaba, and kept his powerful
faction alive within the walls of the Albaycin.