CHAPTER XXXI

Chronicle of the Conquest of Granada

by Washington Irving

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

HOW THE PEOPLE OF GRANADA INVITED EL ZAGAL TO THE THRONE,
AND HOW HE MARCHED TO THE CAPITAL.


The people of Granada were a versatile, unsteady race, and
exceedingly given to make and unmake kings. They had for a
long time vacillated between old Muley Abul Hassan and his son,
Boabdil el Chico, sometimes setting up the one, sometimes the
other, and sometimes both at once, according to the pinch and
pressure of external evils. They found, however, that the evils still
went on increasing in defiance of every change, and were at their
wits' end to devise some new combination or arrangement by which
an efficient government might be wrought out of two bad kings.
When the tidings arrived of the fall of Ronda, and the consequent
ruin of the frontier, a tumultuous assemblage took place in one of
the public squares. As usual, the people attributed the misfortunes
of the country to the faults of their rulers, for the populace never
imagine that any part of their miseries can originate with themselves.
A crafty alfaqui, named Alyme Mazer, who had watched the current of
their discontents, rose and harangued them. "You have been choosing
and changing," said he, "between two monarchs; and who and what
are they? Muley Abul Hassan for one, a man worn out by age and
infirmities, unable to sally forth against the foe, even when ravaging
to the very gates of the city; and Boabdil el Chico for the other, an
apostate, a traitor, a deserter from his throne, a fugitive among the
enemies of his nation, a man fated to misfortune, and proverbially
named 'the Unlucky.' In a time of overwhelming war like the present
he only is fit to sway a sceptre who can wield a sword. Would you
seek such a man? You need not look far. Allah has sent such a one
in this time of distress to retrieve the fortunes of Granada. You
already know whom I mean. You know that it can be no other than
your general, the invincible Abdallah, whose surname of El Zagal has
become a watchword in battle rousing the courage of the faithful and
striking terror into the unbelievers."

The multitude received the words of the alfaqui with acclamations;
they were delighted with the idea of a third king over Granada,
and Abdallah el Zagal being of the royal family, and already in the
virtual exercise of royal power, the measure had nothing in it that
appeared either rash or violent. A deputation was therefore sent
to El Zagal at Malaga inviting him to repair to Granada to receive
the crown.

El Zagal expressed great surprise and repugnance when the mission
was announced to him, and nothing but his patriotic zeal for the
public safety and his fraternal eagerness to relieve the aged Abul
Hassan from the cares of government prevailed upon him to accept
the offer. Leaving, therefore, Reduan Vanegas, one of the bravest
Moorish generals, in command of Malaga, he departed for Granada,
attended by three hundred trusty cavaliers.

Muley Abul Hassan did not wait for the arrival of his brother.
Unable any longer to buffet with the storms of the times, his only
solicitude was to seek some safe and quiet harbor of repose. In one
of the deep valleys which indent the Mediterranean coast, and which
are shut up on the land side by stupendous mountains, stood the
little city of Almunecar. The valley was watered by the limpid river
Frio, and abounded with fruits, with grain, and pasturage. The city
was strongly fortified, and the garrison and alcayde were devoted to
the old monarch. This was the place chosen by Muley Abul Hassan
for his asylum. His first care was to send thither all his treasures;
his next care was to take refuge there himself; his third, that his
sultana Zoraya and their two sons should follow him.

In the mean time, Muley Abdallah el Zagal pursued his journey toward
the capital, attended by his three hundred cavaliers. The road from
Malaga to Granada winds close by Alhama, and is dominated by that
lofty fortress. This had been a most perilous pass for the Moors
during the time that Alhama was commanded by the count de Tendilla:
not a traveller could escape his eagle eye, and his garrison was
ever ready for a sally. The count de Tendilla, however, had been
relieved from this arduous post, and it had been given in charge
to Don Gutiere de Padilla, clavero (or treasurer) of the order of
Calatrava--an easy, indulgent man, who had with him three hundred
gallant knights of his order, besides other mercenary troops. The
garrison had fallen off in discipline; the cavaliers were hardy in
fight and daring in foray, but confident in themselves and negligent
of proper precautions. Just before the journey of El Zagal a number
of these cavaliers, with several soldiers of fortune of the garrison, in
all about one hundred and seventy men, had sallied forth to harass
the Moorish country during its present distracted state, and, having
ravaged the valleys of the Sierra Nevada, or Snowy Mountains, were
returning to Alhama in gay spirits and laden with booty.

As El Zagal passed through the neighborhood of Alhama he recollected
the ancient perils of the road, and sent light cerradors in advance to
inspect each rock and ravine where a foe might lurk in ambush. One
of these scouts, overlooking a narrow valley which opened upon the
road, descried a troop of horsemen on the banks of a little stream.
They were dismounted, and had taken the bridles from their steeds,
that they might crop the fresh grass on the banks of the river. The
horsemen were scattered about, some reposing in the shades of rocks
and trees, others gambling for the spoil they had taken: not a sentinel
was posted to keep guard; everything showed the perfect security of
men who consider themselves beyond the reach of danger.

These careless cavaliers were in fact the knights of Calatrava
returning from their foray. A part of their force had passed on
with the cavalgada; ninety of the principal cavaliers had halted
to refresh themselves in this valley. El Zagal smiled with ferocious
joy when he heard of their negligent security. "Here will be
trophies," said he, "to grace our entrance into Granada."

Approaching the valley with cautious silence, he wheeled into it at
full speed at the head of his troop, and attacked the Christians so
suddenly that they had no time to put the bridles upon their horses
or even to leap into the saddles. They made a confused but valiant
defence, fighting among the rocks and in the rugged bed of the river.
Their defence was useless; seventy-nine were slain, and the remaining
eleven were taken prisoners.

A party of the Moors galloped in pursuit of the cavalgada: they soon
overtook it winding slowly up a hill. The horsemen who convoyed it,
perceiving the enemy at a distance, made their escape, and left the
spoil to be retaken by the Moors. El Zagal gathered together his
captives and his booty, and proceeded, elate with success, to Granada.

He paused before the gate of Elvira, for as yet he had not been
proclaimed king. This ceremony was immediately performed, for
the fame of his recent exploit had preceded him and intoxicated
the minds of the giddy populace. He entered Granada in a sort of
triumph. The eleven captive knights of Calatrava walked in front:
next were paraded the ninety captured steeds, bearing the armor
and weapons of their late owners, and led by as many mounted
Moors: then came seventy Moorish horsemen, with as many Christian
heads hanging at their saddle-bows: Muley Abdallah followed,
surrounded by a number of distinguished cavaliers splendidly attired,
and the pageant was closed by a long cavalgada of the flocks and
herds and other booty recovered from the Christians.*

*Zurita, lib. 20, c. 62; Mariana, Hist. de Espana; Abarca, Anales
de Aragon.


The populace gazed with almost savage triumph at these captive
cavaliers and the gory heads of their companions, knowing them to
have been part of the formidable garrison of Alhama, so long the
scourge of Granada and the terror of the Vega. They hailed this
petty triumph as an auspicious opening of the reign of their new
monarch; for several days the name of Muley Abul Hassan and
Boabdil el Chico were never mentioned but with contempt, and
the whole city resounded with the praises of El Zagal, or the Valiant.