LETTER OF MUZA TO THE CALIPH.—SECOND EXPEDITION OF TARIC EL TUERTO.
On hearing the tidings brought by Taric el Tuerto, and beholding
the spoil he had collected, Muza wrote a letter to the Caliph Waled
Almanzor, setting forth the traitorous proffer of Count Julian, and the
probability, through his means, of making a successful invasion of Spain.
“A new land,” said he, “spreads itself out before our delighted eyes, and
invites our conquest: a land, too, that equals Syria in the fertility of
its soil, and the serenity of its sky; Yemen, or Arabia the Happy, in its
delightful temperature; India, in its flowers and spices; Hegias, in its
fruits and flowers; Cathay, in its precious minerals; and Aden, in the
excellence of its ports and harbours! It is populous also, and wealthy;
having many splendid cities, and majestic monuments of ancient art.
What is to prevent this glorious land from becoming the inheritance of
the faithful? Already we have overcome the tribes of Berbery, of Zab, of
Derar, of Zaara, Mazamuda, and Sus; and the victorious standard of Islam
floats on the towers of Tangier. But four leagues of sea separate us
from the opposite coast. One word from my sovereign, and the conquerors
of Africa will pour their legions into Andalusia, rescue it from the
domination of the unbeliever, and subdue it to the law of the Koran.”[19]
The Caliph was overjoyed with the contents of the letter. “God is great!”
exclaimed he, “and Mahomet is his prophet! It has been foretold by the
ambassador of God, that his law should extend to the ultimate parts of
the west, and be carried by the sword into new and unknown regions.
Behold, another land is opened for the triumphs of the faithful! It is
the will of Allah, and be his sovereign will obeyed!” So the Caliph sent
missives to Muza, authorising him to undertake the conquest.
Upon this there was a great stir of preparation; and numerous vessels
were assembled and equipped at Tangier, to convey the invading army
across the Straits. Twelve thousand men were chosen for this expedition:
most of them light Arabian troops, seasoned in warfare, and fitted for
hardy and rapid enterprise. Among them were many horsemen, mounted
on fleet Arabian steeds. The whole was put under the command of the
veteran, Taric el Tuerto, or the one-eyed, in whom Muza reposed implicit
confidence, as in a second self. Taric accepted the command with joy: his
martial fire was roused at the idea of having such an army under his sole
command, and such a country to overrun; and he secretly determined never
to return unless victorious.
He chose a dark night to convey his troops across the Straits of
Hercules; and, by break of day, they began to disembark at Tarifa,
before the country had time to take the alarm. A few Christians hastily
assembled from the neighbourhood, and opposed their landing, but were
easily put to flight. Taric stood on the sea-side, and watched until
the last squadron had landed; and all the horses, armour, and munitions
of war, were brought on shore: he then gave orders to set fire to the
ships. The Moslems were struck with terror when they beheld their fleet
wrapped in flames and smoke, and sinking beneath the waves. “How shall we
escape,” exclaimed they, “if the fortune of war should be against us?”
“There is no escape for the coward!” cried Taric: “the brave man thinks
of none: your only chance is victory.” “But how, without ships, shall we
ever return to our homes?” “Your home,” replied Taric, “is before you;
but you must win it with your swords.”
While Taric was yet talking with his followers, says one of the ancient
chroniclers, a Christian female was described, waving a white pennon on
a reed, in signal of peace. On being brought into the presence of Taric
she prostrated herself before him. “Senior,” said she, “I am an ancient
woman; and it is now full sixty years, past and gone, since, as I was
keeping vigils one winter’s night by the fireside, I heard my father,
who was an exceeding old man, read a prophecy, said to have been written
by a holy friar; and this was the purport of the prophecy: that a time
would arrive when our country would be invaded and conquered by a people
from Africa, of a strange garb, a strange tongue, and a strange religion.
They were to be led by a strong and valiant captain, who would be known
by these signs: on his right shoulder he would have a hairy mole, and his
right arm would be much longer than the left; and of such length as to
enable him to cover his knee with his hand without bending his body.”
Taric listened to the old beldame with grave attention; and, when she had
concluded, he laid bare his shoulder, and lo! there was the mole as it
had been described; his right arm, also, was, in verity, found to exceed
the other in length, though not to the degree that had been mentioned.
Upon this the Arab host shouted for joy, and felt assured of conquest.[20]
The discreet Antonio Agapida, though he records this circumstance as
it is set down in ancient chronicle, yet withholds his belief from the
pretended prophecy, considering the whole a cunning device of Taric to
increase the courage of his troops. “Doubtless,” says he, “there was a
collusion between this ancient sybil and the crafty son of Ishmael; for
these infidel leaders were full of damnable inventions, to work upon the
superstitious fancies of their followers, and to inspire them with a
blind confidence in the success of their arms.”
Be this as it may, the veteran Taric took advantage of the excitement of
his soldiery, and led them forward to gain possession of a stronghold,
which was, in a manner, the key to all the adjacent country. This was
a lofty mountain, or promontory, almost surrounded by the sea; and
connected with the mainland by a narrow isthmus. It was called the rock
of Calpe, and, like the opposite rock of Ceuta, commanded the entrance to
the Mediterranean Sea. Here, in old times, Hercules had set up one of his
pillars, and the city of Heraclea had been built.
As Taric advanced against this promontory, he was opposed by a hasty levy
of the Christians, who had assembled under the banner of a Gothic noble
of great power and importance, whose domains lay along the mountainous
coast of the Mediterranean. The name of this Christian cavalier was
Theodomir, but he has universally been called Tadmir by the Arabian
historians; and is renowned as being the first commander that made any
stand against the inroad of the Moslems. He was about forty years of age;
hardy, prompt, and sagacious; and had all the Gothic nobles been equally
vigilant and shrewd in their defence, the banner of Islam would never
have triumphed over the land.
Theodomir had but seventeen hundred men under his command, and these but
rudely armed; yet he made a resolute stand against the army of Taric, and
defended the pass to the promontory with great valour. He was, at length,
obliged to retreat; and Taric advanced, and planted his standard on the
rock of Calpe, and fortified it as his stronghold, and as the means of
securing an entrance into the land. To commemorate his first victory, he
changed the name of the promontory, and called it Gibel Taric, or the
mountain of Taric; but, in process of time, the name has gradually been
altered to Gibraltar.
In the meantime, the patriotic chieftain, Theodomir, having collected his
routed forces, encamped with them on the skirts of the mountains, and
summoned the country round to join his standard. He sent off missives,
in all speed, to the king; imparting, in brief and blunt terms, the news
of the invasion, and craving assistance with equal frankness. “Senior,”
said he, in his letter, “the legions of Africa are upon us, but whether
they come from heaven or earth I know not. They seem to have fallen from
the clouds, for they have no ships. We have been taken by surprise,
overpowered by numbers, and obliged to retreat; and they have fortified
themselves in our territory. Send us aid, senior, with instant speed; or,
rather, come yourself to our assistance.”[21]