A bold Attempt upon Cordova, the Seat of Moorish Power.
About this time certain Christian cavaliers of the frontiers received
information from Moorish captives that the noble city of Cordova was
negligently guarded, so that the suburbs might easily be surprised.
They immediately concerted a bold attempt, and sent to Pedro and
Alvar Perez, who were at Martos, entreating them to aid them with
their vassals. Having collected a sufficient force, and prepared
scaling ladders, they approached the city on a dark night in January,
amid showers of rain and howling blasts, which prevented their
footsteps being heard. Arrived at the foot of the ramparts, they
listened, but could hear no sentinel. The guards had shrunk into the
watch-towers for shelter from the pelting storm, and the garrison was
in profound sleep, for it was the midwatch of the night.
Some, disheartened by the difficulties of the place, were for
abandoning the attempt, but Domingo Muñoz, their adalid, or guide,
encouraged them. Silently fastening ladders together, so as to be of
sufficient length, they placed them against one of the towers. The
first who mounted were Alvar Colodro and Benito de Banos, who were
dressed as Moors and spoke the Arabic language. The tower which they
scaled is to this day called the tower of Alvar Colodro. Entering
it suddenly but silently, they found four Moors asleep, whom they
seized and threw over the battlements, and the Christians below
immediately dispatched them. By this time a number more of Christians
had mounted the ladder, and sallying forth, sword in hand, upon
the wall, they gained possession of several towers and of the gate
of Martos. Throwing open the gate, Pero Ruyz Tabur galloped in at
the head of a squadron of horse, and by the dawn of day the whole
suburbs of Cordova, called the Axarquia, were in their possession;
the inhabitants having hastily gathered such of their most valuable
effects as they could carry with them, and taken refuge in the city.
The cavaliers now barricaded every street of the suburbs excepting
the principal one, which was broad and straight; the Moors, however,
made frequent sallies upon them, or showered down darts and arrows
and stones from the walls and towers of the city. The cavaliers soon
found that they had got into warm quarters, which it would cost them
blood and toil to maintain. They sent off messengers, therefore, to
Don Alvar Perez, then at Martos, and to King Fernando, at Benevente,
craving instant aid. The messenger to the king travelled day and
night, and found the king at table; when, kneeling down, he presented
the letter with which he was charged.
No sooner had the king read the letter than he called for horse and
weapon. All Benevente instantly resounded with the clang of arms and
tramp of steed; couriers galloped off in every direction, rousing
the towns and villages to arms, and ordering every one to join the
king on the frontier. “Cordova! Cordova!” was the war-cry,—that proud
city of the infidels! that seat of Moorish power! The king waited not
to assemble a great force, but, within an hour after receiving the
letter, was on the road with a hundred good cavaliers.
It was the depth of winter; the rivers were swollen with rain. The
royal party were often obliged to halt on the bank of some raging
stream until its waters should subside. The king was all anxiety
and impatience. Cordova! Cordova! was the prize to be won, and the
cavaliers might be driven out of the suburbs before he could arrive
to their assistance.
Arrived at Cordova, he proceeded to the bridge of Alcolea, where he
pitched his tents and displayed the royal standard.
Before the arrival of the king, Alvar Perez had hastened from the
castle of Martos with a body of troops, and thrown himself into the
suburbs. Many warriors, both horse and foot, had likewise hastened
from the frontiers and from the various towns to which the king
had sent his mandates. Some came to serve the king, others out of
devotion to the holy faith, some to gain renown, and not a few to aid
in plundering the rich city of Cordova. There were many monks, also,
who had come for the glory of God and the benefit of their convents.
When the Christians in the suburbs saw the royal standard floating
above the camp of the king, they shouted for joy, and in the
exultation of the moment, forgot all past dangers and hardships.
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