Aben Alhamar, Founder of the Alhambra.—Fortifies Granada and makes
it his Capital.—Attempts to surprise the Castle of Martos.—Peril
of the Fortress.—A Woman’s Stratagem to save it.—Diego Perez, the
Smasher.—Death of Count Alvar Perez de Castro.
On the death of Aben Hud, the Moorish power in Spain was broken up
into factions, as has already been mentioned, but these factions
were soon united under one head, who threatened to be a formidable
adversary to the Christians. This was Mohammed ben Alhamar, or Aben
Alhamar, as he is commonly called in history. He was a native of
Arjona, of noble descent, being of the Beni Nasar, or race of Nasar,
and had been educated in a manner befitting his rank. Arrived at
manly years, he had been appointed alcayde of Arjona and Jaen, and
had distinguished himself by the justice and benignity of his rule.
He was intrepid, also, and ambitious, and during the late dissensions
among the Moslems had extended his territories, making himself master
of many strong places.
On the death of Aben Hud, he made a military circuit through the
Moorish territories, and was everywhere hailed with acclamations
as the only one who could save the Moslem power in Spain from
annihilation. At length he entered Granada amidst the enthusiastic
shouts of the populace. Here he was proclaimed king, and found
himself at the head of the Moslems of Spain, being the first of
his illustrious line that ever sat upon a throne. It needs nothing
more to give lasting renown to Aben Alhamar than to say he was the
founder of the Alhambra, that magnificent monument which to this day
bears testimony to Moorish taste and splendor. As yet, however, Aben
Alhamar had not time to indulge in the arts of peace. He saw the
storm of war that threatened his newly-founded kingdom, and prepared
to buffet with it. The territories of Granada extended along the
coast from Algeziras almost to Murcia, and inland as far as Jaen and
Huescar. All the frontiers he hastened to put in a state of defense,
while he strongly fortified the city of Granada, which he made his
capital.
By the Mahometan law every citizen is a soldier, and to take arms in
defense of the country and the faith is a religious and imperative
duty. Aben Alhamar, however, knew the unsteadiness of hastily levied
militia, and organized a standing force to garrison his forts and
cities, the expense of which he defrayed from his own revenues. The
Moslem warriors from all parts now rallied under his standard, and
fifty thousand Moors, abandoning Valencia on the conquest of that
country by the king of Aragon, hastened to put themselves under the
dominion of Aben Alhamar.
Don Alvar Perez, on returning to his post, had intelligence of all
these circumstances, and perceived that he had not sufficient force
to make head against such a formidable neighbor, and that in fact the
whole frontier, so recently wrested from the Moors, was in danger of
being reconquered. With his old maxim, therefore, “There is more life
in one word from the mouth than in a thousand words from the pen,” he
determined to have another interview with King Fernando, and acquaint
him with the imminent dangers impending over the frontier.
He accordingly took his departure with great secrecy, leaving his
countess and her women and donzellas in his castle of the rock of
Martos, guarded by his nephew Don Tello and forty chosen men.
The departure of Don Alvar Perez was not so secret, however, but that
Aben Alhamar had notice of it by his spies, and he resolved to make
an attempt to surprise the castle of Martos, which, as has been said,
was the key to all this frontier.
Don Tello, who had been left in command of the fortress, was a young
galliard, full of the fire of youth, and he had several hardy and
adventurous cavaliers with him, among whom was Diego Perez de Vargas,
surnamed Machacha, or the Smasher, for his exploits at the battle
of Xerez in smashing the heads of the Moors with the limb of an
olive-tree. These hot-blooded cavaliers, looking out like hawks from
their mountain hold, were seized with an irresistible inclination to
make a foray into the lands of their Moorish neighbors. On a bright
morning they accordingly set forth, promising the donzellas of the
castle to bring them jewels and rich silks, the spoils of Moorish
women.
The cavaliers had not been long gone when the castle was alarmed by
the sound of trumpets, and the watchman from the tower gave notice
of a cloud of dust, with Moorish banners and armor gleaming through
it. It was, in fact, the Moorish king, Aben Alhamar, who pitched his
tents before the castle.
Great was the consternation that reigned within the walls, for all
the men were absent, excepting one or two necessary for the service
of the castle. The dames and donzellas gave themselves up to despair,
expecting to be carried away captive, perhaps to supply some Moorish
harem. The countess, however, was of an intrepid spirit and ready
invention. Summoning her dueñas and damsels, she made them arrange
their hair, and dress themselves like men, take weapons in hand,
and show themselves between the battlements. The Moorish king was
deceived, and supposed the fort well garrisoned. He was deterred,
therefore, from attempting to take it by storm. In the mean time she
dispatched a messenger by the postern-gate, with orders to speed
swiftly in quest of Don Tello, and tell him the peril of the fortress.
At hearing these tidings, Don Tello and his companions turned their
reins and spurred back for the castle, but on drawing nigh, they
saw from a hill that it was invested by a numerous host who were
battering the walls. It was an appalling sight,—to cut their way
through such a force seemed hopeless,—yet their hearts were wrung
with anguish when they thought of the countess and her helpless
donzellas. Upon this, Diego Perez de Vargas, surnamed Machacha,
stepped forward and proposed to form a forlorn hope, and attempt to
force a passage to the castle. “If any of us succeed,” said he, “we
may save the countess and the rock; if we fall, we shall save our
souls and act the parts of good cavaliers. This rock is the key of
all the frontier, on which the king depends to get possession of the
country. Shame would it be if Moors should capture it; above all if
they should lead away our honored countess and her ladies captive
before our eyes, while our lances remain unstained by blood and we
unscarred with a wound. For my part, I would rather die than see
it. Life is but short; we should do in it our best. So, in a word,
cavaliers, if you refuse to join me I will take my leave of you and
do what I can with my single arm.”
“Diego Perez,” cried Don Tello, “you have spoken my very wishes;
I will stand by you until the death, and let those who are good
cavaliers and hidalgos follow our example.”
The other cavaliers caught fire at these words; forming a solid
squadron, they put spurs to their horses and rushed down upon the
Moors. The first who broke into the ranks of the enemy was Diego
Perez, the Smasher, and he opened a way for the others. Their only
object was to cut their way to the fortress; so they fought and
pressed forward. The most of them got to the rock; some were cut off
by the Moors, and died like valiant knights, fighting to the last
gasp.
When the Moorish king saw the daring of these cavaliers, and that
they had succeeded in reinforcing the garrison, he despaired of
gaining the castle without much time, trouble, and loss of blood. He
persuaded himself, therefore, that it was not worth the price, and,
striking his tents, abandoned the siege. Thus the rock of Martos was
saved by the sagacity of the countess and the prowess of Diego Perez
de Vargas, surnamed the Smasher.
In the mean time, Don Alvar Perez de Castro arrived in presence of
the king at Hutiel. King Fernando received him with benignity, but
seemed to think his zeal beyond his prudence; leaving so important a
frontier so weakly guarded, sinking the viceroy in the courier, and
coming so far to give by word of mouth what might easily have been
communicated by letter. He felt the value, however, of his loyalty
and devotion, but, furnishing him with ample funds, requested him to
lose no time in getting back to his post. The count set out on his
return, but it is probable the ardor and excitement of his spirit
proved fatal to him, for he was seized with a violent fever when on
the journey, and died in the town of Orgaz.
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