mansur

The martial spirit of the Spanish Moslems appears, from various anecdotes related by Al-Makkari, to have suffered great deterioration from the progress of luxury and decay of discipline; but the armies led by Al-mansur were mainly recruited from the fiery tribes of Barbary, and strengthened by numerous Christian slaves or

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With forces thus constituted, did Al-mansur, in whom once more shone forth the spirit of the Arab conquerors of past times, invade the Christian territories in each spring and autumn for twenty-six successive years, carrying the Moslem arms in triumph even to the shores of the "Green Sea," (Atlantic Ocean,) and into regions which Tarik and Musa had never reached.

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Al-mansur had built for his residence, not far from Az-zahra, and had named, as if in mockery, Az-zahirah; -- and the Hajib was at one time obliged to quiet the murmurs of the populace, who doubted whether their sovereign was still in existence, by leading him in procession through the streets of the capital; "and the eyes of the people feasted on what had been so long concealed from them."

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But it was on his fervent zeal for the cause of Islam, and his martial exploits against the Christians, (whence his surname of _Al-mansur_, or _the Victorious_, was derived,) that his fame and popularity chiefly rested.

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[22] Some historians even speak of this period as the "dynasty of the Amirites," from Al-mansur's father, Abn Amir.

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[24] The battle is placed by the Christian writers in 998; but the death of Al-mansur, which both Christians and Moslems agree in stating to have taken place within a very short time, is said by the latter to have been A.M. 392, A.D.

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Secure of the support of the soldiery, whose affections he had gained by his liberality, Al-mansur so little affected to disguise his assumption of supremacy, that he ordered his own name to be struck on the coin, and repeated in the public prayers, along with that of Hisham, thus arrogating to himself a share in the two most inalienable prerogatives of sovereignty.

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This remarkable personage (better known in history by his surname of Al-mansur) was the son of a religious devotee, and his condition in early life was so humble, that he supported himself as a public letter-writer in the streets of Cordova; but an accident having introduced him into the palace, he so skilfully wound his way among the intigues of the court, as to attain the highest place next the throne.

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Al-mansur had a worthy successor in his son Abdul-malek, who at once received the appointment of Hajib from the passive Khalif: -- but on his death in 1008, the post was assumed by his brother Abdurrahman, popularly known as Shanjul, a Berber word signifying _madman_ -- a surname which he had earned by his habits of low vice and intemperance.

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"This enlightened and never-vanquished Hajib" -- says Al-Makkali, with whom Al-mansur is a favourite hero -- "used continually to ask God to permit him to die in his service and in war against the infidels, and thus his desire was granted; ... and after his death, the Mohammedan empire in Andalus began to show visible signs of decay."

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