rts, the one
to Alphonso, the young king of Leon, and the other to the unfortunate
Garcias, king of Galicia, both of whom had been driven from their
kingdoms by their brother Sancho, of Castile, A.D. 1071 Heg. 465.
Sancho pursued his brothers as though they had been his most implacable
enemies; and the Moorish monarchs, the natural enemies of all the
Christians, received these two fugitive princes as brothers. Almamon,
especially, lavished the most affectionate attention upon the
unfortunate Alphonso: he endeavoured to entertain him at Toledo with
such varied pleasures as should banish regret for the loss of a throne:
he gave him an income, and, in short, treated the prince as though he
had been a near and beloved relative. When the death of the cruel
Sancho (A.D. 1072, Heg. 466) had rendered Alphonso king of Leon and
Castile, the generous Almamon, who now had the person of the king of
his enemies in his {88} power, accompanied the prince to the frontiers
of his kingdom, loaded him with presents and caresses, and, at parting,
offered the free use of his troops and treasures to his late guest.

While Almamon lived, Alphonso IV. never forgot his obligations to his
benefactor. He maintained peace with him, aided him in his campaigns
against the King of Seville, and even entered into a treaty with
Hacchem, the son and successor of his ally. But, after a brief reign,
Hacchem left the throne of Toledo to his youthful brother Jahiah. That
prince oppressed the Christians, who were very numerous in his city;
and they secretly implored Alphonso to make war upon Jahiah. The
memory of Almamon long caused the Spanish monarch to hesitate in
relation to this subject. Gratitude impelled him not to listen to the
suggestions of ambition and the prayers of his countrymen; but the
arguments of gratitude proved the least strong, and Alphonso encamped
before Toledo.

After a long and celebrated siege, to which several French and other
foreign warriors eagerly hastened, Toledo finally capitulated, A.D.
1085, Heg. 478.

The conqueror allowed the sons of Almamon {89} to go and reign at
Valencia, and engaged by an oath to preserve the mosques from
destruction. He could not, however, prevent the Christians from
speedily violating this promise.

Such was the end of the Moorish kingdom of Toledo. This ancient
capital of the Goths had belonged to the Arabs three hundred and
eighty-two years.

Several other less important cities now s