.

After the fall of Toledo, Seville had increased in power. The
sovereigns of that city were also masters of ancient Cordova, and
possessed, in addition, Estremadura and a part of Portugal. Benabad,
king of Seville, one of the most estimable princes of his age, was now
the only one of its enemies capable of disturbing the safety of
Castile. Alphonso IV., desirous of allying himself with this powerful
Moor, demanded his daughter in marriage. His proposal was acceded to,
and the Castilian monarch received several towns as the dowry of the
Moorish princess; but this extraordinary union, which seemed to ensure
peace between the two nations, nevertheless soon became either the
cause or the pretext of renewed contests.

{92}

Africa, after having been separated from the vast empire of the Caliphs
of the East by the Fatimite caliphs, and being, during three centuries
of civil war, the prey of a succession of conquerors more ferocious and
sanguinary than the lions of their deserts,[3] was now subjected to the
family of the _Almoravides_, a powerful tribe of Egyptian origin.
Joseph-ben-Tessefin, the second prince of this dynasty, founded the
kingdom and city of Morocco.

Endowed with some warlike talents, proud of his power, and burning to
augment it, Joseph regarded with a covetous eye the beautiful European
provinces which had formerly been conquered by the Mussulmans of Africa.

Some historians assert that the King of Castile, Alphonso IV., and his
father-in-law Benabad, king of Seville, having formed the project of
dividing Spain between them, committed the capital error of summoning
the Moors of Africa to their assistance in this grand design. But
others, founding their assertions upon more plausible reasoning, say
that the petty Mussulman kings, who were the neighbours or tributaries
of Benabad, justly alarmed at his alliance with a {93} Christian king,
solicited the support of the Almoravide.

But, be that as it may, the ambitious Joseph eagerly availed himself of
the fortunate pretext presented by the invitation he had received, and
crossed the Mediterranean at the head of an army. He hastened to
attack Alphonso, and succeeded in overcoming him in a battle that took
place between them, A.D. 1097, Heg. 490. Then turning his arms against
Benabad, Joseph took Cordova, besieged Seville, and was preparing for
the assault of that city, when the virtuous Benabad, sacrificing his
crown and even his liberty to save