r, and carried his
arms into France, in which kingdom his generals penetrated as far as
Narbonne. The latter, Abdelazis-el-Hacchem less fortunate than his
predecessor, did not {59} succeed in opposing the Spaniards and his
refractory subjects with unvarying success. His existence terminated in
the midst of national difficulties, and his son Abderamus became his
successor.

Abderamus II. was a great monarch, notwithstanding the fact that, during
his reign, the power of the Christians began to balance that of the Moors.

The Christians had taken advantage of the continual divisions which
prevailed among their former conquerors. Alphonso the Chaste, king of
Asturia, a valiant and politic monarch, had extended his dominions and
refused to pay the tribute of the hundred young maidens. Ramir, the
successor of Alphonso, maintained this independence, and several times
defeated the Mussulmans. Navarre became a kingdom, and Aragon had its
independent sovereigns, and was so fortunate as to possess a government
that properly respected the rights of the people.[8] The governors of
Catalonia, until then subjected to the kings of France, took advantage of
the feebleness of Louis le Debonnaire to render themselves independent.
In fine, all the north of Spain declared itself in opposition to the
Moors, {60} and the south became a prey to the irruptions of the Normans.

Abderamus defended himself against all these adversaries, and obtained,
by his warlike talents, the surname of _Elmonzaffer_, which signifies
_the Victorious_. And, though constantly occupied by the cares of
government and of successive wars, this monarch afforded encouragement to
the fine arts, embellished his capital by a new mosque, and caused to be
erected a superb aqueduct, from which water was carried in leaden pipes
throughout the city in the utmost abundance.

Abderamus possessed a soul capable of enjoying the most refined and
elevated pleasures. He attracted to his court poets and philosophers,
with whose society he frequently delighted himself; thus cultivating in
his own person the talents he encouraged in others. He invited from the
East the famous musician Ali-Zeriab, who established himself in Spain
through the beneficence of the caliph, and originated the celebrated
school[9] whose pupils afterward afforded such delight to the Oriental
world.

The natural ferocity of the Moslems yielded to the influence of the
chivalrous example of {61} the ca