io GRANADA 



years when he was attacked in his own palace 

 by the partisans of his half-brother, Ismail. 

 Narrowly escaping death, he fled to his harem, 

 and in the disguise of a slave eluded his pursuers 

 and made his way to Guadix. Ismail II. ran a 

 brief and inglorious career, and was dethroned 

 and slain (1360) by the "Red King," Abu Said. 

 Meantime, Pedro I. of Castile espoused the 

 cause of the lawful sultan and invaded the 

 territory of Granada. But the magnanimous 

 Moor would not consent to remount the throne 

 at the cost of his people's blood. Pedro accord- 

 ingly withdrew, but freed Mohammed from his 

 enemies by murdering Abu Sai'd when the latter 

 incautiously paid a visit to Seville. Mohammed 

 was reinstated on his throne, and mindful of the 

 services rendered him by Pedro, advanced to his 

 support with a Grenadine army against Enrique 

 de Trastamara. The tragedy of Montiel made a 

 continuance of the struggle useless, and the 

 Moorish sultan devoted the remainder of his reign 

 to improving the condition of his subjects. He 

 founded charitable institutions and asylums, 

 and raised Granada to a high pitch of prosperity. 

 The city, according to the contemporary writer, 

 El Khattib, became the metropolis of the Medi- 

 terranean, the emporium of commerce, and 

 the common fatherland of all nations. Under 

 Mohammed V., the kingdom may be considered 



