20 GRANADA 



A collision between the two factions deluged 

 the streets of Granada with blood. The alfakis 

 and ancients at length arranged an armistice, 

 and Boabdil was suffered to retire to Almeria, 

 which was assigned to him as capital and residence. 

 For the next four years, the Catholic sovereigns 

 abstained from any important military demon- 

 stration, contenting themselves with ravaging 

 the wretched country and harrying its frontiers 

 with incessant forays and marauding expeditions. 

 Meanwhile, a strong man appeared on the scene 

 in the person of Abu-1-Hassan's brother, Abdullah 

 Az-Zaghal. Determined to put an end to the 

 divisions which, more than the prowess of the 

 Spaniards, were bringing about the ruin of his 

 country, this prince swept down upon Almeria, 

 slew the governor, took prisoner Zoraya, but 

 failed, alas ! to secure the person of Boabdil, 

 who fled to Cordova and placed himself under 

 Ferdinand's protection. Not long after, Abu-1- 

 Hassan, aged and worn out, abdicated in favour 

 of his warlike brother, and died at Mondujar. 

 This event strengthened Boabdil's claims upon the 

 tottering throne ; and he entered into a compact 

 with his uncle, whereby both were to reign in 

 Granada, the one in the Albaicin, the other in the 

 Alhambra. Anxious to redeem his reputation, 

 the newly restored monarch attacked the Chris- 

 tians near Loja with vastly inferior forces. He 



