48 CALIPHS OF EGYPT. 



and with such gallantry were his orders executed, 

 that Ramla, Tiberias, and Damascus were compelled 

 to swear allegiance to the conqueror of Egypt. The 

 name of Almoti was suppressed, and that of Moez 

 substituted in the mosques, not only of Egypt, but in 

 Syria and Arabia, as far as the city of Medina; 

 Mecca being the only place of importance that per- 

 sisted in recognising the house of Abbas. Saladin, 

 whose name stands associated with the most bril- 

 liant achievements of Mohammedan valour, was 

 first elevated to the dignity of vizier; and by a 

 series of artful and energetic measures, he soon 

 became absolute ruler of the country, and the founder 

 of a new dynasty (A. D. 1171). From the Indian 

 Ocean to the Mountains of Armenia, from Tripoli to 

 the Tigris, his power was felt and acknowledged. 

 Even in Arabia, the greater part of which owned his 

 authority, his name was inserted in the public 

 prayers. The title of Ayubites, by which he and his 

 successors are distinguished in history, was derived 

 from the name of his father. Under his descendants 

 Egypt was repeatedly assailed by the Crusaders, 

 Too feeble to defend themselves, the Ayubite 

 princes had recourse to the protection of foreigners. 

 Twelve thousand Turks from the shores of the Cas- 

 pian had been purchased, and trained to military 

 service as attendants of the royal person. From 

 being slaves, these Mamlouks soon became masters; 

 and at the end of twenty years from their first intro 

 duction into the country, they murdered the last suc- 

 cessor of Saladin, and placed one of their own chiefs, 

 Azzaddin, on the throne (A. D. 1250). The sway of 

 the Mamlouks and Borghites, two branches of the 

 same dynasty, endured for two centuries and a half; 

 when the victorious arms of the Turks in 1517, re 

 duced that kingdom to the condition of a province. 



Spain was one of the first of the Moslem conquests 

 that detached itself from the parent stock. In the 

 general proscription and massacre of the Ommiades 



