26 CALIPHS OF BAGDAD. 



on these venerable emblems, and kissing them with 

 profound humility. When he went abroad he ge- 

 nerally wore a mask or a veil, to inspire his people 

 with the greater respect ; as he passed, the crowded 

 streets were too narrow to contain the multitudes 

 that flocked to behold him; and the windows or 

 balconies were let at an extravagant price. 



The few conquests achieved by the Abbassides 

 were chiefly due to the talents of their earlier 

 princes ; and of these it will be necessary to give a 

 cursory sketch before recording the entire downfal 

 of their house. During the sanguinary feuds that 

 followed, and confirmed their elevation to the 

 throne, the Greeks had stolen the opportunity of 

 avenging their wrongs and enlarging their limits. 

 With an army of 100,000 men they had invaded 

 Syria, and defeated a body of Arabs, of whom they 

 killed 2000, with five emirs or principal officers. 

 But a severe retribution was exacted by Mahadi, 

 who despatched a force of 95,000 Persians and 

 Arabs to the shores of the Bosphorus under his se- 

 cond son the renowned Haroun al Raschid. A body 

 of the imperial troops was defeated, and several of 

 the provinces laid waste with fire and sword. A 

 woman then occupied the Byzantine throne ; and 

 the encampment of the Saracens on the opposite 

 heights of Scutari informed Irene, in her palace at 

 Constantinople, of the loss of her troops and the de- 

 vastation of her territories. The helpless sovereign, 

 or her ministers, consented to sign an ignominious 

 peace ; nor could the exchange of some royal pre- 

 sents disguise the annual tribute of 70,000 pieces of 

 gold, which was imposed on the Roman empire. 

 Fifteen years afterwards (A.D. 796), when Haroun 



