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164 encroached on the boundaries agreed upon, for he seized all the land lying between the Guadalquivir and the Jucar (going from west to east), together with that between the sea and the mountains of Gibalbin, Ronda, Antequera and Loja, the Picacho de Veleta, the mountains of Jaen, Segura and Alcaraz, the pass of Almansa (in the province now called Albacete), the territories of Villena, Monovar, and Villa joyosa (from the south-west and the north-east, following the line of the Penibaetian mountain range, and the continuation on the east which connects it with Ibérica). The situation was all the more serious because to the great military strength of the Eastern Empire was now added the aggregate force of all the Spanish-Roman element in Raetica and Carthaginensis, that is to say, all who had remained independent of the Visigoths, and whom Agila had attempted to subdue. These Spanish-Romans who, by reason of their religion, were opposed to the Visigoths, naturally regarded the rule of Justinian as the prolongation of the Empire whereof they had formed a part until the coming of the Goths. Hence the tradition that the inhabitants of these regions rebelled against the Visigoths and proclaimed Justinian as their sovereign is most probably authentic.

Athanagild did not submit to this treachery, but immediately proceeded to make war on the Byzantines, and established his capital at Toledo, an excellent position from the strategical point of view. He attempted to flatter the Catholics, by means of a benevolent policy, which was intended to estrange them from the Empire. The war lasted for thirteen years, that is, throughout the whole of the reign of Athanagild, who had also to fight against the Franks in order to defend Septimania, which was still in the hands of the Visigoths, and against the Vascons, who were continually struggling for independence. But this perpetual warfare did not prevent Athanagild from strengthening his kingdom from within, or from increasing its prosperity. The fame of his wealth and the splendour of his court; the fame of his two daughters, Brunhild and Galswintha, spread to the neighbouring kingdoms. Two Frankish kings, Sigebert of Austrasia and Chilperic of Neustria, were inspired thereby to seek an alliance with him; the former became the husband of Brunhild and the latter of Galswintha. Of these marriages, and more particularly of the second, which took place in 567 and ended in tragedy, we possess detailed accounts in the chronicle of Gregory of Tours, and in the Carminum Liber of Venantius Fortunatus. A few months after the marriage of Galswintha, Athanagild died at Toledo (Nov. or Dec. 567).

The throne remained vacant for several months, until the spring of 568, but we do not know the reason of this. The interregnum came to an end with the accession of Liuwa or Leuwa, a brother of Athanagild, who (why or for what purpose we are unable to say) shared the government with his brother Leovigild or Liuvigild, to whom he entrusted