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712-718] country had to follow the rapid occupation of the capital. The Arabs would scarcely have succeeded in the conquest of Spain without the internal disorders which had preceded their arrival, and the consequent want of discipline and unity. Even as it was, after the fall of Seville, Mūsā still met with obstinate resistance before Mérida, whose impregnable walls resisted all attempts at undermining. The inhabitants however finally recognised their advantage in peacefully surrendering the town (30 June 713). Seville too rose once more in revolt, but was finally subjugated by Mūsā's son, 'Abd-al-'Azīz. It was only after all these successes that Mūsā could enter Toledo, where Ṭāriḳ awaited him.

Mūsā now vented his anger on his too-successful subordinate, but soon afterwards the same fate overtook himself. His letter of recall, signed by the Caliph Walīd (713-714), reached him 15 months after his landing, and but few weeks after his entry into Toledo. The victorious old man slowly made his way overland towards Syria, taking enormous treasures with him. Arabian papyri in the British Museum have preserved various data in regard to the expenses of provisioning his princely train during his temporary stay in Egypt. In Damascus he fell into disfavour and does not again appear in the foreground. His sons too, of whom he had left 'Abd-al-'Azīz as governor in Spain, and the others in Africa, did not long enjoy the fruits of their father's great deeds, for they also were soon either deposed or murdered.

This account of events in the conquest of Spain is chiefly based on Arabian sources, the importance of which, as compared with the certainly valuable Latin historians, has been decidedly undervalued in recent times. According to the latter Mūsā, and not Ṭāriḳ, was the actual conqueror of Spain; they represent Ṭāriḳ as merely the victor in the battle at the Transductine promontory, whilst Mūsā consummated his triumphal march by the conquest of Toledo; of any opposition between Mūsā and Ṭāriḳ there is no mention. Both groups of authorities agree in recording that under Mūsā, or at least by his direction, Saragossa also was taken. Notwithstanding contradictory reports, it is certain that Mūsā did not also cross the Pyrenees.

The crossing of this range did not take place until a few years later (717 or 718), under the leadership of Mūsā's fourth successor, Hurr. North of the Pyrenees, in the same way as to the south, the quarrels of the various races offered the Arabs an inducement to invade the country, and with the then prevalent lack of geographical knowledge the seemingly possible idea of reaching Constantinople by land from Gaul may have haunted their brains, for was not the fall of the proud imperial city the ardently desired end and aim of the foreign policy of the Caliphs? The leaders of the expeditions sent out from Spain had however more obvious designs; it was the booty, which might reasonably be looked for in the rich treasures of the convents and churches of Gaul, which lured them onwards. The daring march, which subsequently led to the celebrated