Page:Cambridge Medieval History Volume 3.pdf/460

Rh twelve months. This new kind of rebellion alarmed the government, which put out a decree forbidding Christians to seek martyrdom. A Christian synod was summoned by order of 'Abd-ar-Raḥmān II, who was represented at it by his secretary or kātib, Gomez, who, while indifferent to religion, was determined not to confound all Christians with fanatics. The Council pronounced against the martyrs despite the opposition of Saul, Bishop of Cordova, many members only assenting through fear of imprisonment. Eulogio fought hard against its decrees, and on this account was imprisoned with many others. In prison he again met Flora, who was there with another nun, named Maria, and had been threatened by the cadi with prostitution. Concealing his love (for such might be termed his affection for Flora), Eulogio exhorted both of them to face their martyrdom. Whilst in prison he worked feverishly at his writings so as to forget his pain, until at length he came forth to practise what he had preached to the two women.

'Abd-ar-Raḥmān died on 22 September 852, and despite Ṭarūb's intrigues Mahomet I ascended the throne. A man of small intelligence, cold blooded and selfish, he was despised generally for his avarice. But he was supported by the faḳīhs, who aimed at making him devout and inspired him with hatred of the Christians, whom he persecuted so terribly that, if we are to believe Eulogio, almost all abjured their faith. But the Emir's intolerance caused the Toledans to revolt; and they advanced as far as Andújar. Reinforced here by an army that Ordoño I of Leon had sent, the rebels gave battle at Guadacelete, but were terribly defeated. Mahomet continued the persecution, while Eulogio and Alvaro persisted in exhorting the people; though lukewarm in Cordova, the Christians were extremely excitable in Toledo, and secured the nomination of Eulogio to the archbishopric in defiance of the refusal of the Emir to give his consent. Mahomet made one last attack on the Toledans and reduced them to submission. Eulogio was charged with concealing an accused Christian, Leocricia, and suffered on 11 March 859. With their death this type of enthusiasm gradually died out, and this painful struggle came to an end.

To return to the Spanish side. After a struggle of twenty years Toledo was placed under the protection of the king of Leon, and extorted a treaty from the Emir who agreed to respect its republican institutions. In Aragon the Beni-Ḳasi, an old Visigothic family, were lords of Saragossa, Tudela, Huesca and the whole of the neighbouring frontier. Throughout a reign of twenty years their chief, Mūsā II, who took the title of Third King of Spain, held his own. In 862 the Emir captured Saragossa and Tudela; but ten years later Mūsā's sons turned out his garrisons. At this time Ibn Marwān founded an independent principality in Mérida and, later, in Badajoz. In 879 an insurrection broke out in Regio under Omar ibn Ḥafṣūn. After a mingled career of robbery and warfare, he became from 884 the leader of the Spanish people in the