Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/460

316 CHAPTER IX. WAR OF GRANADA. - SURPRISE OF ZAHARA. — CAPTURE OF ALHAMA. 1481 — 1482. Zahara surprised by the Moors. — Marquis of Cadiz. — His Expedition against Alhama. — Valor of the Citizens. — Desperate Struggle. — Fall of Alhama. — Consternation of the Moors. — Vigorous Measures of the Queen. PART No sooner had Ferdinand and Isabella restored I. internal tranquillity to their dominions, and made the strength effective, which had been acquired by their union under one government, than they turned their eyes to those fair regions of the Peninsula, over which the Moslem crescent had reigned tri- umphant for nearly eight centuries. Fortunately an act of aggression on the part of the Moors fur- nished a pretext for entering on their plan of con- quest, at the moment when it was ripe for exe- cution. Aben Ismail, who had ruled in Granada during the latter part of John the Second's reign, and the commencement of Henry the Fourth's, had been partly indebted for his throne to the former monarch ; and sentiments of gratitude, combined with a naturally amiable disposition, had led him to foster as amicable relations with the Christian