Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/128

104 104 WAR OF GRANADA. PaBT I. Its military tufluence. under the influence of common motives of the most exciting interest; while it brought them in conflict with a race, the extreme repugnance of whose insti- tutions and character to their own, served greatly to nourish the nationality of sentiment. In this way, the spark of patriotism was kindled through- out the whole nation, and the most distant prov- inces of the Peninsula were knit together by a bond of union, which has remained indissoluble. The consequences of these wars in a military as- pect are also worthy of notice. Up to this period, war had been carried on by irregular levies, ex- tremely limited in numerical amount and in period of service ; under little subordination, except to their own immediate chiefs, and wholly unprovided with the apparatus required for extended opera- tions. The Spaniards were even lower than most of the European nations in military science, as is apparent from the infinite pains of Isabella to avail herself of all foreign resources for their improvement. In the war of Granada, masses of men were brought together, far greater than had hitherto been known in modern warfare. They were kept in the field not only through long campaigns, but far into the winter ; a thing altogether unprecedented. They were made to act in concert, and the numerous petty chiefs brought in complete subjection to one common head, whose personal character enforced the authority of station. Lastly, they were sup- plied with all the requisite munitions, through the providence of Isabella, who introduced into the service the most skilful engineers from other coun-