Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. II.djvu/97

73 SIEGE OF BAZA. 73 As an equivalent for these broad domains, the chapter Moorish chief was placed in possession of the taha, ' or district, of Andaraz, the vale of Alhaurin, and ass"gne/"o half the salt-pits of Maleha, together with a con- siderable revenue in money. He was, moreover, to receive the title of King of Andaraz, and to render homage for his estates to the crown of Castile. This shadow of royalty could not long amuse the mind of the unfortunate prince. He pined away amid the scenes of his ancient empire ; and, after experiencing some insubordination on the part of his new vassals, he determined to relinquish his petty principality, and withdraw for ever from his native land. Having received a large sum of money, as an indemnification for the entire cession of his territorial rights and possessions to the Cas- tilian crown, he passed over to Africa, where, it is reported, he was plundered of his property by the barbarians, and condemned to starve out the re- mainder of his days in miserable indigence. ^^ The suspicious circumstances attending this prince's accession to the throne, throw a dark cloud over his fame, which would otherwise seem, at least as far as his public life is concerned, to be unstained by any opprobrious act. He possessed such energy, talent, and military science, as, had he been fortunate enough to unite the Moorish nation under him by an undisputed title, might 22 El Nubiense, Descripcion de Martyr, Opus Epist., lib. 3, epist. Espana, p. 160, not. — Carbajal, 81. — Conde, Dominacion de los Anales, MS., ailo 1488. — Car- Arabes, torn. iii. pp. 245, 246. — donne, Hist. d'Afrique et d'Es- Bernaldez, Reyes Catolicos, MS., pagne, torn. iii. p. 304. — Peter cap. 93, VOL. II. 10