The general history of Spain from the first peopling of it by Tubal, till the death of King Ferdinand, who united the crowns of Castile and Aragon : with a continuation to the death of King Philip III / written in Spanish by the R.F.F. John de Mariana ; to which are added, two supplements, the first by F. Ferdinand Camargo y Salcedo, the other by F. Basil Varen de Soto, bringing it down to the present reign ; the whole translated from the Spanish by Capt. John Stevens.

CHAP. VI. The beginning of the Reign of Alonso the XIth King of Castile. The many Confusions in that Kingdom, by reason of his Infancy. The Moors of Granada expel their King The Turks, their Original and Growth.

GReat Troubles ensu'd upon the Death of King Ferdinand, because the new King was but a Year and 26 Days old. As soon as the King dy'd, Prince Alonso his Son was pro∣claim'd * 1.1 by the means of Prince Peter his Uncle, who came to Jaen as soon as Alcaudete was taken, and by this Loyal Action gain'd the Love and Applause of all the People. The young King was at Avila. Vataza a Noble Lady, Grandaughter to Theodorus Lascarus, Em∣peror of Greece, who came from Portugal with Queen Constancy, was appointed his Governess. She afterwards return'd to Portugal, dy'd there, and lyes Bury'd in the Cathedral of Coimbra, as appears by the Inscription on her Tomb. Queen Mary the King's Grandmother liv'd a re∣tir'd Life at Valladolid. Queen Constance, who had follow'd the King her Husband, was at Martos overwhelm'd with Sorrow. Prince John was gone to Valencia, and D. John de Lara to Portugal, both in Disgrace with King Ferdinand. Every Body strugl'd to have a share in the Government, chiefly D. Alonso, Lord of Molina the Queen's Brother, Prince Philip his Uncle, and D. John Manuel labour'd hard, but underhand, and modestly. Prince John, and Prince Peter, Uncle and Nephew aspir'd more openly; Prince Peter being the nearest of * 1.2 kin to the King, and most in the Favour of the People, stood fairest. Prince John was of riper Yeas, but restless and inconstant, so that he seem'd to be born only to embroil King∣doms. Prince Peter had charge of the Affairs of Andaluzia; and concluded a Peace with the Moors, which was convenient for both Parties, for the Prince could not follow the War, being taken up with his Pretensions at Court; and among the Moors, Farraquin, Lord of Ma∣laga sought to revenge the Murder of the late King. Queen Constance, and Prince Peter hav∣ing conferr'd together, resolv'd to go to Avila, where the King was hoping the Townsmen would not oppose them, or If they should, to prevail by Force. On the other side Prince John, King Ferdinand's Uncle, and D. John de Lara joyn'd in a League, the likeness of their Inclinations, and their common Danger made them Unite. They labour'd to draw Queen Mary to their Party, giving her hopes she should have the Education of her Grandson. D. John de Lara came first to Avila, but could not lay hold of the King, for D. Sancho the Bi∣shop * 1.3 convey'd him into the Cathedral, and there made himself strong, and defended him. Next came Queen Constance, and Prince Peter, but the same thing happen'd to them. Means of Accommodation were propos'd, and it was agreed the King should be deliver'd to none but such as the Cortes or Parliament should appoint, and the Citizens of Avila made an Asso∣ciation in order to see this perform'd. D. John de Lara gave this Advice, hoping to ex∣clude Prince Peter. The Cortes met at Palencia in the beginning of Spring, where much Bri∣bery was us'd. The better sort were for Queen Mary and her Son Prince Peter. Others preferr'd Prince John, and Queen Constance, who was subtilly drawn away by the adverse Party from Prince Peter. Hence sprang new Fumults and Confusions. Prince Peter con∣fiding in his own Power, and the Affections of the People, as also hoping for Aid from Abroad, agreed with D. John Manuel upon Condition, that if he obtain'd his Ends, he would give him the Government of the Kingdoms of Toledo and Murcia. At the beginning of the * 1.4 Year 1313. he met his Father in Law, the King of Aragon at Calatayud, to whom he urg'd how much he was oblig'd to favour his Pretentions, and prevent a War which might other∣wise ensue. Therefore by Consent of both, Michael Arbe was sent Embassador to Portugal, to try whether that King could prevail with the Mutineers to desist from their Pretensions, and leave the Government of the Kingdom to Prince Peter, allowing Queen Constance the Charge of Educating the King. The People of Avila were not zealous for either Party, but at last joyn'd with Prince Peter, and Queen Mary his Mother, yet upon Condition they should not carry the King out of the City. At this Time Azar King of Granada was forc'd * 1.5 to retire to the Alhambra, a strong Pallace in the highest part of the City, because Ismael the Son of Farraquin had caus'd the Townsmen to Rebel against him. Prince Peter who was then

at Sevil, march'd thither to relieve that King, who was his Friend and Ally, but came too late, for he had already agreed to quit the Fitle and Authority of a King, and remain con∣tent with only the City Guadin, seated in the pleasant Plains of the antient Turduli. Tho' the Prince could not Relieve, he endeavour'd to Revenge him; for he took from the Moors a strong Castle near Granada, call'd Rute, and made great spoil throughout the Country. Azor had Reign'd Four Years, and seven Months when he was deposed. Ismael his Competi∣tor and Nephew, being the Son of Farraquen, and his Sister, succeeded him. The taking of Rute gain'd Prince Peter great Reputation; for that in three days he did that which seve∣ral Kings had attempted in vain: but the War was not carryed on, because of the intestine Divisions. The Cortes met in the Monastery of Sahagun, to endeavour to compose those Dif∣ferences. Whilst they were sitting, Queen Constance departed this Life, for Grief that her Son was kept from her; and that she was reduc'd to such Poverty, that all her Jewels would not pay her Debts; as she her self declar'd at her Death. The Queens Death made things easier to be compos'd; for Prince John having lost that support, apply'd himself to Queen Mary, and Prince Peter. They agreed that the Queen should have the Breeding up of the King, and the Princes should joyntly govern the Kingdom, each in that Part which had Vo∣ted for him in the Cortes or Parliament, held not long before at Palencia. The King was carry'd to Toro, a healthy and pleasant Place; but the main design was to get him out of Avila, and revenge the Affronts receiv'd of that People. It was now the year 1314. when New Tumults broke out in the Kingdom of Toledo, and all manner of Crimes were com∣mitted. * 1.6 In order to settle a better Form of Government, the Cortes met at Burgos, where * 1.7 it was enacted, that the supream Authority and management of Affairs, should be in the Council of State; That the said Council should attend the King and Queen where-ever they went; That the two Princes should determine all smaller Affairs but have no power to alie∣nate the Revenues of the Crown nor to appoint another in their stead, in case any of them, or the Queen, should dye. At the same time dyed Three Persons of great Note, Peter the Queens Brother, D. Tello his Son, and D. John de Lara Lord Steward. That Place was given to D. Alonso Prince John's Son. D. John de Lara had a Sister marry'd to D. Ferdinand de la Cerda, of whom was Born Blachs, and D. John de Lara who took that Sirname, because he inherited the Estate of the Family. This in Castile. In Aragon the King, in November sent his Daughter Elizabeth to Germany, she being Contracted to Frederick Duke of Austria, who was now chosen King of the Romans, by the Three Electors of Cologne, Saxony, and the Pala∣tine; the other three Elected Lewis of Bavaria, and Wenceslaus King of Bohemia joyned with them. This last overthrew his Competitor in Battel, and took him Prisoner.

At this time Andronicus, a wicked Prince, was Emperor of Constantinople. Now it was * 1.8 also that the Turks, a People before scarce known, began to grow ••••mous. They came ori∣ginally from that part of Scythia next the River Volga, and having broke into Europe in the year 700. were overthrown by the Hungarians, and retir'd into Asia, invited by the Rich∣ness of the Country, and Cowardize of the People. There they made themselves Strong in the Mountains, which for a long time defended them more than their own Valour. They were not any thing famous, or had any noted General, but liv'd by Rapine, and serv'd the Neighbouring Princes in their Wars, according as every one bid most; but they most especially fav••••••••d the Soldun of Egypt. In the War Godfrey of Ballogne made in the Holy Land, they began to gain Reputation for the many Overthrows they gave, and receiv'd of the Christians. They were divided under several Commanders, till in the time of Androni∣cus, one call'd Ottoman, the Son of Zicus, having kill'd many of those petty L••rds, and worst∣ed * 1.9 the rest, became Absolute over all the Turks, who then liv'd dispers'd like the Arabs. This was the first Founder of the Ottoman Empire, from whom that Family takes Name and from him are descended all their Emperors to this day. Orcanes the Son of Ottoman, suc∣ceeded him in the Empire, then his Son Amurat, next Bajazet Son to Amurat, Famous for the Overthrow given him by Tanerlan. Bajazet had a Son called Calapin, who succeded him, and two Sons called Moyses and Mahomet, who both Regin'd. Then Amurat the Son of Ma∣homet, who weary of the World in the best of his Age, and greatest exaltation of his Em∣pire, Abdicated the Crown, and retired to live a quiet Life; by which he gain'd more Re∣nown, than by all his other Actions; which were great. After Amurat Reign'd his Son Ma∣homet, who took Constantinople. Then Bajazet, next Selim, after him Soliman, then another Selim, Amurat, another Selim; and lastly, Mahomet: And so from Father to Son, to him that now Reigns. And thus the Empire of the Turks has from time to time, extended it self to the Grandeur it contains at present; and all through the Negligence of the Christians, or rather, their Divisions among themselves, which have always hinder'd them from joyn∣ing their Forces against the Common Enemy.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Alonso not 13 Months old, de∣clar'd King of Castile.
• * 1.2

  ••rago dies.
• * 1.3

  The young King kept by the Citizens of Avila.
• * 1.4

  1313.
• * 1.5

  The Moors of Granada expel their new King.
• * 1.6

  1314.
• * 1.7

  The Cortes settle the Govern∣ment of Castile.
• * 1.8

  Turks their Original & Growth.
• * 1.9

  Ottoman Founder of the Em∣pire of that Name.