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. IX. The famous City Toledo closely Besieged, and Surrendred; Many other Places taken. King Alonso stiles himself Emperor.

THE continual waste the Christians made in the Country about Toledo, burning, plun∣dering, and driving all before them, had reduc'd the Moors of that City to great * 1.1 streights. The Christian Inhabitants ceased not to press King Alonso to sit down before it, promising, they would soon open the Gates to him. That lasting War had exhausted the Subjects, yet the King's resolution overcame all difficulties. Great Levies were made, and all things provided with a full design never to desist till the City were taken. It is naturally strong, and so seated, that there was a necessity of dividing the Army into several Bodies, and consequently, a greater Force was requisite. It is a matter of great consequence to have the good Will of neighbouring Princes, as appeared in this War, for besides the King's own Subjects of Castile, Leon, Biscay, Galicia and Asturias. Sancho, King of Aragon and Navarre, brought a good Body of Men to the Siege, Supplies also came from Italy and Germany, and the French, as being nearer, came in greater numbers. Because the latter served well in this War, and upon other occasions, great Privileges were granted to such of them as would stay in Spain; whence, as I suppose, such as are free from Taxes are among us called Franc. Of all these Nations was formed a mighty Army, which marched without delay towards Toledo, full of hopes of speedy success. The Moorish King made all the necessary Preparations to endure a Siege, but most of all rely'd on the natural Strength of the Place, encompassed with high and craggy Rocks, thro' which the River Iagus in a wonderful manner breaks his way, and runs almost round the City, except on the North side, where is a steep and difficult ascent, defended by two strong Walls, one above the other. To Besiege this Place, the Army was divided into seven Brigades, which took up all the Avenues, so that no Relief * 1.2 could be carried in. The King, with the best of the Army, Encamp'd and Entrench'd himself in the Meadows, at the foot of the Hill on which the Town stands. Some Skirmishes hap'ned near the Wall, but nothing remarkable in them, except that it was observed the Christians were the better Foot, and the Moors the experter Horse. Towers of Wood were made, and all other sorts of Engines apply'd to the Wall, which, tho' they beat down part of it, yet it availed not, because the ascent was difficult, the Streets narrow, the Houses high and strong, and the Defendants numerous. Thus the Siege was protracted, Provisions were scarce, the Country about being wasted, the heat of the Summer came on; and the Army began to be sickly. All these things caused the Soldiers to wish for some Honourable Accommodation. At this time, Cyprianus, Bishop of Leon, acquainted the King that S. Isidorus had appeared to him, assuring the City would be taken in 15 Days. The Besieged suffered great want, hav∣ing spent all their Provisions. Whereupon, gathering in a Body, they repaired to the Pa∣lace with clamours, requiring the King to Capitulate. He having endeavoured to appease them, affirming they should be speedily relieved, and finding they persisted in their demands, sent out Commissioners to Treat. Some day s••••eing spent in Expostulating, and debating the Matter, at length the Treaty was concluded upon these Articles.

That the Palace, * 1.3 City Gates, Bridges, and King's-Garden, be delivered up to King Alonso. That the Moor∣ish King may go to Valencia, or where he shall think sit. The same liberty to be allowed the Moors that will bear him company, and they may carry their Goods and Moveables. Such as will stay in the City, shall not be molested in their Persons or Goods. The chief Mosque shall continue in their possession. No other Taxes shall be imposed on them, but such as they paid to their own Kings. They shall be Try'd by Judges of their own Nation, and no others.

These Articles were solemnly Sworn to on both sides, and Hostages given * 1.4 for performance; which done, King Alonso, with great Joy, in the nature of a Triumph,

entred the City on the 25th of May, being the Feast of S. Ʋrban, Pope and Martyr, in the Year of our Lord 1085. Some Authors say 1083. That City was in the hands of the Moors about 369 Years, Julianus says 366. and that the Moors took it in the Year 719. on S. Ʋrban's Day, during which time, the Moors being nothing curious in building, it lost much of its former Beauty. The Streets were narrow and crooked, the Houses ill contrived, the very Palace was of Mud-walls, and stood where now is a great Hospital, Founded by D. Peter Gon∣zalez de Mendoza, Cardinal of Spain, and Archbishop of Toledo. In the midst of the City stood the chief Mosque, on a rising Ground, the Building at that time nothing sumptuous. Soon after, it was Consecrated, and in process of time built from the Ground, very large and beautiful. The fame of this Success was soon spread abroad, and Embassadors came to Con∣gratulate with the King from several Princes. The Moorish King, according to the Capitu∣lation, went away with a good Guard to Valencia, which was his own, where he preserv'd the Title of King. On the other side, many Brigades of Christians were dispersed through∣out the Kingdom of Toledo, to reduce all that remained in the possession of the Moors, which proved no difficult task, they being terrify'd at the loss of so great a City. Many Towns were taken, the most noted were, Maqueda, Escalona, Illescas, Talavera, Guadalajara, Mo∣ra, * 1.5 Consuegra, Madrid, Berlanga, Buytrago, Medinaceli, and Coria, many of them ancient Towns, not far distant from Toledo, strong and seated in a pleasant and fruitful Country. Some of the Moors of Toledo accompanied their King, but the most staid behind. Their number being great, there was danger they might upon the first opportunity Revolt. To prevent this evil, the King resolved to settle his Court there, till such time it was better Peopled with Christians, and new Fortifications raised to secure it. Houses and Lands, were by Proclamation offered to all such as would come and inhabit there, which drew a great number of People. Among the rest, we have an account of one Peter, a Grecian, of the Im∣perial Family of the Paleologi, of Constantinople, who is said, to have served during the Siege, and therefore the King, the Town being taken, gave him a House, and Lands of Inheritance. From this Gentleman, the great Family of Toledo pretend to be descended. From this time, 'tis said, the King's Quarter in Toledo, was so called, because the King gave that part of the City to the new Inhabitants that resorted thither. A new Palace was began to be built in the highest part of the City, all to the intent the better to curb the Moors. After this, we * 1.6 find King Alonso began to stile himself Emperor, whether he had reason so to do, we will not dispute. He was puft up with the Conquests of that new Kingdom, and being Sove∣reign of the greatest part of Spain, and the King of Aragon, and Moorish Kings being his Tri∣butaries, he thought no Titles too great. His Joy was somewhat allay'd, by the death of his Sister D. Ʋrraoa, whom he respected as a Mother, and she deserved it for her singular Ver∣tues. His other Sister, D. Elvira, was Married to the Count de Cabra, to whom, he gave her to appease him, having provoked him by some rash words, as is related in the General History of D. Alonso the Wise.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Toledo closely Be∣sieged.
• * 1.2

  The manner of en∣closing the City.
• * 1.3

  Articles of surren∣der.
• * 1.4

  Toledo sur∣rendered.
• * 1.5

  Many Towns ta∣ken.
• * 1.6

  K. Alonso stiles himself Emperor