Charlemagne built up held together only
during the life of his son. Then it was divided among his three
grandsons. Louis took the eastern part, Lo-thaire' took the central
part, with the title of emperor, and Charles took the western part.

HARUN-AL-RASHID

CALIPH FROM 786-809 A.D.

I

The most celebrated of all Mohammedan caliphs was Harun-al-Rashid,
which means, in English, Aaron the Just. Harun is the hero of several
of the stories of the "Arabian Nights," a famous book, which perhaps
you have read. There are many curious and wonderful tales in it.

When Harun was only eighteen years old he showed such courage and
skill as a soldier that his father, who was then caliph, allowed
him to lead an army against the enemies of the Mohammedans; and
he won many great victories.

He afterwards commanded an army of ninety-five thousand Arabs and
Persians, sent by his father to invade the Eastern Roman Empire,
which was then ruled by the Empress Irene (_i-re'ne_). After defeating
Irene's famous general, Nicetas (_ni-ce'tas_), Harun marched his
army to Chrys-op'o-lis, now Scutari (_skoo'ta-re_), on the Asiatic
coast, opposite Constantinople. He encamped on the heights, in
full view of the Roman capital.

The Empress saw that the city would certainly by taken by the Moslems.
She therefore sent ambassadors to Harun to arrange terms; but he
sternly refused to agree to anything except immediate surrender.

Then one of the ambassadors said, "The Empress has heard much of
your ability as a general. Though you are her enemy, she admires
you as a soldier."

These flattering words were pleasing to Harun. He walked to and
fro in front of his tent and then spoke again to the ambassadors.

"Tell the Empress," he said, "that I will spare Constantinople
if she will pay me seventy thousand pieces of gold as a yearly
tribute. If the tribute is regularly paid Constantinople shall not
be harmed by any Moslem force."

The Empress had to agree to these terms. She paid the first year's
tribute; and soon the great Moslem army set out on its homeward
march.

When Harun was not quite twenty-one years old he became caliph.

He began his reign by appointing very able ministers, who carried
on the work of the government so well that they greatly improved
the condition of the people.

Harun built a palace in Bagdad, far grander and more beautiful
than that of any caliph before him. Here he established his court
and lived in great