of imposts, until then
quite arbitrary; and to quieting the discontents of the soldiery, and
establishing their pay at a fixed rate. A lover of the fine arts,
which the Arabs began from that time to cultivate, Elzemah embellished
Cordova, which was his capital, and attracted thither the _savans_ of
the age. He was himself the author of a book containing a description
of the cities, rivers, provinces, and ports of Spain, of the metals,
mines, and quarries it {38} possesses; and, in short, of almost every
object of interest either in science or government.

But little disturbed by the insurrectionary movements of Pelagius,
whose power was confined to the possession of some inaccessible
mountain fortresses, Elzemah did not attempt to force him from his
strongholds, but, impelled by the ardent desire of extending the
Moorish conquests into France, with which the governors of Spain were
ever inflamed, he passed the Pyrenees, and perished in a battle fought
against Eudes, duke of Aquitania, A.D. 722, Heg. 104.

During the remainder of the Caliphate of Yezid II.,[11] several
governors followed each other in rapid succession after the death of
Elzemah.[12] None of their actions merit recital, but, during this
period, the brave Pelagius aggrandized his petty state, advancing into
the mountains of Leon, and, in addition, making himself master of
several towns.

This hero, whose invincible daring roused the Asturians and Cantabrians
to struggle for liberty, laid the foundations of that powerful monarchy
{39} whose warriors afterward pursued the Moors even to the rocks of
the Atlas.

The Moslems, who dreamed only of new conquests, made no considerable
efforts against Pelagius: they were confident of checking his rebellion
with the utmost ease when they should have accomplished the subjugation
of the French dominions; and that desire alone fired the ardent soul of
the new governor Abdalrahman, or, as he is commonly called, Abderamus.

His love of glory, his valour, his genius, and, above all, his
immeasurable ambition, made the Mussulman governor regard this conquest
as one that could be easily effected; but he himself was destined to be
the vanquished.

Charles Martel, the son of Pepin d'Heristel, and the grandfather of
Charlemagne, whose exploits effaced the recollection of those of his
father, and whose fame was not eclipsed by that of his grandson, was at
this time mayor of the palace, under the last princes of the fi