A.H. 86–96.
of Morocco, under his authority. Opposition ended, "Readers of the Ḳorʾān" were appointed to instruct the people in the faith.[1] Naval expeditions were also set.on foot, and successful descents made on Majorca and Sardinia.[2] Having established his freedman Ṭāriḳ at Tangier, as lieutenant over the newly conquered districts in the west, Mūsa returned to his headquarters at Ḳairawān.
Mūsa's designs on Spain,
90 A.H.
709 A.D.The kingdom of Spain was at this period ruled by Roderic, a usurper, to whom Count Julian, ruler of the coast lying over against Tangier, was bitterly opposed.[3] Ceuta, on the African side, was part also of Julian's domain. It occurred to him that with the help of the invaders from the East, he might now drive the usurper from the throne.{{Left sidenote|90 A.H. Entering therefore into friendly relations with Mūsa, he explained at an interview, the ease with which the narrow strait might be crossed; and Mūsa, nothing loth, was lured by the inviting prospect of a campaign in Spain. The Caliph, fearing the sea, at the first hesitated; but when it was explained how close was the opposite shore, he gave consent.Descent of Ṭarīf,
x. 91 A.H.
July, 710 A.D.; Next year, by way of trial, Mūsa sent a few hundred men in four ships under command of Ṭarīf, a Berber slave of his, who made an easy descent on the near coast at the Cape that still bears his name, and returned with a spoil so rich that the army longed to repeat the attack upon a larger scale. Mūsa, thus emboldened, placed a force of 7000 men, chiefly Berbers and freedmen, with some Arabs, at the disposal of Ṭāriḳ,and of Ṭāriḳ,
vii. 92 A.H.
April, 711 A.D. who, crossing the straits, took possession of the fortress called after him, Gibraltar.[4] From thence he ravaged
- ↑ A few years further on we are told that by 100 A.H. "the whole of the Berbers were converted to Islām."
- ↑ A long account is given of the capture of its harbour, 92 A.H.; of the recovery of treasure cast into the sea, and secreted in the roof of the great church; and of the riches of the spoil. Other descents are mentioned 135 and 323 A.H., and finally in 400, when, however, the Muslim fleet of 120 ships was discomfited; after which no attempts were made on the island.
- ↑ The daughters of the Spanish nobles used to be sent to Court to be educated; and Roderic, we are told, had taken advantage of it to dishonour Julian's daughter, which was the cause of this bitterness. Gibbon rejects the story, and Hallam also is so inclined; but for our story it is immaterial.
- ↑ Jebel-Ṭāriḳ, the hill of Ṭāriḳ.
