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Abenalhamar； which means 〃vermilion〃。。。 and because the Moors called
him Benalhamar； which means vermilion； he took bright red for his
insignia； just as the Kings of Granada have done ever since。＇
He was of the noble and opulent line of the Beni Nasar； or tribe
of Nasar； and was born in Arjona； in the year of the Hegira 592 （A。 D。
1195）。 At his birth the astrologers； we are told； cast his horoscope
according to Oriental custom； and pronounced it highly auspicious； and
a santon predicted for him a glorious career。 No expense was spared in
fitting him for the high destinies prognosticated。 Before he
attained the full years of manhood； the famous battle of the Navas （or
plains） of Tolosa shattered the Moorish empire； and eventually severed
the Moslems of Spain from the Moslems of Africa。 Factions soon arose
among the former； headed by warlike chiefs； ambitious of grasping
the sovereignty of the Peninsula。 Alhamar became engaged in these
wars； he was the general and leader of the Beni Nasar； and； as such；
he opposed and thwarted the ambition of Aben Hud； who had raised his
standard among the warlike mountains of the Alpuxarras； and been
proclaimed king of Murcia and Granada。 Many conflicts took place
between these warring chieftains； Alhamar dispossessed his rival of
several important places； and was proclaimed king of Jaen by his
soldiery； but he aspired to the sovereignty of the whole of Andalusia；
for he was of a sanguine spirit and lofty ambition。 His valor and
generosity went hand in hand； what he gained by the one he secured
by the other； and at the death of Aben Hud （A。 D。 1238）； he became
sovereign of all the territories which owned allegiance to that
powerful chief He made his formal entry into Granada in the same year；
amid the enthusiastic shouts of the multitude； who hailed him as the
only one capable of uniting the various factions which prevailed；
and which threatened to lay the empire at the mercy of the Christian
princes。
Alhamar established his court in Granada； he was the first of the
illustrious line of Nasar that sat upon a throne。 He took immediate
measures to put his little kingdom in a posture of defence against the
assaults to be expected from his Christian neighbors； repairing and
strengthening the frontier posts and fortifying the capital。 Not
content with the provisions of the Moslem law； by which every man is
made a soldier； he raised a regular army to garrison his strong…holds；
allowing every soldier stationed on the frontier a portion of land for
the support of himself； his horse； and his family； thus interesting
him in the defence of the soil in which he had a property。 These
wise precautions were justified by events。 The Christians； profiting
by the dismemberment of the Moslem power； were rapidly regaining their
ancient territories。 James the Conqueror had subjected all Valencia；
and Ferdinand the Saint sat down in person before Jaen； the bulwark of
Granada。 Alhamar ventured to oppose him in open field； but met with
a signal defeat； and retired discomfited to his capital。 Jaen still
held out； and kept the enemy at bay during an entire winter； but
Ferdinand swore not to raise his camp until he had gained possession
of the place。 Alhamar found it impossible to throw reinforcements into
the besieged city； he saw that its fall must be followed by the
investment of his capital； and was conscious of the insufficiency of
his means to cope with the potent sovereign of Castile。 Taking a
sudden resolution； therefore； he repaired privately to the Christian
camp； made his unexpected appearance in the presence of King
Ferdinand； and frankly announced himself as the king of Granada。 〃I
come；〃 said he； 〃confiding in your good faith； to put myself under
your protection。 Take all I possess and receive me as your vassal〃； so
saying； he knelt and kissed the king's hand in token of allegiance。
Ferdinand was won by this instance of confiding faith； and
determined not to be outdone in generosity。 He raised his late enemy
from the earth； embraced him as a friend； and； refusing the wealth
he offered； left him sovereign of his dominions； under the feudal
tenure of a yearly tribute； attendance at the Cortes as one of the
nobles of the empire； and service in war with a certain number of
horsemen。 He moreover conferred on him the honor of knighthood； and
armed him with his own hands。
It was not long after this that Alhamar was called upon； for his
military services； to aid King Ferdinand in his famous siege of
Seville。 The Moorish king sallied forth with five hundred chosen
horsemen of Granada； than whom none in the world knew better how to
manage the steed or wield the lance。 It was a humiliating service；
however； for they had to draw the sword against their brethren of
the faith。
Alhamar gained a melancholy distinction by his prowess in this
renowned conquest； but more true honor by the humanity which he
prevailed upon Ferdinand to introduce into the usages of war。 When
in 1248 the famous city of Seville surrendered to the Castilian
monarch； Alhamar returned sad and full of care to his dominions。 He
saw the gathering ills that menaced the Moslem cause； and uttered an
ejaculation often used by him in moments of anxiety and trouble…
〃How straitened and wretched would be our life； if our hope were not
so spacious and extensive。〃 〃Que angosta y miserable seria nuestra
vida； sino fuera tan dilatada y espaciosa nuestra esperanza！〃
As he approached Granada on his return he beheld arches of triumph
which had been erected in honor of his martial exploits。 The people
thronged forth to see him with impatient joy； for his benignant rule
had won all hearts。 Wherever he passed he was hailed with acclamations
as 〃El Ghalib！〃 （the conqueror）。 Alhamar gave a melancholy shake of
the head on hearing the appellation。 〃Wa le ghalib il Allah！〃
（〃There is no conqueror but God！〃）； exclaimed he。 From that time
forward this exclamation became his motto； and the motto of his
descendants； and appears to this day emblazoned on his escutcheons
in the halls of the Alhambra。
Alhamar had purchased peace by submission to the Christian yoke； but
he was conscious that； with elements so discordant and motives for
hostility so deep and ancient； it could not be permanent。 Acting；
therefore； upon the old maxim； 〃arm thyself in peace and clothe
thyself in summer；〃 he improved the present interval of tranquillity
by fortifying his dominions； replenishing his arsenals； and
promoting those useful arts which give wealth and real power。 He
confided the command of his various cities to such as had
distinguished themselves by valor and prudence； and who seemed most
acceptable to the people。 He organized a vigilant police； and
established rigid rules for the administration of justice。 The poor
and the distressed always found ready admission to his presence； and
he attended personally to their assistance and redress。 He erected
hospitals for the