Dissensions in Castile--Alfonso the Guest of the Emir of Toledo--Civilization of that Moorish Capital--Motamid, Prince of Seville--His Prodigality---Valencia and Murcia become subject to Mamun--Motamid takes Seville--Military Genius of Alfonso VI.--The Famous Game of Chess--Siege of Toledo--Capitulation of that City--Depredations of Bands of Outlaws--Danger and Distress of the Moslems--Rise of the Almoravides--Their Fanaticism and Prowess--They conquer Northern Africa--The Spanish Emirs appeal to Yusuf--He crosses the Strait--Rout of the Christians at Zallaca--Second Expedition of Yusuf--His Popularity--He claims the Sovereignty of the Peninsula--The Cid: His Character and His Exploits--He serves the Emir of Saragossa--He obtains Control of Valencia--Revolt and Siege of that City--Cruelties of the Cid--Death of Yusuf--Greatness of the Almoravide Empire--Accession of Ali--Demoralization of the Conquerors. The temporary union of the Christian powers under Ferdinand I., which had so effectually demonstrated the weakness of the Moorish states of the Peninsula and had conferred such distinction on the Castilian arms, was followed by a series of domestic misfortunes culminating in civil war, seriously threatening the stability of the newly founded kingdom, and affording the Moslems an opportunity for recuperation by which they unfortunately had no longer either the energy or the capacity to profit. Ferdinand’s impolitic testamentary disposition of his dominions among his children indicated an amiable weakness, which, while it might be deserving of praise in a private individual, was discreditable to the experience and political foresight of a sovereign. With the public sanction of the nobles, his kingdom was divided into three portions, of which his son Sancho received Castile and a part of what is now Aragon; Alfonso, Leon and the Asturias; and Garcia, Galicia and the Portuguese conquests. To his daughters, Urraca and Elvira, were assigned respectively the cities of Zamora and Toro. As was inevitable, ambition and discontent with this arrangement eventually produced consequences fatal to the interests of the crown. Hostilities first broke out between Sancho and Alfonso with indecisive results. Then they mutually agreed to stake their kingdoms on the result of a single battle. Fortune favored the cause of Alfonso, and, with a clemency unusual in that age, his followers were not permitted even to pursue the routed Castilians, who, by the conditions of the compact, had become the subjects of the victor.