They intruded upon their privacy in the unrestrained indulgence of lust and rapine. The wives and daughters of the most respected citizens could not appear in the streets without danger of insult and violation. In consequence of these abuses, the army became thoroughly demoralized, the soldiers refused to face an enemy, and it became necessary to enlist bands of mercenaries, gathered at random among the ports of the Mediterranean, to garrison the principal cities. No attention was paid to the remonstrances of the indignant and suffering victims. At length the revolutionary spirit of Cordova again asserted itself. The inhabitants rose, the Berbers were hemmed in and massacred, and not one of the obnoxious race who dared to face the fury of the mob survived. The appearance of Ali failed to awe the rebels, but the commencement of a siege soon brought them to terms. Aware of the provocations they had endured, the Sultan treated his seditious subjects with unusual leniency, requiring only the pecuniary reimbursement of such of their victims as had escaped with their lives and a liberal indemnity to the families of the dead. It was while at Cordova that Ali received the first intelligence of an insurrection in Africa, whose popularity and progress were of evil augury for the permanence of the already tottering Almoravide power. CHAPTER XVIII THE EMPIRE OF THE ALMOHADES 1121–1212 Rise of Abu-Abdallah, the Mahdi--His Character and Talents--He rebels against Ali--His Eventful Career--Abd-al-Mumen succeeds Him--Decline of the Almoravide Power in Spain--Raid of Alfonso of Aragon--Rout of Fraga--Death of Alfonso--Indecisive Character of the Campaigns in the War of the Reconquest--Progress of Abd-al-Mumen in Africa--Victories of the Almohades--Natural Hostility of Moor and Berber--Anarchy in the Peninsula--It is invaded by the Africans--Establishment of the Almohade Empire in Andalusia--Almeria taken by the Christians--Its Recapture by the Berbers--Death of Abd-al-Mumen--His Genius and Greatness--Accession of Yusuf--His Public Works--He organizes a Great Expedition--He dies and is succeeded by Yakub--The Holy War proclaimed--Battle of Alarcos--Effects of African Supremacy--Death of Yakub--The Giralda--Mohammed--He attempts the Subjugation of the Christians--Despair of the Latter--Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa--Utter Rout of the Almohade Army.