Summary of the Causes of the Decay of the Moslem Empire--Loja taken by Storm--Progress of the Feud between Al-Zagal and Boabdil--The Christians assist the Latter--Anarchy in Granada--Siege of Velez--Ineffectual Attempt of Al-Zagal to relieve it--Surrender of the City--Situation of Malaga--Its Delightful Surroundings--Its Vast Commercial and Manufacturing Interests--It is invested by Ferdinand--Desperate Resistance of the Garrison--Its Sufferings--Capitulation of the City--Enslavement of the Population--Duplicity of the Spanish Sovereigns--War with Al-Zagal--Siege of Baza--Discontent of the Christian Soldiery--Energy and Firmness of the Queen--Embassy from the Sultan--Baza surrenders--Al-Zagal relinquishes His Crown--War with Boabdil--The Last Campaign--Blockade of Granada--Distress of Its Inhabitants--Submission of the Capital--Fate of Boabdil--Isabella the Inspiring Genius of the Conquest 595 HISTORY OF THE MOORISH EMPIRE IN EUROPE [Illustration] CHAPTER XV THE MOSLEM DOMINATION IN SICILY 827–1072 Classic Souvenirs of Sicily--Its Great Natural Advantages--It becomes the Stronghold of the Papacy--Invasion of the Arabs--They besiege Syracuse--Strength of that City--Failure of the Enterprise--Capture of Palermo--Rapid Progress of the Moslems--Condition of Italy--Arab Alliance with Naples--Messina taken--Betrayal of Castrogiovanni--Rout of the Greeks near Syracuse--Feuds of the Conquerors--Their Successes in Italy--Second Siege of Syracuse--The City is stormed and destroyed by Ibn-Mohammed--Peril of Rome--Appearance of the Normans in the South of Europe--They invade Sicily--Siege of Palermo--Subjection of the Island--Influence of the Moslems over their Conquerors--General Condition of Sicily--Its Civilization--Palermo and its Environs--Science, Art, and Literature--The Great Work of Edrisi--Arab Occupation of Sardinia, Crete, Corsica, and Malta.