PerhapstheinterpretationoftheKoranwouldnowbetaughtintheschoolsofOxford，andherpulpitsmightdemonstratetoacircumcisedpeoplethesanctityandtruthoftherevelationofMahomet。^30
[Footnote29:WithregardtothesanctuaryofSt。MartinofTours，RodericXimenesaccusestheSaracensofthedeed。Turoniscivitatem，ecclesiametpalatiavastationeetincendiosimilidiruitetconsumpsit。ThecontinuatorofFredegariusimputestothemnomorethantheintention。AddomumbeatissimiMartinievertendamdestinant。AtCarolus，&c。TheFrenchannalistwasmorejealousofthehonorofthesaint。]
[Footnote30:YetIsincerelydoubtwhethertheOxfordmoschwouldhaveproducedavolumeofcontroversysoelegantandingeniousasthesermonslatelypreachedbyMr。White，theArabicprofessor，atMr。Bampton\'slecture。HisobservationsonthecharacterandreligionofMahometarealwaysadaptedtohisargument，andgenerallyfoundedintruthandreason。Hesustainsthepartofalivelyandeloquentadvocate；andsometimesrisestothemeritofanhistorianandphilosopher。]
FromsuchcalamitieswasChristendomdeliveredbythegeniusandfortuneofoneman。Charles，theillegitimatesonoftheelderPepin，wascontentwiththetitlesofmayorordukeoftheFranks；buthedeservedtobecomethefatherofalineofkings。
Inalaboriousadministrationoftwenty—fouryears，herestoredandsupportedthedignityofthethrone，andtherebelsofGermanyandGaulweresuccessivelycrushedbytheactivityofawarrior，who，inthesamecampaign，coulddisplayhisbannerontheElbe，theRhone，andtheshoresoftheocean。Inthepublicdangerhewassummonedbythevoiceofhiscountry；andhisrival，thedukeofAquitain，wasreducedtoappearamongthefugitivesandsuppliants。\"Alas!\"exclaimedtheFranks，\"whatamisfortune!whatanindignity!WehavelongheardofthenameandconquestsoftheArabs:wewereapprehensiveoftheirattackfromtheEast；theyhavenowconqueredSpain，andinvadeourcountryonthesideoftheWest。Yettheirnumbers，andsincetheyhavenobucklertheirarms，areinferiortoourown。\"\"Ifyoufollowmyadvice，\"repliedtheprudentmayorofthepalace，\"youwillnotinterrupttheirmarch，norprecipitateyourattack。
Theyarelikeatorrent，whichitisdangeroustosteminitscareer。Thethirstofriches，andtheconsciousnessofsuccess，redoubletheirvalor，andvalorisofmoreavailthanarmsornumbers。Bepatienttilltheyhaveloadedthemselveswiththeencumbranceofwealth。Thepossessionofwealthwilldividetheircouncilsandassureyourvictory。\"ThissubtilepolicyisperhapsarefinementoftheArabianwriters；andthesituationofCharleswillsuggestamorenarrowandselfishmotiveofprocrastination—thesecretdesireofhumblingtheprideandwastingtheprovincesoftherebeldukeofAquitain。Itisyetmoreprobable，thatthedelaysofCharleswereinevitableandreluctant。Astandingarmywasunknownunderthefirstandsecondrace；morethanhalfthekingdomwasnowinthehandsoftheSaracens:accordingtotheirrespectivesituation，theFranksofNeustriaandAustrasiaweretoconsciousortoocarelessoftheimpendingdanger；andthevoluntaryaidsoftheGepidaeandGermanswereseparatedbyalongintervalfromthestandardoftheChristiangeneral。Nosoonerhadhecollectedhisforces，thanhesoughtandfoundtheenemyinthecentreofFrance，betweenToursandPoitiers。Hiswell—conductedmarchwascoveredwitharangeofhills，andAbderameappearstohavebeensurprisedbyhisunexpectedpresence。ThenationsofAsia，Africa，andEurope，advancedwithequalardortoanencounterwhichwouldchangethehistoryoftheworld。Inthesixfirstdaysofdesultorycombat，thehorsemenandarchersoftheEastmaintainedtheiradvantage:butinthecloseronsetoftheseventhday，theOrientalswereoppressedbythestrengthandstatureoftheGermans，who，withstoutheartsandironhands，^31assertedthecivilandreligiousfreedomoftheirposterity。
TheepithetofMartel。theHammer，whichhasbeenaddedtothenameofCharles，isexpressiveofhisweightyandirresistiblestrokes:thevalorofEudeswasexcitedbyresentmentandemulation；andtheircompanions，intheeyeofhistory，arethetruePeersandPaladinsofFrenchchivalry。Afterabloodyfield，inwhichAbderamewasslain，theSaracens，inthecloseoftheevening，retiredtotheircamp。Inthedisorderanddespairofthenight，thevarioustribesofYemenandDamascus，ofAfricaandSpain，wereprovokedtoturntheirarmsagainsteachother:
theremainsoftheirhostweresuddenlydissolved，andeachemirconsultedhissafetybyahastyandseparateretreat。Atthedawnoftheday，thestillnessofahostilecampwassuspectedbythevictoriousChristians:onthereportoftheirspies，theyventuredtoexploretherichesofthevacanttents；butifweexceptsomecelebratedrelics，asmallportionofthespoilwasrestoredtotheinnocentandlawfulowners。ThejoyfultidingsweresoondiffusedovertheCatholicworld，andthemonksofItalycouldaffirmandbelievethatthreehundredandfifty，orthreehundredandseventy—five，thousandoftheMahometanshadbeencrushedbythehammerofCharles，^32whilenomorethanfifteenhundredChristianswereslaininthefieldofTours。ButthisincredibletaleissufficientlydisprovedbythecautionoftheFrenchgeneral，whoapprehendedthesnaresandaccidentsofapursuit，anddismissedhisGermanalliestotheirnativeforests。
Theinactivityofaconquerorbetraysthelossofstrengthandblood，andthemostcruelexecutionisinflicted，notintheranksofbattle，butonthebacksofaflyingenemy。YetthevictoryoftheFrankswascompleteandfinal；AquitainwasrecoveredbythearmsofEudes；theArabsneverresumedtheconquestofGaul，andtheyweresoondrivenbeyondthePyreneesbyCharlesMartelandhisvaliantrace。^33ItmighthavebeenexpectedthatthesaviorofChristendomwouldhavebeencanonized，oratleastapplauded，bythegratitudeoftheclergy，whoareindebtedtohisswordfortheirpresentexistence。Butinthepublicdistress，themayorofthepalacehadbeencompelledtoapplytheriches，oratleasttherevenues，ofthebishopsandabbots，tothereliefofthestateandtherewardofthesoldiers。Hismeritswereforgotten，hissacrilegealonewasremembered，and，inanepistletoaCarlovingianprince，aGallicsynodpresumestodeclarethathisancestorwasdamned；thatontheopeningofhistomb，thespectatorswereaffrightedbyasmelloffireandtheaspectofahorriddragon；andthatasaintofthetimeswasindulgedwithapleasantvisionofthesoulandbodyofCharlesMartel，burning，toalleternity，intheabyssofhell。^34
[Footnote31:GensAustriaemembrorumpre—eminentiavalida，etgensGermanacordeetcorporepraestantissima，quasiinictuoculi，manuferrea，etpectorearduo，Arabesextinxerunt，Roderic。Toletan。c。xiv。]
[Footnote32:ThesenumbersarestatedbyPaulWarnefrid，thedeaconofAquileia，deGestisLangobard。l。vi。p。921，edit。
Grot。，andAnastasius，thelibrarianoftheRomanchurch，inVit。GregoriiII。，whotellsamiraculousstoryofthreeconsecratedsponges，whichrenderedinvulnerabletheFrenchsoldiers，amongwhomtheyhadbeensharedItshouldseem，thatinhisletterstothepope，Eudesusurpedthehonorofthevictory，fromwhichheischastisedbytheFrenchannalists，who，withequalfalsehood，accusehimofinvitingtheSaracens。]
[Footnote33:Narbonne，andtherestofSeptimania，wasrecoveredbyPepinthesonofCharlesMartel，A。D。755，Pagi，Critica，tom。iii。p。300。Thirty—sevenyearsafterwards，itwaspillagedbyasuddeninroadoftheArabs，whoemployedthecaptivesintheconstructionofthemoschofCordova，DeGuignes，Hist。desHuns，tom。i。p。354。]
[Footnote34:Thispastoralletter，addressedtoLewistheGermanic，thegrandsonofCharlemagne，andmostprobablycomposedbythepenoftheartfulHincmar，isdatedintheyear858，andsignedbythebishopsoftheprovincesofRheimsandRouen，Baronius，Annal。Eccles。A。D。741。Fleury，Hist。Eccles。tom。
x。p。514—516。YetBaroniushimself，andtheFrenchcritics，rejectwithcontemptthisepiscopalfiction。]
Thelossofanarmy，oraprovince，intheWesternworld，waslesspainfultothecourtofDamascus，thantheriseandprogressofadomesticcompetitor。ExceptamongtheSyrians，thecaliphsofthehouseofOmmiyahhadneverbeentheobjectsofthepublicfavor。ThelifeofMahometrecordedtheirperseveranceinidolatryandrebellion:theirconversionhadbeenreluctant，theirelevationirregularandfactious，andtheirthronewascementedwiththemostholyandnoblebloodofArabia。Thebestoftheirrace，thepiousOmar，wasdissatisfiedwithhisowntitle:theirpersonalvirtueswereinsufficienttojustifyadeparturefromtheorderofsuccession；andtheeyesandwishesofthefaithfulwereturnedtowardsthelineofHashem，andthekindredoftheapostleofGod。OfthesetheFatimiteswereeitherrashorpusillanimous；butthedescendantsofAbbascherished，withcourageanddiscretion，thehopesoftheirrisingfortunes。FromanobscureresidenceinSyria，theysecretlydespatchedtheiragentsandmissionaries，whopreachedintheEasternprovincestheirhereditaryindefeasibleright；andMohammed，thesonofAli，thesonofAbdallah，thesonofAbbas，theuncleoftheprophet，gaveaudiencetothedeputiesofChorasan，andacceptedtheirfreegiftoffourhundredthousandpiecesofgold。AfterthedeathofMohammed，theoathofallegiancewasadministeredinthenameofhissonIbrahimtoanumerousbandofvotaries，whoexpectedonlyasignalandaleader；andthegovernorofChorasancontinuedtodeplorehisfruitlessadmonitionsandthedeadlyslumberofthecaliphsofDamascus，tillhehimself，withallhisadherents，wasdrivenfromthecityandpalaceofMeru，bytherebelliousarmsofAbuMoslem。^35Thatmakerofkings，theauthor，asheisnamed，ofthecalloftheAbbassides，wasatlengthrewardedforhispresumptionofmeritwiththeusualgratitudeofcourts。Amean，perhapsaforeign，extractioncouldnotrepresstheaspiringenergyofAbuMoslem。Jealousofhiswives，liberalofhiswealth，prodigalofhisownbloodandofthatofothers，hecouldboastwithpleasure，andpossiblywithtruth，thathehaddestroyedsixhundredthousandofhisenemies；andsuchwastheintrepidgravityofhismindandcountenance，thathewasneverseentosmileexceptonadayofbattle。Inthevisibleseparationofparties，thegreenwasconsecratedtotheFatimites；theOmmiadesweredistinguishedbythewhite；andtheblack，asthemostadverse，wasnaturallyadoptedbytheAbbassides。Theirturbansandgarmentswerestainedwiththatgloomycolor:twoblackstandards，onpikestavesninecubitslong，werebornealoftinthevanofAbuMoslem；andtheirallegoricalnamesofthenightandtheshadowobscurelyrepresentedtheindissolubleunionandperpetualsuccessionofthelineofHashem。FromtheIndustotheEuphrates，theEastwasconvulsedbythequarrelofthewhiteandtheblackfactions:
theAbbassidesweremostfrequentlyvictorious；buttheirpublicsuccesswascloudedbythepersonalmisfortuneoftheirchief。
ThecourtofDamascus，awakeningfromalongslumber，resolvedtopreventthepilgrimageofMecca，whichIbrahimhadundertakenwithasplendidretinue，torecommendhimselfatoncetothefavoroftheprophetandofthepeople。Adetachmentofcavalryinterceptedhismarchandarrestedhisperson；andtheunhappyIbrahim，snatchedawayfromthepromiseofuntastedroyalty，expiredinironfettersinthedungeonsofHaran。Histwoyoungerbrothers，SaffahandAlmansor，eludedthesearchofthetyrant，andlayconcealedatCufa，tillthezealofthepeopleandtheapproachofhisEasternfriendsallowedthemtoexposetheirpersonstotheimpatientpublic。OnFriday，inthedressofacaliph，inthecolorsofthesect，Saffahproceededwithreligiousandmilitarypomptothemosch:ascendingthepulpit，heprayedandpreachedasthelawfulsuccessorofMahomet；andafterhisdeparture，hiskinsmenboundawillingpeoplebyanoathoffidelity。ButitwasonthebanksoftheZab，andnotinthemoschofCufa，thatthisimportantcontroversywasdetermined。Everyadvantageappearedtobeonthesideofthewhitefaction:theauthorityofestablishedgovernment；anarmyofahundredandtwentythousandsoldiers，againstasixthpartofthatnumber；andthepresenceandmeritofthecaliphMervan，thefourteenthandlastofthehouseofOmmiyah。Beforehisaccessiontothethrone，hehaddeserved，byhisGeorgianwarfare，thehonorableepithetoftheassofMesopotamia；^36andhemighthavebeenrankedamongstthegreatestprinces，hadnot，saysAbulfeda，theeternalorderdecreedthatmomentfortheruinofhisfamily；adecreeagainstwhichallhumanfortitudeandprudencemuststruggleinvain。TheordersofMervanweremistaken，ordisobeyed:thereturnofhishorse，fromwhichhehaddismountedonanecessaryoccasion，impressedthebeliefofhisdeath；andtheenthusiasmoftheblacksquadronswasablyconductedbyAbdallah，theuncleofhiscompetitor。Afteranirretrievabdefeat，thecaliphescapedtoMosul；butthecolorsoftheAbbassidesweredisplayedfromtherampart；hesuddenlyrepassedtheTigris，castamelancholylookonhispalaceofHaran，crossedtheEuphrates，abandonedthefortificationsofDamascus，and，withouthaltinginPalestine，pitchedhislastandfatalcampatBusir，onthebanksoftheNile。^37HisspeedwasurgedbytheincessantdiligenceofAbdallah，whoineverystepofthepursuitacquiredstrengthandreputation:theremainsofthewhitefactionwerefinallyvanquishedinEgypt；andthelance，whichterminatedthelifeandanxietyofMervan，wasnotlesswelcomeperhapstotheunfortunatethantothevictoriouschief。Themercilessinquisitionoftheconqueroreradicatedthemostdistantbranchesofthehostilerace:theirboneswerescattered，theirmemorywasaccursed，andthemartyrdomofHosseinwasabundantlyrevengedontheposterityofhistyrants。
FourscoreoftheOmmiades，whohadyieldedtothefaithorclemencyoftheirfoes，wereinvitedtoabanquetatDamascus。
Thelawsofhospitalitywereviolatedbyapromiscuousmassacre:
theboardwasspreadovertheirfallenbodies；andthefestivityoftheguestswasenlivenedbythemusicoftheirdyinggroans。
Bytheeventofthecivilwar，thedynastyoftheAbbassideswasfirmlyestablished；buttheChristiansonlycouldtriumphinthemutualhatredandcommonlossofthedisciplesofMahomet。^38
[Footnote35:Thesteedandthesaddlewhichhadcarriedanyofhiswiveswereinstantlykilledorburnt，lesttheyshouldafterwardsbemountedbyamale。Twelvehundredmulesorcamelswererequiredforhiskitchenfurniture；andthedailyconsumptionamountedtothreethousandcakes，ahundredsheep，besidesoxen，poultry，&c。，Abulpharagius，Hist。Dynast。p。
140。]
[Footnote*:HeiscalledAbdullahorAbulAbbasintheTarikhTebry。Pricevol。i。p。600。SaffahorSaffauhtheSanguinary
wasanamewhichberequiredafterhisbloodyreign，vol。ii。p。
1。—M。]
[Footnote36:AlHemar。HehadbeengovernorofMesopotamia，andtheArabicproverbpraisesthecourageofthatwarlikebreedofasseswhoneverflyfromanenemy。ThesurnameofMervanmayjustifythecomparisonofHomer，Iliad，A。557，&c。，andbothwillsilencethemoderns，whoconsidertheassasastupidandignobleemblem，D\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orient。p。558。]
[Footnote37:Fourseveralplaces，allinEgypt，borethenameofBusir，orBusiris，sofamousinGreekfable。Thefirst，whereMervanwasslainwastothewestoftheNile，intheprovinceofFium，orArsinoe；thesecondintheDelta，intheSebennyticnome；thethirdnearthepyramids；thefourth，whichwasdestroyedbyDioclesian，seeabove，vol。ii。p。130，intheThebais。IshallheretranscribeanoteofthelearnedandorthodoxMichaelis:VidenturinpluribusAegyptisuperiorisurbibusBusiriCoptoquearmasumpsisseChristiani，libertatemquedereligionesentiendidefendisse，sedsuccubuissequoinbelloCoptusetBusirisdiruta，etcircaEsnammagnastragesedita。
BellumnarrantsedcausambelliignorantscriptoresByzantini，alioquiCoptumetBusirimnonrebellassedicturi，sedcausamChristianorumsuscepturi，Not。211，p。100。ForthegeographyofthefourBusirs，seeAbulfeda，Descript。Aegypt。p。9，vers。
Michaelis，Gottingae，1776，in4to。，Michaelis，Not。122—127，p。58—63，andD\'Anville，Memoiresual\'Egypte，p。85，147，205。]
[Footnote38:SeeAbulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。136—145，
Eutychius，Annal。tom。ii。p。392，vers。Pocock，Elmacin，Hist。Saracen。p。109—121，Abulpharagius，Hist。Dynast。p。
134—140，RodericofToledo，Hist。Arabum，c。xviii。p。33，
Theophanes，Chronograph。p。356，357，whospeaksoftheAbbassidesandtheBibliothequeofD\'Herbelot，inthearticlesOmmiades，Abbassides，Moervan，Ibrahim，Saffah，AbouMoslem。]
Yetthethousandswhoweresweptawaybytheswordofwarmighthavebeenspeedilyretrievedinthesucceedinggeneration，iftheconsequencesoftherevolutionhadnottendedtodissolvethepowerandunityoftheempireoftheSaracens。IntheproscriptionoftheOmmiades，aroyalyouthofthenameofAbdalrahmanaloneescapedtherageofhisenemies，whohuntedthewanderingexilefromthebanksoftheEuphratestothevalleysofMountAtlas。HispresenceintheneighborhoodofSpainrevivedthezealofthewhitefaction。ThenameandcauseoftheAbbassideshadbeenfirstvindicatedbythePersians:theWesthadbeenpurefromcivilarms；andtheservantsoftheabdicatedfamilystillheld，byaprecarioustenure，theinheritanceoftheirlandsandtheofficesofgovernment。Stronglypromptedbygratitude，indignation，andfear，theyinvitedthegrandsonofthecaliphHashemtoascendthethroneofhisancestors；and，inhisdesperatecondition，theextremesofrashnessandprudencewerealmostthesame。TheacclamationsofthepeoplesalutedhislandingonthecoastofAndalusia:and，afterasuccessfulstruggle，AbdalrahmanestablishedthethroneofCordova，andwasthefatheroftheOmmiadesofSpain，whoreignedabovetwohundredandfiftyyearsfromtheAtlantictothePyrenees。^39HeslewinbattlealieutenantoftheAbbassides，whohadinvadedhisdominionswithafleetandarmy:theheadofAla，insaltandcamphire，wassuspendedbyadaringmessengerbeforethepalaceofMecca；andthecaliphAlmansorrejoicedinhissafety，thathewasremovedbyseasandlandsfromsuchaformidableadversary。
Theirmutualdesignsordeclarationsofoffensivewarevaporatedwithouteffect；butinsteadofopeningadoortotheconquestofEurope，Spainwasdisseveredfromthetrunkofthemonarchy，engagedinperpetualhostilitywiththeEast，andinclinedtopeaceandfriendshipwiththeChristiansovereignsofConstantinopleandFrance。TheexampleoftheOmmiadeswasimitatedbytherealorfictitiousprogenyofAli，theEdrissitesofMauritania，andthemorepowerfulfatimitesofAfricaandEgypt。Inthetenthcentury，thechairofMahometwasdisputedbythreecaliphsorcommandersofthefaithful，whoreignedatBagdad，Cairoan，andCordova，excommunicatingeachother，andagreedonlyinaprincipleofdiscord，thatasectaryismoreodiousandcriminalthananunbeliever。^40
[Footnote39:FortherevolutionofSpain，consultRodericofToledo，c。xviii。p。34，&c。，theBibliothecaArabico—Hispana，tom。ii。p。30，198，andCardonne，Hist。del\'Afriqueetdel\'Espagne，tom。i。p。180—197，205，272，323，&c。]
[Footnote40:IshallnotstoptorefutethestrangeerrorsandfanciesofSirWilliamTemplehisWorks，vol。iii。p。371—374，octavoeditionandVoltaireHistoireGenerale，c。xxviii。tom。
ii。p。124，125，editiondeLausanneconcerningthedivisionoftheSaracenempire。ThemistakesofVoltaireproceededfromthewantofknowledgeorreflection；butSirWilliamwasdeceivedbyaSpanishimpostor，whohasframedanapocryphalhistoryoftheconquestofSpainbytheArabs。]