YetinthesiegeofAmoriumaboutseventythousandMoslemshadperished:theirlosshadbeenrevengedbytheslaughterofthirtythousandChristians，andthesufferingsofanequalnumberofcaptives，whoweretreatedasthemostatrociouscriminals。
Mutualnecessitycouldsometimesextorttheexchangeorransomofprisoners:^94butinthenationalandreligiousconflictofthetwoempires，peacewaswithoutconfidence，andwarwithoutmercy。
Quarterwasseldomgiveninthefield；thosewhoescapedtheedgeoftheswordwerecondemnedtohopelessservitude，orexquisitetorture；andaCatholicemperorrelates，withvisiblesatisfaction，theexecutionoftheSaracensofCrete，whowereflayedalive，orplungedintocaldronsofboilingoil。^95ToapointofhonorMotassemhadsacrificedaflourishingcity，twohundredthousandlives，andthepropertyofmillions。Thesamecaliphdescendedfromhishorse，anddirtiedhisrobe，torelievethedistressofadecrepitoldman，who，withhisladenass，hadtumbledintoaditch。Onwhichoftheseactionsdidhereflectwiththemostpleasure，whenhewassummonedbytheangelofdeath?^96
[Footnote91:ThesamenumberwasappliedtothefollowingcircumstanceinthelifeofMotassem:hewastheeightoftheAbbassides；hereignedeightyears，eightmonths，andeightdays；
lefteightsons，eightdaughters，eightthousandslaves，eightmillionsofgold。]
[Footnote92:Amoriumisseldommentionedbytheoldgeographers，andtotallyforgottenintheRomanItineraries。Afterthevithcentury，itbecameanepiscopalsee，andatlengththemetropolisofthenewGalatia，Carol。Scto。Paulo，Geograph。Sacra，p。
234。Thecityroseagainfromitsruins，ifweshouldreadAmmeria，notAnguria，inthetextoftheNubiangeographer。p。
236。]
[Footnote93:IntheEasthewasstyled，ContinuatorTheophan。
l。iii。p。84；butsuchwastheignoranceoftheWest，thathisambassadors，inpublicdiscourse，mightboldlynarrate，devictoriis，quasadversusexterasbellandogentescoelitusfueratassecutus，Annalist。Bertinian。apudPagi，tom。iii。p。720。]
[Footnote94:AbulpharagiusDynast。p。167，168relatesoneofthesesingulartransactionsonthebridgeoftheRiverLamusinCilicia，thelimitofthetwoempires，andoneday\'sjourneywestwardofTarsus，D\'Anville，GeographieAncienne，tom。ii。p。
91。FourthousandfourhundredandsixtyMoslems，eighthundredwomenandchildren，onehundredconfederates，wereexchangedforanequalnumberofGreeks。Theypassedeachotherinthemiddleofthebridge，andwhentheyreachedtheirrespectivefriends，theyshoutedAllahAcbar，andKyrieEleison。ManyoftheprisonersofAmoriumwereprobablyamongthem，butinthesameyear，A。H。231，themostillustriousofthem，thefortytwomartyrs，werebeheadedbythecaliph\'sorder。]
[Footnote95:Constantin。Porphyrogenitus，inVit。Basil。c。61，p。186。TheseSaracenswereindeedtreatedwithpeculiarseverityaspiratesandrenegadoes。]
[Footnote96:ForTheophilus，Motassem，andtheAmorianwar，seetheContinuatorofTheophanes，l。iii。p。77—84，Genesiusl。
iii。p。24—34。Cedrenus，p。528—532，Elmacin，Hist。
Saracen，p。180，Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。165，166，Abulfeda，Annal。Moslem。p。191，D\'Herbelot，Bibliot。Orientale，p。639，640。]
WithMotassem，theeighthoftheAbbassides，thegloryofhisfamilyandnationexpired。WhentheArabianconquerorshadspreadthemselvesovertheEast，andweremingledwiththeservilecrowdsofPersia，Syria，andEgypt，theyinsensiblylostthefreebornandmartialvirtuesofthedesert。ThecourageoftheSouthistheartificialfruitofdisciplineandprejudice；
theactivepowerofenthusiasmhaddecayed，andthemercenaryforcesofthecaliphswererecruitedinthoseclimatesoftheNorth，ofwhichvaloristhehardyandspontaneousproduction。
OftheTurks^97whodweltbeyondtheOxusandJaxartes，therobustyouths，eithertakeninwarorpurchasedintrade，wereeducatedintheexercisesofthefield，andtheprofessionoftheMahometanfaith。TheTurkishguardsstoodinarmsroundthethroneoftheirbenefactor，andtheirchiefsusurpedthedominionofthepalaceandtheprovinces。Motassem，thefirstauthorofthisdangerousexample，introducedintothecapitalabovefiftythousandTurks:theirlicentiousconductprovokedthepublicindignation，andthequarrelsofthesoldiersandpeopleinducedthecaliphtoretirefromBagdad，andestablishhisownresidenceandthecampofhisBarbarianfavoritesatSamaraontheTigris，abouttwelveleaguesabovethecityofPeace。^98HissonMotawakkelwasajealousandcrueltyrant:odioustohissubjects，hecasthimselfonthefidelityofthestrangers，andthesestrangers，ambitiousandapprehensive，weretemptedbytherichpromiseofarevolution。Attheinstigation，oratleastinthecauseofhisson，theyburstintohisapartmentatthehourofsupper，andthecaliphwascutintosevenpiecesbythesameswordswhichhehadrecentlydistributedamongtheguardsofhislifeandthrone。Tothisthrone，yetstreamingwithafather\'sblood，Montasserwastriumphantlyled；butinareignofsixmonths，hefoundonlythepangsofaguiltyconscience。IfheweptatthesightofanoldtapestrywhichrepresentedthecrimeandpunishmentofthesonofChosroes，ifhisdayswereabridgedbygriefandremorse，wemayallowsomepitytoaparricide，whoexclaimed，inthebitternessofdeath，thathehadlostboththisworldandtheworldtocome。Afterthisactoftreason，theensignsofroyalty，thegarmentandwalking—staffofMahomet，weregivenandtornawaybytheforeignmercenaries，whoinfouryearscreated，deposed，andmurdered，threecommandersofthefaithful。AsoftenastheTurkswereinflamedbyfear，orrage，oravarice，thesecaliphsweredraggedbythefeet，exposednakedtothescorchingsun，beatenwithironclubs，andcompelledtopurchase，bytheabdicationoftheirdignity，ashortreprieveofinevitablefate。^99Atlength，however，thefuryofthetempestwasspentordiverted:theAbbassidesreturnedtothelessturbulentresidenceofBagdad；theinsolenceoftheTurkswascurbedwithafirmerandmoreskilfulhand，andtheirnumbersweredividedanddestroyedinforeignwarfare。ButthenationsoftheEasthadbeentaughttotrampleonthesuccessorsoftheprophet；andtheblessingsofdomesticpeacewereobtainedbytherelaxationofstrengthanddiscipline。Souniformarethemischiefsofmilitarydespotism，thatIseemtorepeatthestoryofthepraetoriansofRome。^100
[Footnote97:M。deGuignes，whosometimesleaps，andsometimesstumbles，inthegulfbetweenChineseandMahometanstory，thinkshecansee，thattheseTurksaretheHoei—ke，aliastheKao—tche，orhigh—wagons；thattheyweredividedintofifteenhordes，fromChinaandSiberiatothedominionsofthecaliphsandSamanides，&c。，Hist。desHuns，tom。iii。p。1—33，124—131。]
[Footnote98:HechangedtheoldnameofSumera，orSamara，intothefancifultitleofSermen—rai，thatwhichgivespleasureatfirstsight，D\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。808。
D\'Anville，l\'EuphrateetleTigrep。97，98。]
[Footnote99:Takeaspecimen，thedeathofthecaliphMotaz:
Correptumpedibuspertrahunt，etsudibusprobepermulcant，etspoliatumlacerisvestibusinsolecollocant，praecujusacerrimoaestupedesalternosattollebatetdemittebat。Adstantiumaliquismiserocolaphoscontinuoingerebat，quosilleobjectismanibusaverterestudebat……Quofactotraditustortorifuit，totoquetriduocibopotuqueprohibitus……Suffocatus，&c。
Abulfeda，p。206。OfthecaliphMohtadi，hesays，servicesipsiperpetuisictibuscontundebant，testiculosquepedibusconculcabant，p。208。]
[Footnote100:SeeunderthereignsofMotassem，Motawakkel，Montasser，Mostain，Motaz，Mohtadi，andMotamed，intheBibliothequeofD\'Herbelot，andthenowfamiliarAnnalsofElmacin，Abulpharagius，andAbulfeda。]
Whiletheflameofenthusiasmwasdampedbythebusiness，thepleasure，andtheknowledge，oftheage，itburntwithconcentratedheatinthebreastsofthechosenfew，thecongenialspirits，whowereambitiousofreigningeitherinthisworldorinthenext。HowcarefullysoeverthebookofprophecyhadbeensealedbytheapostleofMecca，thewishes，andifwemayprofanethewordeventhereason，offanaticismmightbelievethat，afterthesuccessivemissionsofAdam，Noah，Abraham，Moses，Jesus，andMahomet，thesameGod，inthefulnessoftime，wouldrevealastillmoreperfectandpermanentlaw。Inthetwohundredandseventy—seventhyearoftheHegira，andintheneighborhoodofCufa，anArabianpreacher，ofthenameofCarmath，assumedtheloftyandincomprehensiblestyleoftheGuide，theDirector，theDemonstration，theWord，theHolyGhost，theCamel，theHeraldoftheMessiah，whohadconversedwithhiminahumanshape，andtherepresentativeofMohammedthesonofAli，ofSt。JohntheBaptist，andoftheangelGabriel。Inhismysticvolume，thepreceptsoftheKoranwererefinedtoamorespiritualsense:herelaxedthedutiesofablution，fasting，andpilgrimage；allowedtheindiscriminateuseofwineandforbiddenfood；andnourishedthefervorofhisdisciplesbythedailyrepetitionoffiftyprayers。TheidlenessandfermentoftherusticcrowdawakenedtheattentionofthemagistratesofCufa；atimidpersecutionassistedtheprogressofthenewsect；andthenameoftheprophetbecamemorereveredafterhispersonhadbeenwithdrawnfromtheworld。HistwelveapostlesdispersedthemselvesamongtheBedoweens，\"araceofmen，\"saysAbulfeda，\"equallydevoidofreasonandofreligion；\"andthesuccessoftheirpreachingseemedtothreatenArabiawithanewrevolution。
TheCarmathianswereripeforrebellion，sincetheydisclaimedthetitleofthehouseofAbbas，andabhorredtheworldlypompofthecaliphsofBagdad。Theyweresusceptibleofdiscipline，sincetheyvowedablindandabsolutesubmissiontotheirImam，whowascalledtothepropheticofficebythevoiceofGodandthepeople。Insteadofthelegaltithes，heclaimedthefifthoftheirsubstanceandspoil；themostflagitioussinswerenomorethanthetypeofdisobedience；andthebrethrenwereunitedandconcealedbyanoathofsecrecy。Afterabloodyconflict，theyprevailedintheprovinceofBahrein，alongthePersianGulf:farandwide，thetribesofthedesertweresubjecttothesceptre，orrathertotheswordofAbuSaidandhissonAbuTaher；andtheserebelliousimamscouldmusterinthefieldahundredandseventhousandfanatics。Themercenariesofthecaliphweredismayedattheapproachofanenemywhoneitheraskednoracceptedquarter；andthedifferencebetween，theminfortitudeandpatience，isexpressiveofthechangewhichthreecenturiesofprosperityhadeffectedinthecharacteroftheArabians。
Suchtroopswerediscomfitedineveryaction；thecitiesofRaccaandBaalbec，ofCufaandBassora，weretakenandpillaged；Bagdadwasfilledwithconsternation；andthecaliphtrembledbehindtheveilsofhispalace。InadaringinroadbeyondtheTigris，AbuTaheradvancedtothegatesofthecapitalwithnomorethanfivehundredhorse。BythespecialorderofMoctader，thebridgeshadbeenbrokendown，andthepersonorheadoftherebelwasexpectedeveryhourbythecommanderofthefaithful。Hislieutenant，fromamotiveoffearorpity，apprisedAbuTaherofhisdanger，andrecommendedaspeedyescape。\"Yourmaster，\"saidtheintrepidCarmathiantothemessenger，\"isattheheadofthirtythousandsoldiers:threesuchmenasthesearewantinginhishost:\"atthesameinstant，turningtothreeofhiscompanions，hecommandedthefirsttoplungeadaggerintohisbreast，thesecondtoleapintotheTigris，andthethirdtocasthimselfheadlongdownaprecipice。Theyobeyedwithoutamurmur。
\"Relate，\"continuedtheimam，\"whatyouhaveseen:beforetheeveningyourgeneralshallbechainedamongmydogs。\"Beforetheevening，thecampwassurprised，andthemenacewasexecuted。TherapineoftheCarmathianswassanctifiedbytheiraversiontotheworshipofMecca:theyrobbedacaravanofpilgrims，andtwentythousanddevoutMoslemswereabandonedontheburningsandstoadeathofhungerandthirst。Anotheryeartheysufferedthepilgrimstoproceedwithoutinterruption；but，inthefestivalofdevotion，AbuTaherstormedtheholycity，andtrampledonthemostvenerablerelicsoftheMahometanfaith。Thirtythousandcitizensandstrangerswereputtothesword；thesacredprecinctswerepollutedbytheburialofthreethousanddeadbodies；thewellofZemzemoverflowedwithblood；thegoldenspoutwasforcedfromitsplace；theveiloftheCaabawasdividedamongtheseimpioussectaries；andtheblackstone，thefirstmonumentofthenation，wasborneawayintriumphtotheircapital。Afterthisdeedofsacrilegeandcruelty，theycontinuedtoinfesttheconfinesofIrak，Syria，andEgypt:butthevitalprincipleofenthusiasmhadwitheredattheroot。Theirscruples，ortheiravarice，againopenedthepilgrimageofMecca，andrestoredtheblackstoneoftheCaaba；anditisneedlesstoinquireintowhatfactionstheywerebroken，orbywhoseswordstheywerefinallyextirpated。ThesectoftheCarmathiansmaybeconsideredasthesecondvisiblecauseofthedeclineandfalloftheempireofthecaliphs。^101
[Footnote101:ForthesectoftheCarmathians，consultElmacin，Hist。Saracen，p。219，224，229，231，238，241，243，
Abulpharagius，Dynast。p。179—182，Abulfeda，Annal。Moslem。
p。218，219，&c。，245，265，274。andD\'Herbelot，BibliothequeOrientale，p。256—258，635。Ifindsomeinconsistenciesoftheologyandchronology，whichitwouldnotbeeasynorofmuchimportancetoreconcile。
Note:CompareVonHammer，GeschichtederAssassinen，p。44，&c。
—M。]
ChapterLII:MoreConquestsByTheArabs。
PartV。
Thethirdandmostobviouscausewastheweightandmagnitudeoftheempireitself。ThecaliphAlmamonmightproudlyassert，thatitwaseasierforhimtoruletheEastandtheWest，thantomanageachess—boardoftwofeetsquare:^102yetI
suspectthatinboththosegameshewasguiltyofmanyfatalmistakes；andIperceive，thatinthedistantprovincestheauthorityofthefirstandmostpowerfuloftheAbbassideswasalreadyimpaired。Theanalogyofdespotisminveststherepresentativewiththefullmajestyoftheprince；thedivisionandbalanceofpowersmightrelaxthehabitsofobedience，mightencouragethepassivesubjecttoinquireintotheoriginandadministrationofcivilgovernment。Hewhoisborninthepurpleisseldomworthytoreign；buttheelevationofaprivateman，ofapeasant，perhaps，oraslave，affordsastrongpresumptionofhiscourageandcapacity。Theviceroyofaremotekingdomaspirestosecurethepropertyandinheritanceofhisprecarioustrust；thenationsmustrejoiceinthepresenceoftheirsovereign；andthecommandofarmiesandtreasuresareatoncetheobjectandtheinstrumentofhisambition。Achangewasscarcelyvisibleaslongasthelieutenantsofthecaliphwerecontentwiththeirvicarioustitle；whiletheysolicitedforthemselvesortheirsonsarenewaloftheImperialgrant，andstillmaintainedonthecoinandinthepublicprayersthenameandprerogativeofthecommanderofthefaithful。Butinthelongandhereditaryexerciseofpower，theyassumedtheprideandattributesofroyalty；thealternativeofpeaceorwar，ofrewardorpunishment，dependedsolelyontheirwill；andtherevenuesoftheirgovernmentwerereservedforlocalservicesorprivatemagnificence。Insteadofaregularsupplyofmenandmoney，thesuccessorsoftheprophetwereflatteredwiththeostentatiousgiftofanelephant，oracastofhawks，asuitofsilkhangings，orsomepoundsofmuskandamber。^103
[Footnote102:Hyde，SyntagmaDissertat。tom。ii。p。57，inHist。
Shahiludii。]
[Footnote103:ThedynastiesoftheArabianempiremaybestudiedintheAnnalsofElmacin，Abulpharagius，andAbulfeda，undertheproperyears，inthedictionaryofD\'Herbelot，underthepropernames。ThetablesofM。deGuignesHist。desHuns，tom。i。
exhibitageneralchronologyoftheEast，interspersedwithsomehistoricalanecdotes；buthisattachmenttonationalbloodhassometimesconfoundedtheorderoftimeandplace。]
AftertherevoltofSpainfromthetemporalandspiritualsupremacyoftheAbbassides，thefirstsymptomsofdisobediencebrokeforthintheprovinceofAfrica。Ibrahim，thesonofAglab，thelieutenantofthevigilantandrigidHarun，bequeathedtothedynastyoftheAglabitestheinheritanceofhisnameandpower。Theindolenceorpolicyofthecaliphsdissembledtheinjuryandloss，andpursuedonlywithpoisonthefounderoftheEdrisites，^104whoerectedthekingdomandcityofFezontheshoresoftheWesternocean。^105IntheEast，thefirstdynastywasthatoftheTaherites；^106theposterityofthevaliantTaher，who，inthecivilwarsofthesonsofHarun，hadservedwithtoomuchzealandsuccessthecauseofAlmamon，theyoungerbrother。Hewassentintohonorableexile，tocommandonthebanksoftheOxus；andtheindependenceofhissuccessors，whoreignedinChorasantillthefourthgeneration，waspalliatedbytheirmodestandrespectfuldemeanor，thehappinessoftheirsubjectsandthesecurityoftheirfrontier。TheyweresupplantedbyoneofthoseadventuressofrequentintheannalsoftheEast，wholefthistradeofabrazierfromwhencethenameofSoffaridesfortheprofessionofarobber。InanocturnalvisittothetreasureoftheprinceofSistan，Jacob，thesonofLeith，stumbledoveralumpofsalt，whichheunwarilytastedwithhistongue。Salt，amongtheOrientals，isthesymbolofhospitality，andthepiousrobberimmediatelyretiredwithoutspoilordamage。ThediscoveryofthishonorablebehaviorrecommendedJacobtopardonandtrust；heledanarmyatfirstforhisbenefactor，atlastforhimself，subduedPersia，andthreatenedtheresidenceoftheAbbassides。OnhismarchtowardsBagdad，theconquerorwasarrestedbyafever。Hegaveaudienceinbedtotheambassadorofthecaliph；andbesidehimonatablewereexposedanakedcimeter，acrustofbrownbread，andabunchofonions。\"IfIdie，\"saidhe，\"yourmasterisdeliveredfromhisfears。IfIlive，thismustdeterminebetweenus。IfIamvanquished，Icanreturnwithoutreluctancetothehomelyfareofmyyouth。\"Fromtheheightwherehestood，thedescentwouldnothavebeensosoftorharmless:atimelydeathsecuredhisownreposeandthatofthecaliph，whopaidwiththemostlavishconcessionstheretreatofhisbrotherAmroutothepalacesofShirazandIspahan。TheAbbassidesweretoofeebletocontend，tooproudtoforgive:theyinvitedthepowerfuldynastyoftheSamanides，whopassedtheOxuswithtenthousandhorsesopoor，thattheirstirrupswereofwood:sobrave，thattheyvanquishedtheSoffarianarmy，eighttimesmorenumerousthantheirown。
ThecaptiveAmrouwassentinchains，agratefulofferingtothecourtofBagdad；andasthevictorwascontentwiththeinheritanceofTransoxianaandChorasan，therealmsofPersiareturnedforawhiletotheallegianceofthecaliphs。TheprovincesofSyriaandEgyptweretwicedismemberedbytheirTurkishslavesoftheraceofToulonandIlkshid。^107TheseBarbarians，inreligionandmannersthecountrymenofMahomet，emergedfromthebloodyfactionsofthepalacetoaprovincialcommandandanindependentthrone:theirnamesbecamefamousandformidableintheirtime；butthefoundersofthesetwopotentdynastiesconfessed，eitherinwordsoractions，thevanityofambition。Thefirstonhisdeath—bedimploredthemercyofGodtoasinner，ignorantofthelimitsofhisownpower:thesecond，inthemidstoffourhundredthousandsoldiersandeightthousandslaves，concealedfromeveryhumaneyethechamberwhereheattemptedtosleep。Theirsonswereeducatedinthevicesofkings；andbothEgyptandSyriawererecoveredandpossessedbytheAbbassidesduringanintervalofthirtyyears。Inthedeclineoftheirempire，Mesopotamia，withtheimportantcitiesofMosulandAleppo，wasoccupiedbytheArabianprincesofthetribeofHamadan。Thepoetsoftheircourtcouldrepeatwithoutablush，thatnaturehadformedtheircountenancesforbeauty，theirtonguesforeloquence，andtheirhandsforliberalityandvalor:butthegenuinetaleoftheelevationandreignoftheHamadanitesexhibitsasceneoftreachery，murder，andparricide。