It must be admitted that these instances savour too much of the romantic ballad style, but anecdotes of generosity do not gather round any but persons who are noted for that virtue, and though the instances should be false in letter, yet in spirit they may be eminently true.  However this may be as respects Almanzor’s generosity, of his justice we have unimpeachable evidence.  The monk who wrote the “Chronicle of Silo,” says that the success of his raids on the Christian territories was due to the large pay he offered his soldiers, and also to his extreme justice, “which virtue,” says the chronicler, “as I learned from my father’s lips, Almanzor held dearer, if I may so say, than any Christian."[5]

    [1] Koran, v. 35.

    [2] Yonge, p. 110.

    [3] Ibid., p. 80.

    [4] Johannes Vasaeus, 969.

    [5] “Chron.  Sil.,” sec. 70.

In connection with chivalry there is one institution which the Christian Spaniards seem to have borrowed from the Moors—­those military orders, namely, which were so numerous in Spain.  “The Rabitos, or Moslemah knights,” says Conde,[1] “in charge of the frontier, professed extraordinary austerity of life, and devoted themselves voluntarily to the continual exercise of arms.  They were all men of high distinction; and bound themselves by a vow to defend the frontier.  They were forbidden by their rules to fly from the enemy, it being their duty to fight and die on the spot they held.”

In any case, whether the Christian military orders were derived from the Moorish, or the reverse, one thing is certain, that it was the Moors who inoculated the Christians with a belief in Holy Wars, as an essential part of their religion.[2] In this respect Christianity became Mohammedanized first in Spain.  Chivalry became identified with war against the infidel, and found its apotheosis[3] in St. James of Compostella, who—­a poor fisherman of Galilee—­was supposed to have fought in person against the Moors at Clavijo.[4] In the ballad we hear of Christian knights coming to engage in fight from exactly that same belief in the efficacy and divine institution of holy wars, as animated the Arab champions.  The clergy, and even the bishops, took up arms and fought against the enemies of their faith.  Two bishops, those of Leon and Astorga,[5] were taken prisoners at the battle of Val de Junqueras (921).[6] Sisenandus of Compostella was killed in battle against the Northmen (979); and the “Chronicle of the Cid” makes repeated mention of a right valiant prelate named Hieronymus.[7]

[1] Conde, ii. p. 119, note—­“It seems highly probable that from these arose the military orders of Spain in the East.”  Cp.  Prescott, “Ferd. and Isab.,” p. 122.  The military orders of Spain were mostly instituted by papal bulls in the last half of the 12th century.

    [2] Islam made Christianity military, Milman, “Lat.  Chr.,” ii.
    pp. 220-2.  Lecky, “Hist.  Eur.  Moral,” p. 262, ff.