The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-05

Ver IOr ltS uepleteu treasury. Ino
CarthageDians had able leaders in
Hamilcar and his three sons. By the
year 22S, B. c., fourishing empire
was built up on the south and east
coasts. The Romans watched this
movement with discomfort. AS
consequence, at,the close of the second
Punic war, about 218, B. c., Roman
army entered Spain. By the year
2O5, B. c., Spain was fairly conquered
and Hasdrubal, son-in-l law of Hamil-
car, was compelled to declare that
the river Ebro should be the limit of
his empire. Hasdrubal was murdered
201, B. c., and Hannibal, son of Ham
ilcar, then only twenty-eight years
old, was chosen leader. Time will not
permit me to tell of the prowess and
intrepidity of this renowned milit ary
leader There is story, perfectly
authentic, which recounts in Hanni-
balls own words, the reason for his
hatred of the Romans. He says he
was nine years old when his father
went as general to Spain. Before
setting out on his expedition, Hamil-
car went to offer sacrifices at the altar
of Jupiter. Hannibal, standing by
and watching the sacrifice, expressed
wish to go with bis father. HamiI.
car replied II will take you if you
will make the promise l demand" :"
He took his son to the altar, made
him lay his hand upon it and swear
that he would never be at friendship
with Rome. Hannibal kept his word
For nearly forty years he was.the ter
ror of Rome, and died finally, worn
out with toll and exposure and
chagrin, by his own hand.
The Roman Occupation.
During the four hundred years of
Roman occupation, agriculture, trade
and industry fourished throughout
all Spain. Italy needed all the grain
which Spain could furnish, so that
the demand gave ample market to
her farmers. For these four centur-
les Spain disappears from military
records. AS one of her ancient
writer's said, "All Spain fell into eter-
nal peace"
This peace was rudely disturbed by
the inroads of the Goths and Vandals
in the fifth century of the Christian
era. In this invasion, in one sense, the
Goths conquered Spain, in another
Spain conquered the Cloths. Those
who were conquered in arms, con-
quered their conquerors in the noble
empire of art and learning. On the one
hand the Goths, by manly intrepidity,
took forcible possession of Spain; on
the other hand, the arts. accomplish
ments and .civilities of southern Spain
took possession of the Goths. From
that time on the descendants of these
northern tribes have dwelt in France
and Spain.
The Saracenic Invasion.
Next came the invasion of the Sara
Gems. By the end of the seventh CEN
tury they had over run northern
Africa and had converted the native
Berber tribes to Mohammedanism.
Early in the eighth century Tarik, at
the head of 13, 900 men, entered Spain.
Roderick, known in legend and song
as the last of the Cloths, raised an
army and went out to meet the inva-
der. The contending armies met and
fought somewhere on the bank of the
river Guadelette.
The battle lasted a whole week
and prodigies of valor are recorded on
both sides. Tarik literally burned
the ships in which his army had come
from Africa and warned his men that
if they gave way they must be driven
into the sea. A part of Roderick's
army were kinsmen of Witiza, who
had been deposed by him. These
soldiers deserted in the thick of the
fight. This turned the tide and
Roderick was defeated.
An old Spanish ballad says:
''The hosts of Don Roderick were scat
tered in dismay,
When lost was the eighth battle; nor
heart, nor hope had they;
He, when he saw that field was lost and
all his hope was flown,
He turned him from his flying host and
took his way alone"
The fate of Rod erick, the last of
the Gothic kings of Spain, remains
a mystery to this day. His horse
and sandals were found on the
bank of the river the day after
the battle, but his body was not
with them. The Goths clothed the
memory of their king with mystery, as
the English their King Arthur, and
believed he would some day come
again from some island in the ocean,
healed of his wounds and ready to
c,;va boffIa 70 tho infidel Al fba and