Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
About s72 Wanda came upon the scene Of
action as a ruler.

About 672 Wanda came upon the scene OF
action as a ruler.
King wamba's Queer Dethronement.
Wamba's name Is one of the most Illus
trious in all the history of Spain He
had filled many of the offices of the coun-
try. and. tired Of public life. had retired
to his home to end his days in peace. He
was besought to permit his name to be
put up for election as king, and finding
that they did not object to his advanced
age. he accepted. and was elected. The
prosperity of Spain advanced. education
and in every way Wanna indicated the
| fitness Of his selection. being an i%nvinci-
BILE warrior as well. But he was not proof
against these queer people. From the
fifth century the custom had prevailed
that when a man was sure that death
was approaching he caused himself to
assume the attire of a monk. and then re-
| tire to a monastery to meet death in a
| proper frame of mind. II he was too far
gone to take the .monastic vow, his head
was shaver by his friends for him.. who
also put his monastic robes upon him,
and huddled him off to the first monas-
terry at hand, Very naturally neither the
less they felt that death was imminent.
| Wanda was the victim of his friends. One
health and the exercise of all his kingly
powers, he had a prolonged fainting fit.
which looked like death. His friends hast
ened to shave his head and invest him with
prieStly honors, and when he came to his
| senses he was the inmate of a monastery
fast enough. with irrevocable vows reg
he was In perfect health. but there was
no escape from his holy vows. taken by
proxy. as that would imperil his soul. and
the whole Christian world would have
| risen up In pious wrath and pronounced
| him a apostate. So lie ended his days
there.
Two or three fair kings followed. and
| some very bad ones. but they died in bed.
Finally one Witiza was crowned; 1t is
the most Mcentious and debauched king
that ever sat upon a throne. Vices con-
stituted a passport to his favor. He muir
most horrible manner. Finally the son
of one of his victims dethroned Witiza.
tore out his eyes. put him in a dungeon.
| cessor was Roderigo. who had wars with
out end. When the Saracens invaded his
domain, he was killed in battle by lark.
This ended the rule of the Gothic kings.
who numbered thirty-two in all. Eight
of them were usurpers. eight were muir.
several were killed In battle.
Moorish and Christian Rulers.
For forty years after the conquest OF
the Moors, Spain was misgoverned by
twenty Inherent 'emirs." nr semi-kings
some of whom died with their boots on.
and many Of whom were deposed. Retro
erosion was the result. though Spain was
already very low in the scale of nations.
About 100 the Christians got possession OF
Spain. At least, they were called Chris
tians in that day.
One Of these Christian kings. Favila,
was killed while hunting: Froila was muir
dered by his brother. Samaran. and he in
turn was murdered by his brother and sue
cessor. because he had committed murder
The Christian king, Ramiro IL, put 7U,O0t
Saracens to the sword in one battle. Al.
fonso Ill, gave his crown to his son, when