He was of the noble house of
Luque, but captured when a child, eight years of age, by Cid Yahia
Alnayar, prince of Almeria, who adopted him as his son, educated him
in the Moslem faith, and brought him up among his children, the
Cetimerian princes, a proud family, descended in direct line from Aben
Hud, one of the early Granadian kings. A mutual attachment sprang up
between Don Pedro and the princess Cetimerien, a daughter of Cid
Yahia, famous for her beauty, and whose name is perpetuated by the
ruins of her palace in Granada; still bearing traces of Moorish
elegance and luxury. In process of time they were married; and thus
a scion of the Spanish house of Luque became engrafted on the royal
stock of Aben Hud.
Such is the early story of Don Pedro Venegas, who at the time of
which we treat was a man mature in years, and of an active,
ambitious spirit. He appears to have been the soul of a conspiracy set
on foot about this time, to topple Muhamed the Left-handed from his
unsteady throne, and elevate in his place Yusef Aben Alhamar, the
eldest of the Cetimerian princes. The aid of the king of Castile was
to be secured, and Don Pedro proceeded on a secret embassy to
Cordova for the purpose. He informed King Juan of the extent of the
conspiracy; that Yusef Aben Alhamar could bring a large force to his
standard as soon as he should appear in the Vega, and would
acknowledge himself his vassal, if with his aid he should attain the
crown.
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