Thus for several years the country was torn by internal strife and
desolated by foreign inroads, so that scarce a field but was stained
with blood. Aben Osmyn was brave, and often signalized himself in
arms; but he was cruel and despotic, and ruled with an iron hand. He
offended the nobles by his caprices, and the populace by his
tyranny, while his rival cousin conciliated all hearts by his
benignity. Hence there were continual desertions from Granada to the
fortified camp at Montefrio, and the party of Aben Ismael was
constantly gaining strength. At length the king of Castile, having
made peace with the kings of Aragon and Navarre, was enabled to send a
choice body of troops to the assistance of Aben Ismael. The latter now
left his trenches in Montefrio, and took the field. The combined
forces marched upon Granada. Aben Osmyn sallied forth to the
encounter. A bloody battle ensued, in which both of the rival
cousins fought with heroic valor. Aben Osmyn was defeated and driven
back to his gates. He summoned the inhabitants to arms, but few
answered to his call; his cruelty had alienated all hearts. Seeing his
fortunes at an end, he determined to close his career by a signal
act of vengeance. Shutting himself up in the Alhambra, he summoned
thither a number of the principal cavaliers whom he suspected of
disloyalty. As they entered, they were one by one put to death. This
is supposed by some to be the massacre which gave its fatal name to
the Hall of the Abencerrages.
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