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41 u chapt e r i i u Of the Kingdom of Spain.§1. Spain was in ancient Times divided into a great many States, independent of one another, which was at that time the condition of most other Countries of Europe. But, by reason of this Division, this otherwise War-like Nation was very instrumental to its being conquer’d by foreign Enemies. To this may be added, That the Spaniards did want good and understanding Generals, under whose Conduct they might easily have resisted the Power of their Enemies. For not to mention how the Celts pass’d out of Gaul into the next adjacent parts of Spain, who being mixt with the Iberians, were from thenceforward call’d Celtiberians; neither how the Rhodians built Roses, the Citizens of Zante Saguntum, the Phoenicians Cadiz, Malaga and other Cities, the Carthaginians, above the rest, immediately after the first Punick War with the Romans, began to conquer a great part of Spain. Wherefore in the second Punick War the Romans did at first send their Forces into Spain, where they fought so long with the Carthaginians, till at last, Scipio, afterwards sir-nam’d the African, made a great part of it a Roman Province; the other parts were subdu’d by degrees, till Augustus at last entirely subduing the Cantabrians , who live next to the Pyrenean Mountains, joined all Spain to the Roman Empire, under whose Protection it was peaceably govern’d for a considerable time, except that the Spaniards now and then were drawn in to take a part in the Civil Wars among the Romans. 1. The term is used by Diodorus Siculus, Appian, and Martial. The Celtiberi sided with Hannibal during the Second Punic War and were subdued by the Romans thereafter. 2. All of these are cities on the southeastern shore of Spain. The ancient State of Spain. 42 chapter ii§2. But the Western parts of the Roman Empire declining, the Vandals , Suevians, Alani and Silingi made an inrode into Spain, and after many bloody Battels fought, divided it betwixt them; which Conquests nevertheless they did not enjoy long; for the Vandals passing over into Africa, the Alani were quite routed by the Suevians, who having also subdu’d the Silingi, were in a fair way of becoming Masters of all Spain, if they had not been prevented by the West Goths; who, after they had under the Conduct of their King Alarick, ransack’d Italy and Rome it self, settled themselves {under King Araulff} upon the Borders lying betwixt Spain and France, making Narbonne the Seat of their Kings, who at first had under their Jurisdiction Catalonia and Languedock, but soon after extended their Power over other Provinces of Spain. Among these was particularly renown’d their King Euric, who took from the Romans all what was left them in Spain, except Gallicia, which remained under the Power of the Suevians: He also conquer’d several Provinces in France. But Clodoveus, King of the Francks, having defeated the Son of Euric, retook from the Goths, what they had conquer’d before in France, under the Reign of Agila and Athanagildas \A. 554\; the Romans, who had before rescu’d Africa from the hands of the Vandals, retook a part of Spain, but were chac’d from thence, for the most part, under the Reign of Levigildis \A. 572\, who also did quite root out the Suevians in Gallicia \A. 586\. Under the Reign of his Son Recaredus, the Empire of the Goths was arriv’d to its highest pitch of greatness, as comprehending not only some neighbouring Provinces of France, and a part of Mauritania, but also all Spain, except a small part possess’d as yet by the Romans; from whence they were quite chased afterwards by King Suinthila. King Wamba subdu’d the Gothick Rebels in France \A. 646\ with great success , and beat the Fleet of the Saracens \A. 677\, who much infested those Seas; but under Witiza the Gothick Empire began to decline from their ancient Valour, the Goths being much degenerated, till under the Reign of Roderic it was quite extinguish’d. The King himself contributed greatly to its sudden downfall; for 3. Liuvigild (ca. 525–86 a.d.) was a Visigoth king; the Suevians, or Suebians (cf. Schwaben), were a Germanic tribe. See p. 332, note 7, below. West Goths Conquer Spain. The Ruine of the Gothick Empire in Spain. [18.118.184.237] Project MUSE (2024...

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