Chapter 7

Khalifate saved by Abdurrahman III.--Commander of the Faithful--His character--Embassy to the Emperor of the West--Return embassy--John of Gorz--Detained in Cordova--Messengers from the king--Cause of detention--John of Gorz and John of Cordova--The king's threats--Dead-lock--Fresh embassy to Otho--A second embassy from Otho--First embassy received--Condescension of Sultan--Tolerance of Moslems--Mohammed's injunctions--Tolerant Mohammedan rulers elsewhere--Alcuin--Arnold of Citeaux--Bernard, Archbishop of Toledo--Christians tolerated, even encouraged--"Officer of protection"--Christian courts--Censors--Sclavonian bodyguard--Arab pride of race--Partial Amalgamation of races--Alliances between Arabs and Christians--Intermarriages--Offspring of these--The maiden tribute--Evidence in its favour--No myth--Conversions--Mohammedan view of apostasy 86-98