43. CHAPTER XLIII.
Expedition of Boabdil el Chico against Salobreña.—
Exploit of Hernando Perez del Pulgar.
King Boabdil found that his diminished territory
was too closely dominated by christian fortresses like
Alcala la Real, and too strictly watched by vigilant
alcaydes like the count of Tendilla, to be able to
maintain itself by internal resources. His foraging
expeditions were liable to be intercepted and defeated,
while the ravage of the vega had swept off every
thing on which the city depended for future sustenance.
He felt the want of a sea-port, through
which, as formerly, he might keep open a communication
with Africa, and obtain reinforcements and
supplies from beyond the sea. All the ports and
harbors were in the hands of the christians, and
Granada and its remnant of dependent territory were
completely landlocked.
In this emergency, the attention of Boabdil was
called by circumstances to the sea-port of Salobreña.
This redoubtable town has already been mentioned
in this chronicle, as a place deemed impregnable by
the Moors; insomuch that their kings were accustomed,
in time of peril, to keep their treasures in
its citadel. It was situated on a high rocky hill, dividing
one of those rich little vegas or plains which
lie open to the Mediterranean, but run like deep
green bays into the stern bosoms of the mountains.
The vega was covered with beautiful vegetation,
with rice and cotton, with groves of oranges, citrons,
figs and mulberries, and with gardens inclosed by
hedges of reeds, of aloes and the Indian fig. Running
streams of cool water from the springs and
snows of the Sierra Nevada, kept this delightful
valley continually fresh and verdant; while it was
almost locked up by mountain barriers, and lofty
promontories that stretched far into the sea.
Through the centre of this rich vega, the rock of
Salobreña reared its rugged back, nearly dividing the
plain, and advancing to the margin of the sea, with
just a strip of sandy beach at its foot, laved by the
blue waves of the Mediterranean.
The town covered the ridge and sides of the rocky
hill, and was fortified by strong walls and towers;
while on the highest and most precipitous part stood
the citadel, a huge castle that seemed to form a part
of the living rock; the massive ruins of which, at the
present day, attract the gaze of the traveller, as he
winds his way far below, along the read which passes
through the vega.
This important fortress had been intrusted to the
command of Don Francisco Ramirez de Madrid,
captain-general of the artillery, and the most scientific
of all the Spanish leaders. That experienced
veteran, however, was with the king at Cordova,
having left a valiant cavalier as alcayde of the place.
Boabdil el Chico had full information of the state
of the garrison and the absence of its commander.
Putting himself at the head of a powerful force,
therefore, he departed from Granada, and made a
rapid march through the mountains; hoping, by this
sudden move, to seize upon Salobreña before king
Ferdinand could come to its assistance.
The inhabitants of Salobreña were Mudexares, or
Moors who had sworn allegiance to the christians.
Still, when they heard the sound of the Moorish
drums and trumpets, and beheld the squadrons of
their countrymen advancing across the vega, their
hearts yearned towards the standard of their nation
and their faith. A tumult arose in the place; the
populace shouted the name of Boabdil el Chico,
and, throwing open the gates, admitted him within
the walls.
The christian garrison was too few in number, to
contend for the possession of the town: they retreated
to the citadel, and shut themselves within its massive
walls, which were considered impregnable. Here
they maintained a desperate defence, hoping to hold
out until succor should arrive from the neighboring
fortresses.
The tidings that Salobreña was invested by the
Moorish king, spread along the sea-coast, and filled
the christians with alarm. Don Francisco Enriquez,
uncle of the king, commanded the city of Velez
Malaga, about twelve leagues distant, but separated
by ranges of those vast rocky mountains which are
piled along the Mediterranean, and tower in steep
promontories and precipices above its waves.
Don Francisco summoned the alcaydes of his district
to hasten with him to the relief of this important
fortress. A number of cavaliers and their
retainers answered to his call, among whom was
Fernando Perez del Pulgar, surnamed “El de las
Hazanas,” (he of the exploits,)—the same who had
signalized himself in a foray, by elevating a handkerchief
on a lance for a banner, and leading on his
disheartened comrades to victory. As soon as Don
Francisco beheld a little band collected round him,
he set out with all speed for Salobreña. The march
was rugged and severe, climbing and descending immense
mountains, and sometimes winding along the
edge of giddy precipices, with the surges of the sea
raging far below. When Don Francisco arrived with
his followers at the lofty promontory that stretches
along one side of the little vega of Salobreña, he
looked down with sorrow and anxiety upon a Moorish
army of great force encamped at the foot of the
fortress, while Moorish banners, on various parts of
the walls, showed that the town was already in possession
of the infidels. A solitary christian standard
alone floated on the top of the castle-keep, showing
that the brave garrison were hemmed up in their
rock-built citadel.
Don Francisco found it impossible, with his small
force, to make any impression on the camp of the
Moors, or to get to the relief of the castle. He stationed
his little band upon a rocky height near the
sea, where they were safe from the assaults of the
enemy. The sight of his friendly banner waving in
their neighborhood cheered the heart of the garrison,
and conveyed to them assurance of speedy succor
from the king.
In the mean time, Fernando Perez del Pulgar,
who always burned to distinguish himself by bold
and striking exploits, in the course of a prowling
expedition along the borders of the Moorish camp,
remarked a postern-gate of the castle, opening upon
the steep part of the rocky hill which looked towards
the mountains.
A sudden thought flashed upon the daring mind of
Pulgar:—“Who will follow my banner,” said he,
“and make a dash for yonder postern?” A bold
proposition, in time of warfare, never wants for bold
spirits to accept it. Seventy resolute men immediately
stepped forward. Pulgar put himself at their
head; they cut their way suddenly through a weak
part of the camp, fought their way up to the gate,
which was eagerly thrown open to receive them;
and succeeded in making their way into the fortress,
before the alarm of their attempt had spread through
the Moorish army.
The garrison was roused to new spirit by this unlooked-for
reinforcement, and were enabled to make
a more vigorous resistance. The Moors had intelligence,
however, that there was a great scarcity of
water in the castle; and they exulted in the idea that
this additional number of warriors would soon exhaust
the cisterns, and compel them to surrender.
When Pulgar heard of this hope entertained by the
enemy, he caused a bucket of water to be lowered
from the battlements, and threw a silver cup in
bravado to the Moors.
The situation of the garrison, however, was daily
growing more and more critical; they suffered greatly
from thirst, while, to tantalize them in their sufferings,
they beheld limpid streams winding in abundance
through the green plain below them. They
began to fear that all succor would arrive too late,
when one day they beheld a little squadron of vessels
far at sea, but standing towards the shore.
There was some doubt at first whether it might not
be a hostile armament from Africa; but as it approached,
they descried, to their great joy, the banner
of Castile.
It was a reinforcement, brought in all haste by the
governor of the fortress, Don Francisco Ramirez.
The squadron anchored at a steep rocky island,
which rises from the very margin of the smooth
sandy beach, directly in front of the rock of Salobreña,
and stretches out into the sea. On this island
Ramirez landed his men, and was as strongly posted
as if in a fortress. His force was too scanty to attempt
a battle, but he assisted to harass and distract
the besiegers. Whenever king Boabdil made an attack
upon the fortress, his camp was assailed on one
side by the troops of Ramirez, who landed from
their island, and on another by those of Don Francisco
Enriquez, who swept down from their rock;
while Fernando del Pulgar kept up a fierce defence,
from every tower and battlement of the castle.
The attention of the Moorish king was diverted,
also, for a time, by an ineffectual attempt to relieve
the little port of Adra, which had recently declared
in his favor, but which had been recaptured for the
christians by Cidi Yahye and his son Alnayar. Thus
the unlucky Boabdil, bewildered on every hand, lost
all the advantage that he had gained by his rapid
march from Granada. While he was yet besieging
the obstinate citadel, tidings were brought him that
king Ferdinand was in full march, with a powerful
host, to its assistance. There was no time for farther
delay: he made a furious attack with all his forces
upon the castle, but was again repulsed by Pulgar
and his coadjutors; when, abandoning the siege in
despair, he retreated with his army, lest king Ferdinand
should get between him and his capital. On
his way back to Granada, however, he in some sort
consoled himself for his late disappointment, by
overrunning a part of the territories and possessions
lately assigned to his uncle El Zagal, and to Cidi
Yahye. He defeated their alcaydes, destroyed several
of their fortresses, burnt their villages, and, leaving
the country behind him reeking and smoking with
his vengeance, returned with considerable booty, to
repose himself within the walls of the Alhambra.
