Yūsuf. He appointed his son Abū al-Muṭarrif to govern in his stead—a youth who, like his father, was reckoned among the celebrated champions. Muḥammad then travelled to Marrakesh, where he was arrested and compelled to write to his sons, ordering them to evacuate their territories for the Almoravids. Out of obedience to their father they complied, withdrew, and migrated to western al-Andalus.

Ibn Rudhmir rejoiced at the news, marched against Zaragoza, and set up against it two enormous wooden siege-towers. When the inhabitants despaired of relief, they sallied forth, burned the two towers, and fought with the utmost ferocity. They also wrote to Ibn Tashfīn imploring his help. Ibn Tiflūt died that same year, 511 AH, and Ibn Tashfīn sent them his brother Tamīm ibn Yūsuf. Tamīm arrived with a large army, but Ibn Rudhmir harried his forces. The people of Zaragoza were delighted at Tamīm’s coming, yet he proved a bane, not a boon: he approached the city, then veered away. A contingent of its cavalry and infantry had gone out to greet him; he charged them, killed many, then avoided further engagement and withdrew toward the district of al-Murāla. The city’s ordeal intensified until its people surrendered on terms of safe-conduct, stipulating that anyone who wished might remain there.

Ibn Rudhmir was known for keeping his word. A trustworthy informant told me that a certain man had a daughter of outstanding beauty. She disappeared, and he was told that a great Christian noble had carried her off to Zaragoza. Her parents and relatives pursued him and complained to Ibn Rudhmir, who had the man summoned and said, “Bring me fire! How dare you act thus toward someone under my protection?”

The Christian answered, “Do not be hasty with me; she has fled to our faith.” The girl was brought in, denied her parents, and apostatized.

When Ibn Rudhmir entered Zaragoza he allowed the Muslims to continue performing the prayer in their congregational mosque for seven years, after which he would act as he saw fit. Two years after taking Zaragoza he laid siege to Qutanda (1).

Toward the end of the year 514 AH, ʿAbd Allah ibn Ḥayyūna advanced against him with an army that included the judge of Almería, Abū ʿAbd Allah ibn al-Farrāʾ, and Abū ʿAlī ibn Sukkara. The accursed one rode out against them, killed many people, and took others captive,