409 AD, hordes of barbarians crossed the Pyrenees and swept over
the Peninsula. Suevi, Alani and Vandals ravaged with equal fury
the cities and the open country, and brought the inhabitants to
the lowest depths of misery. They were finally subjugated by a
Visigothic host, and in 415, Walia, a war-like and ambitious
chief, established the West-Gothic kingdom in Spain, on the ruins
of the old Roman province. Walia concluded a treaty with the
Emperor Honorius, and, putting himself at the head of the brave
Goths, in a three-years' war he destroyed or drove the barbarians
from the land. Spain, thus reconquered, was nominally subject to
Rome, but soon became really independent, and began to be the seat
of a Christian civilization. This West-Gothic kingdom lasted for
about three centuries, from 418 to 711, when it fell before the
Moorish invasion.

WEAKNESS OF SPANISH POWERS OF RESISTANCE.

Few things in history are more remarkable than the ease with which
Spain, a country naturally fitted for defense, was subdued by a
mere handful of invaders. The misgovernment of the Visigoths, the
internal factions and jealousies, and the discontent of numerous
classes, notably the Jews, co-operated to facilitate the conquest
and to weaken the power of resistance. These conquerors were of
the Mohammedan faith, but while they were united by religion, they
were of different races. Besides the Moors there were the Arabs,
the Egyptians and the Syrians, and when the task of conquest was
achieved, and the need for unity removed, quarrels arose between
them. So difficult was it to prevent these quarrels, that it was
found necessary to subdivide the conquered territory, and to allot
separate settlements to the different tribes.