or Cordova, a city of Andalusia in Spain, situated on the river Guadalquivir, in a very extensive plain. The circumference is large, but it is not peopled in proportion to its extent, for there are There are many superb structures, palaces, churches, and religious houses; particularly the cathedral, which is very magnificent: It was formerly a mosque when the Moors possessed the town; for which reason it still retains the name of Mozquita, which has the same meaning. The cathedral is very rich in plate; four of the silver candlesticks cost £500. a-piece. The revenue of the see amounts to £3500. per annum; but as the bishops cannot devise by will, all they die possessed of escheats to the crown. The square called the Plaza Mayor is surrounded with very fine houses, under which are piazzas. The trade is flourishing on account of the river; and consists of wine, silk, and Cordovan leather. In the neighbourhood of this place are a vast number of orange and lemon trees, which renders their fruits exceeding cheap. The best horses in Spain come from thence. The population is about 30,000.
Cordova became the centre of politeness, industry, and genius. Tills and tournaments, with other costly shows, were long the darling pastimes of a wealthy happy people; and this was the only kingdom in the west where geometry, astronomy, and physic, were regularly studied and practised. Music was no less honoured; for we find, that in 844 a famous musician called Ali Zerib came to settle at Cordova, and formed several pupils, who were supposed to equal the most celebrated performers that were ever known even in the East. That architecture was greatly encouraged, we need no other proof than the great and expensive fabrics undertaken and completed by many of these Spanish monarchs. Whatever faults may be justly condemned in their manner by the connoisseur, accustomed to the chaste noble graces of the Grecian proportions, certainly nobody can behold what remains of these Moorish edifices, without being strongly impressed with a high idea of the genius of the artists, as well as the grandeur of the prince who carried their plans into execution.
The sultans not only gave the most distinguished protection to arts and sciences, and to the persons learned in any of them, but were themselves eminently versed in various branches of knowledge. Alkabem II. collected so immense a quantity of manuscripts, that before the end of his reign the royal library contained no less than 600,000 volumes, of which the very catalogue filled 40 huge folios. The university of Cordova was founded by him, and under such favourable auspices rose to the highest pitch of celebrity.
Abdoulrahman was succeeded by his son Hissem, whose passion for glory and architecture was not in the least inferior to that of his father. He put the finishing hand to the mosque, which the plunder of the southern provinces of France enabled him to complete in the course of a few years. The bridge over the Guadalquivir was a work of Hissem's after his own plan.
Alkabem succeeded Hissem.
Abdoulrahman II. was also passionately fond of building. He was the first that brought the supplies of water to Cordova by means of leaden pipes laid upon aqueducts of stone. The quantity was so considerable, that every part of the palace, the mosques, baths, squares, and public edifices, had all of them their fountains constantly playing. A great many of these works still subsist. He paved the whole city, and erected several mosques.
After him reigned Mahomet Almoundar, Abdallah, and Abdoulrahman III. who surpassed all his predecessors in splendour, riches, and expense. His subjects vied with each other in profusion and magnificence. This monarch was succeeded by his son Alkabem II., who left a minor to succeed him, and the kingdom to be governed by the famous visir Mahomet Abenamir, named... named Almanzor, or "the defender," from his great victories and wise conduct. His descendants inherited from him the visirship, and a power as absolute as if they had been caliphs, until the weakness of the sovereigns encouraged, and the insolence of the ministers provoked, the grandees to disturb the state with their jealousies and dissensions. These broils occasioned such a series of civil war and anarchy, as overthrew the throne of Cordova, and destroyed the whole race of Abdoulrahman. Thus the glorious edifice, founded by the valour and prudence of that conqueror, and cemented by similar virtues in many of his successors, sunk into nothing as soon as the sceptre devolved upon weak enervated princes, whose indolence and incapacity transferred the management of every thing to a visir. Many petty kingdoms sprung up out of the ruins of this mighty empire; and the Christians soon found opportunities of destroying, by separate attacks, that tremendous power, which when united had proved an overmatch for their utmost force.
New Cordoua, a considerable town of South America, in the province of Tucuman, with a bishop's see, 175 miles from St Jago. W. Long. 62. 5. S. Lat. 32. 1C.