E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Rod’erick,
the thirty-fourth and last of the Visigothic kings, was the son of Theod’ofred, and grandson of King Chindasuin’tho. Witi’za, the usurper, put out the eyes of Theod’ofred and murdered Favil’a, a younger brother of Roderick; but Roderick, having recovered his father’s throne, put out the eyes of the usurper. The sons of Witi’za, joining with Count Julian, invited the aid of Muza ibn Nozeir, the Arab chief, who sent Tarik into Spain with a large army. Roderick was routed at the battle of Guadale’te, near Xeres de la Fronte’ra (July 17th, 711). Southey has taken this story for an epic poem in twenty-five books—blank verse. (See RODRIGO.)
