The Gothic nobles, proud of their independence, and
of their right of electing their sovereigns, were alarmed by
this advance towards the hereditary transmission of the
throne, and rose in revolt. An army was speedily gath-
ered on the north side of the Pyrenees. They crossed the
mountains, but soon meeting the king's troops, they were
dispersed, and almost annihilated. Thus the opposition to
the royal authority was crushed. Eeceswind proved a
worthy prince, and seems to have been a man of piety.
The temptation was very great for the sovereign to avail
himself of his position in acquiring vast wealth to transmit
to his children. The clergy issued a decree, which the king
sanctioned, that thenceforth all the wealth acquired by the
king after his accession to the throne should be transmitted,
not to his children, but to the crown. Eeceswind died at
an advanced age, in the year 672, and was succeeded by
Wamba.
The new sovereign was chosen by the electors. The
name of Wamba is one of the most illustrious in the annals
of the ancient kings of Spain. He was truly a noble in
character as in blood. He had already filled many of the
most important posts in the State, and, weary of active life,
had sought retirement. When informed of his election,
he earnestly begged to be excused from accepting the prof-
fered dignity, alleging his advanced age and consequent inca-
pacity for the labors which the responsible post required.
The importunity, however, was such that he was virtually
compelled to accept the crown. Wamba had hardly taken
his seat upon the throne in Toledo ere the Goths, on the oth-
er side of the Pyrenees, rose in rebellion, and chose Flavius

8*



58 ROMANCE OF SPANISH HISTORY.
