CHAPTER VIII

THE HISTORY OF SPAIN

Who would guess today, from reading Spanish history, that Spain was, in Old Testament times, one of the most important countries in the world? That famous Biblical characters as Togarmah and Seir the Horite and Tarshish made their appearance in this fabulous land?

Today the early history of Spain is virtually unknown. Scholars treat it in much the same fashion as the history of every other nation in Europe. Her past -- before Roman rule -- is made to appear a chronological blank. What little is written before that time mainly emphasizes broken pottery and similar artifacts.

The real history is vitally interesting. It holds the key to the settlement of the Peruvian Indian in Latin America. Spain was also the link between Palestine and Ireland. Whoever controlled Spain was in a position to dominate the Western Mediterranean.

ONLY RECENTLY SUPPRESSED

Until very recent times Spanish writers took pride in presenting their national history. They were not ashamed of it. Today, in the face of 'higher criticism,' Spanish scholars have suppressed the truth of her beginnings. What once was recognized to be fact is now relegated to the limbo of myth for no other reason than early Spanish history reads very much like the Bible!

Early Spanish history does not begin in Spain. It begins far to the east -- in the lands bordering the ancient Assyrian Empire.

Similarly, the history of the Hebrews of the Bible does not begin with Palestine, but with the land of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia. In its earliest period the history of the Iberian Peninsula is not primarily the story of the Spanish people at all. It is the history of other people who migrated through that land, or temporarily dominated it.

Few books in English preserve the history we are now entering upon. The two works most readily available in libraries are Anderson's 'Royal Genealogies' and the 20 volume 'Universal History', published in 1748. The Spanish material is contained in volume xviii.

Our story opens in Asia Minor, in the region of the city of Tarsus. Paul the apostle was born here. Tarsus was a port first settled by the children of Tarshish. From Tarsus in Cilicia they gradually migrated into Spain, where they founded the city of Tartessus. The earliest homeland of the children of Tarshish in Asia Minor was originally ruled over by Tubal, son of Japheth. Spanish history begins with his government at Babel.

The land about Tarsus in Asia Minor long bore the name of Tubal.

The Assyrians, in their cuneiform documents, referred to it as Tabal.

It extended from the area of what is eastern Turkey today into the Caucasus to the Russian plains.

The most valuable area in the ancient land of Tabal was the excellent farming and trading region of Iberia in the Caucasus -- the modern Georgia. From this vast area, the descendants of Tubal migrated into the Russian steppes. But their subjects, the children of Tarshish, migrated westward toward Spain. Early Spanish history is in a sense the story of the Spanish people, but the record of their foreign rulers.

The following outline summarizes the important events preserved of the early history of the Spanish people beginning from the Tower of Babel.

EARLIEST KINGS OVER THE SPANISH

Name of Rulers	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Tubal Grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:2). Came to power at Babel. Ruled over territory in eastern Asia Minor (Turkey) where Tarshish, the father of the Spaniards, originally settled.	156	2254-2098
Iberus, a son of Tubal He gave his name to the entire peninsula, which is still known as the Iberian Peninsula. Later his descendants migrated from Spain to Iberia in the Caucasus.	37	2098-2061
Eubalda (or Idubeda) Son of Iberus, last of the line of Tubal to rule over the children of Tarshish.	64	2061-1997
Brigus Son of Mash, the son of Aram (Gen. 10:23). Previously settled a colony in Eastern Europe under Asshur; now leads a colony to Spain by sea. An Aramaic large nosed element may be seen in the Spanish population to this day. The ancient city of Damascus, Syria, was named after his father Mash. Brigus (Brigo) organized his people into pastoral units (whence our 'brigades'), which multiplied so rapidly that colonies were forced to leave Spain in search of new homes. Some of his children from Europe early carried his name into Phrygia (Asia Minor). There the family became associated with Meshech, brother of Tubal. Brigo's father, Mash, became known by the name Meshech (I Chr. 1:17). Brigo's family in Spain soon became associated with the children of Togarmah, who next entered Spain.	52	1997-1945
Tagus Ormah The Togarmah, son of Gomer, of the Bible (Gen. 10:2). Late Latin writers split his name into two syllables, and added Latin '-us' ending. Togarmah invaded Italy one year after his domination of Spain. Both were yet sparcely populated lands and afforded new, hospitable areas. During his reign he sent many bands to seek habitations elsewhere, ultimately passing eastward into the far northern reaches of Asia (Ezekiel 38:6). The Tagus River of Southern Spain was named for him.	30	1945-1915
Bet(us), or Boetus, (or 31) (1915-1884) son of Togarmah; Bet(us) gave his name to the Bet(us) river (now called Guadalquivir). In his day the children of Tarshish, known as Turditanians, in Spanish histories, settled the southwestern part of Spain. Boetus encouraged the development of learning. The children of Betus were soon forced to migrate out of Europe, with the rest of the family of Togarmah, and at length settled in Tibet -- which means the plateau of Bet! The family of Togarmah was superseded by an invasion from the south.	32	1915-1883

INVASION FROM AFRICA

Having become again a civilized land and wealthy due to changes in climate and the presence of many gold mines, Spain aroused the cupidity of Egyptian and other North African nations. Gerion or Deabus, a Lybian, with many men and ships invaded and conquered Spain and forced the Spaniards to dig gold for their African overlords. African cultural elements were introduced. Many Spanish slaves died from overwork under this tyranny. The history of this period is as follows:

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Gerion, the giant Gerion was the seventh generation from Ham. He descended through Cush, Saba (the Seba of Gen. 10:7), Gog, Triton, Ammon and Hiarba (compare the last name with the Biblical 'Arba' of Joshua 15:13, who was the father of the Anakim glants).	34 (or 35)	1883-1849 (1884-1849)
The Lomnini The Lomnini were three giant sons of Gerion. They were allowed to continue to rule in the land after an invasion in 1849 by an Egyptian army under Osyris Denis (Dionysius in Greek)	42	1849-1807

Osyris slew Gerion in 1849, upon which part of his tribe took to ship and sailed to the New World. A tradition found among the Toltecs of Mexico and preserved by Ixtlilxochitl declares there once were giants in their land.

Even the date of the arrival of these giants has been preserved by the Toltec historian. It was 520 years after the flood. (Bancroft 'Native Races of the Pacific States', vol. V, p. 209. ) The year of the flood was 2370-2369. And 520 years AFTER the flood -- that is, after 2369 -- is 1849, the very year a great battle was fought in Spain during which Gerion was slain and many of the giants were expelled.

Later Indian tradition records the perishing of these giants in the New World in a struggle with the Indians.

One of the Lomnini in Spain, meanwhile, was given to wife a sister of Osyris. A son of the union, Norac, settled Sardinia and built the city of Norca. Sardinia is famous for traditionally being inhabited by giants who left the megalithic remains and giant tombs. Early British tradition also assigns to swarthy giants the building of many of the megalithic monuments or henges.

To avenge the death of their father, the three Lomnini brothers conspired with Typhon, brother of Osyris. Typhon assassinated his brother Osyris.

After the death of Osyris, Hercules appears on the scene. Rather than drench the whole land in a bloodbath, he challenged the three sons of Gerion to personal combat -- three against one -- and slew them all.

Hercules then turned the government of southern Spain over to Hispal, his son and one of his generals, and departed with the bulk of his army to Italy.

Who were Osyris, Typhon and Heracles of Spanish, Italian and North African tradition?

Note the time setting. These events are long after the death of Nimrod (2167) or of Miebis (2037), who was the second Osiris. The dates of these events correspond to the latter half of Dynasty II in Egypt. It is the period of the patriarch Jacob. The Hercules of these traditions has already been proofd to be Seir the Horite. In Spanish history Hercules is often referred to as 'Oron,' meaning the Horite. He was a king of Egypt -- a descendant of Horus. He slew the giant Antaeus, another king of Egypt, records Josephus the Jewish historian.

Who are all these supposedly mythological rulers?

The surprising answer is that they have all been listed in Volume I -- they are kings of the second half of Dynasty II of Egypt. Notice the parallels. Antaeus -- an opponent of Osiris -- was a man of giant stature. So was Sesochris (Neferkaseker), who reigned 1815-1767. Typhon, the slayer of Osiris, was pictured as a destroyer in the Greek traditions of this period. King Chaires (Aka) bore the title 'Destroyer.' His reign began also in 1815. Following a war in Egypt against the faction of Osiris III, he temporarily received the 'united kingdoms of Upper and Lower Egypt and the seal of the accursed one' -- Osiris.

Then who was Osiris III -- the Osiris Dionysius of Spanish history? None other than king Sendi (the Sethenes of Manetho). His body, according to the tradition, was cast into the Nile. Reports Weigall of him: 'No trace of the king's tomb has been found; and ... he seems to have met with disaster at the end' ('The History of the Pharaoh's', page 136).

And now notice Hercules in this same dynasty. Hercules -- the Seir the Horite of Scripture -- was renowned for having subdued Libya, and the vast territories that lie west of Egypt. He was called Heracles Libycus. Did one of the Pharaoh's of this same period conquer Libya?

Certainly -- Necherophes. Manetho records of him: 'In his reign Libya revolted, but, on account of an unexpected increase of the moon, they submitted through fear.'

Now to continue with the outline of Spanish history. Hercules -- Seir the Horite -- put Hispal his son over the country. He could be none other than Shobal of Genesis 36:20. It is common for a silent 'h' to appear before Spanish names. The successor to Hispal or Shobal was Hispan, a grandson of Hercules.

Is there a grandson of Seir the Horite by that name? See the name in Genesis 36:26 -- Eshban! He was a son of Dishon, another son of Seir. Now it ought to be plain why Scripture records the genealogy of this famous man. Without it, there would be no means of understanding who the rulers of these times were. When we come to Italian history, we shall see how they link up with the family of Jacob. Meantime, the history of Spain in chart form is presented below.

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Hispal, son of Hercules He built the city Hispalis, later known as Sepila, now Seville.	17	1807-1790
Hispanus, grandson of Heracles	32	1790-1758

Gave his name to Hispania (Spain) in consequence of extending his rule (during his first year 1790-1789) into central and northern regions of the peninsula previously settled only by wild tribes. He built towers to control the region of Gallicia in Spain.

Once again Spanish history has a bearing on the New World. The attack by Hispanus on these rude tribes in the northern regions on the shores of the Bay of Biscay is recorded in Toltec history.

Ixtlilxochitl records that a second invasion from the east occurred 2236 years after the creation of man (Bancroft, vol. v, p. 209). Notice how this figure corresponds with both the Bible and Spanish history.

At the death of Hispanus, Hercules, that is, Seir the Horite, reappears in Spain and Western Europe in his old age.

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Hercules	19	1758-1739

Note that these dates correspond exactly with those of his rule in Britain and Gaul. It is significant that Hercules' family should appear so prominently in

Western Europe. They must already have been driven out of Mt. Seir by Esau. Hercules left no heir to the Spanish throne He was succeeded by one of his generals.

ABRAHAM'S CHILDREN

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Hesperus	11	1739-1728

Spanish records declare Hesperus to be one of the two captains (not his sons) who accompanied Hercules in his original exploits into Spain. He gave his name

Hesperus to Spain and Italy which in early times were called Hesperia Minor and Hesperia Major respectively.

He was driven out of Spain into Italy by his brother, who succeeded him.

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Atlas Sometimes called Italus.	12 (10)	1728-1716 (1728-1718)

A brother of Hesperus, the other captain of Hercules, a famous astronomer; dethroned and exiled Hesperus.

Josephus, the Jewish historian, also wrote about these two famous captains of Hercules in 'Antiquities', I, xv. Here are his words: 'Abraham after this married Keturah' -- Genesis 25, 'by whom six sons were born to him ...' Then Josephus names Midian, a son of Abraham, who begat 'Ephas and Ophren,' called Ephah and Epher in the Bible. 'It is related of this Ophren, that he made war against Libya, and took it; and that his grandchildren, when they inhabited it, called it (from his name) Africa; and indeed Alexander Polyhistor gives his attestation to what I here say; who speaks thus: ' ... from the other two (Apher and Japhran) the country of Africa took its name; because these men were auxiliaries to Hercules, when he fought against Libya and Antaeus.' '

Josephus understood that the two famous captains of Hercules were the grandsons of Abraham.

Hesperus, who was later exiled in a family quarrel, was the Biblical Ephah. Atlas, the strong man and astronomer, was Epher. It is his line that continued to control the western Mediterranean for several generations.

The late Greek writers at times confused this Atlas, who was also known from Italian history as Atlas Italus Kitim (because he ruled the land of Kittim), with another Atlas. That other Atlas was surnamed Maurus and was the descendant, in Greek tradition, of Japetus and Asia.

Japetus or Iapetus was the Japheth of the Bible. Atlas Maurus is associated with Spain and North Africa because his people were migrating from the borders of Asia westward to the New World. The only son of Japheth whose children left Western Asia and Eastern Europe was Tiras.

Atlas Italus Kitim was succeeded by a son --

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Oris or Sicorus, son of Atlas	44 (or 45)	1716-1672 (1718-1673)
Anus or Sicanus, son of Sicorus Gave his name to people whom he led through Italy to Sicily. From these Sicani the island of Sicily was anciently called Sicania.	31 (or 32)	1672-1641 (1673-1641)
Sicileus or Siculus, son of Sicorus Crossed into Italy. He changed the name of Sicania to Sicilia.	45 (or 44)	1641-1596 (1641-1597)
Lusus, son of Siculus He gave his name to Lusitania (now Portugal)	29 (or 60)	1596-1567 (1567-1507)
Ulus or Siculus, son of Lusus He was also known as Neptune. He had great fleets of ships.	64 (or 60)	1567-1503 (1567-1507)

Ulus again led an army into Sicily to aid the colonists whose presence there was still being opposed. At the close of his reign, in 1503, a city was founded on the coast of Spain by refugees from Greece. The year 1503 is the date of a great devastation in Thessaly, the flood of Deucalion, in which many perished. In this period -- the 'neolithic' -- the inhabitants of Thessaly were culturally like Mexican Indians ('The Origins of Greek Civilization', C. G. Starr, p. 17, footnote) Again notice the harmony of these records.

CHAOS IN SPAIN

Rulers of Spain (continued)	Lengths of Reign	Dates
Testa A descendant of Triton (thus related to Gerion), seized southwestern Spain and called himself king of Spain.	70	1503-1433
Romus, son of Testa In his third year 'Liber Pater,' or Bacchus (Iacchus), reduced Spain to his sway. He was from the East. His title belonged to Hesus the Mighty of Celtic tradition. Hesus was Joshua (Jesus in Greek). He pursued the Canaanites and drove them out of Western Europe	33	1433-1400
Palatuus, son of Romus	19	1400-1381
Cacus LiciniusA native prince who rebelled and deposed Palatuus in a year-long struggle.	36	1381-1345
Palatuus restored In his days Erithrus, king of Tyre, came to Spain.	6 (or 15)	1345-1339 (1345-1330)
Erithree, or Erithrus, king of Tyre	66	1339-1273
Corgoras Mellicola, son of Erithree He divided Spain into several provinces.	75	1273-1198
Hebides or Habis, grandson of Gorgoras	49 (or 64)	1198-1149 (1198-1134)

Following the recapture of Troy in 1149 many groups of people, conquered as well as conquerors, sought new homes. As a result several areas of western and northern Spain were populated. The Lydians achieved dominance after 1149 over all the Mediterranean region, heading the list of Thalassocracies or Sea Powers. Their dominion in Spain began in 1149. Each of the Sea Powers in turn dominated Spain until Nebuchadnezzar the Great of Babylon made Spain a part or the Chaldean Empire for 9 years. After that, the Spaniards of Gades invited the Carthaginians to come and rule over them. The Carthaginians remained until expelled by the expanding Roman Empire.

TIME OF THE SEA POWERS

As ancient Troy was the key to control of the Eastern Mediterranean, so Spain was to the Western Mediterranean. There are noticeable variations between the two regions that are worth noting. In volume I of the Compendium, in the chapter on Greek history, the list for the Eastern Mediterranean appears. Below is the Spanish evidence for the West, including the Atlantic littoral.

Sea Powers for Western Mediterranean to 530	Duration	Dates
Lydians	48	1149-1101
------------------------------
Thracians	86	970-884
Rhodians	20	884-864
Phrygians	26	864-838
Cyprians	39	838-799
Phoenicians	41	799-758
Egyptians	35	758-723
Milesians	29	723-694
Carians	48	694-646
Lesbians	68	646-578
Phocaeians	48	578-530

There is a gap deliberately inserted in this list. It is similar to attempts elsewhere to expurgate any record of the Pelasgians, who were the Hebrews of the Kingdom of Israel.

The missing item should be

Sea Powers for Western Mediterranean to 530	Duration	Dates
Pelasgians	131	1101-970

This list indicates that the Hebrews became dominant in Spain at the time the Lydians resettled in the Grecian world in 1101.

The 9 years of Nebuchadnezzar's dominion began in 578 and lasted until 569, the year his insanity commenced. He gained dominion over the Mediterranean through the Phocaeian fleets. Nebuchadnezzar established, as his representative in Spain a long-lived hero named Aganthonius who ruled 80 years (578-498) to the coming of the Carthaginians in 498.

With this, the early history of the Spanish is restored. Its important connection with Biblical and secular history is obvious -- and especially so when one remembers that Spanish historians also mention the 26 years' drought in Spain referred to in Irish Annals.

This was the famine in David's time, and precipitated the establishment of the Hebrew throne in Ireland.