‘Ulūǧ, rūm, muzarabes y mozárabes: imágenes encontradas de los cristianos de al-Andalus

Eva Lapiedra

doi:10.21071/cco.v3i.61

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to re-evaluate the image of Christians who lived in al-Andalus by studying their relevant terminology. Traditionally, and especially following the work of F. Simonet, they have been defined as “Mozarabs” and have been considered a point of reference in the defence and conservation of Christian Latin values under Islam. However, Arabic and Medieval Latin sources characterise them chiefly as Arabized Christians of slave origin. Taking this dual image as a starting point, we collect and comment on different texts written around the same time as these Christians were living in al-Andalus, which helps to gain further insight into the figure of the Arabized Christian. We also trace the conception and development of what could be defined as the “Mozarab myth”.

Highlights

The aim of this paper is to re-evaluate the image of Christians who lived in al-Andalus by studying their relevant terminology
Arabic and Medieval Latin sources characterise them as Arabized Christians of slave origin. Taking this dual image as a starting point, we collect and comment on different texts written around the same time as these Christians were living in al-Andalus, which helps to gain further insight into the figure of the Arabized Christian
We trace the conception and development of what could be defined as the “Mozarab myth”

Summary

Fuera de territorio islámico

Giraldo era un gallego-portugués que, capturado de niño o joven por los musulmanes, había alcanzado un gran dominio de las artes militares dentro del ejército almohade. Combatió duramente a los almohades en la frontera del Alentejo (1165-1170) hasta que, tras la firma de una tregua entre el califa almohade y el rey cristiano, Giraldo regresa junto a su antiguo señor para volver a combatir del lado musulmán. 83 Otro ejemplo –pero desde el lado cristiano–, del proceso de aculturación reflejado en la lengua, aparece también en la Primera Crónica General donde el conocido alWaqqašī, que fue cadí de Toledo y autor de una elegía sobre Valencia, dice de sí mismo: “cuando era moço pequenno, catiuaronme cristianos, et alli apris fablar tan paladinamiente ladino”, citado en J.P. MOLÉNAT, “Tolède fin XIe-début XIIe siècle.

Composición del ejército de Almanzor:

Trabajaban en duras tareas como la construcción