‘Ulūǧ, rūm, muzarabes and mozarabs: opposing images of Christians in al-Andalus

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”.