martyrs of Córdoba, The
Book Description
In ninth-century Córdoba, a profound spiritual crisis unfolded that would forever change the relationship between Christianity and Islam in medieval Spain. Between 850 and 859, forty-eight Christians chose death over silence, deliberately provoking Muslim authorities by publicly denouncing Mohammed or proclaiming their faith despite being born into mixed religious families.
Jessica A. Coope examines this extraordinary "martyrs movement" that emerged in one of Islam's most culturally vibrant centers. Her investigation reveals the deep anxieties of radical Christians who witnessed their community's gradual assimilation into Arab Muslim culture and the increasing rate of conversions to Islam. These fears created a spiritual powder keg that exploded into acts of deliberate martyrdom.
The executions themselves divided the Christian community. Some viewed the dead as true martyrs who died for their faith, while others condemned them as dangerous fanatics whose actions threatened the delicate peace between religious communities. Meanwhile, the Muslim authorities, preferring tolerance and stability, repeatedly offered the condemned opportunities to recant their statements and save their lives.
Drawing from both Christian hagiographies and Arabic historical accounts, Coope reconstructs the complex religious tensions that shaped daily life in al-Andalus. Her work illuminates how spiritual conviction, cultural identity, and political survival intersected during a pivotal moment when two great religious traditions struggled to coexist in medieval Spain.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~3 hours)
📄 Length: 113 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christianity and other religions
- ✓ Explore Christianisme
- ✓ Explore Martyrs chrétiens
- ✓ Explore Islam
- ✓ Strengthen your faith journey
- ✓ Explore 11.07 relations between religions
- ✓ Explore Märtyrer
- ✓ Explore Martelaren
