Al-Azraq, the survival of the myth
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.28939/iam.debats-140.7Keywords:
Xarq al-Andalus, al-Jabal, James I, Moors and christiansAbstract
Hero or villain? A noble adversary or a shrewd conspirator? A leader of Andalusi resistance or an ambitious warlord? Abū ‘Abd Allāh Muhammad ibn Hudhayl, better known as “al-Azraq” —“the Blue”—, remains controversial 750 years after his death. This controversy is largely due to the scarcity of primary sources concerning him and to the many imaginative additions that have progressively contributed to the construction of his myth. This article examines what can actually be established about the historical figure, offers a concise review of the bibliography that has emerged arounad him —both the more imaginative and the better documented—, and analyses his current perception, particularly in the territories associated with his life and career between Aitana and Benicadell, where several initiatives have been launched to commemorate the anniversary of his death. Although it is unlikely that the initial questions can be answered in categorical terms, given our historical and emotional distance from thirteenth century “Valencian” society, this study seeks at least to move beyond overly Manichaean interpretations of a complex and compelling figure.
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References
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