‘Those same cursed Saracens’: Charlemagne's campaigns in the Iberian Peninsula as religious warfare
Sam Ottewill‐Soulsby
While it is well known that many of Charlemagne's wars had a strong religious element, Frankish campaigns against the Muslims Spain in his reign have generally been understood as secular exercises power politics. This article presents evidence contemporary to argue this, using diverse range sources conclude observers invasions Iberian Peninsula them aimed both at defending Christian communities Francia and protecting expanding worship Christianity Spain. Further, although prosecution these was politically opportunistic, suggest Charlemagne court encouraged interpretations terms they might be considered examples war.
Journal of Medieval History|Apollo (University of Cambridge)