Introduction: Friendly Chivalrous Enemies—Contradiction, Stereotypes, and Colonialism in the Representations of Muslims by Medieval Christians

Literary and historiographical works written by Iberian Christians between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries often present contradictory depictions of Muslims by portraying them as simultaneously barbaric and chivalrous enemies, treacherous and loyal allies, or docile and rebellious subjects. In dialogue with the ideas of postcolonial critics such as Edward Said, Homi Bhabha, and Abdul JanMohamed, I argue that such representations of Muslims and Muslim-Christian relationships were at the service of colonial interests, because their contradictions helped justify the actions both friendly and hostile of Christian polities toward Muslims. In this way, the contradictory depictions of Muslim difference acted as a two-pronged strategy to reach an unequivocal political purpose: to advocate for the conquest of non-Christian territories and populations through the affirmation of Christian supremacy.