Praying for Conquest in Thirteenth-Century Castile: The Oratio in tempore belli adversus Saracenos

A liturgical prayer from the thirteenth-century sacramentary of Burgos Cathedral reveals how medieval Castile adapted crusading rhetoric to justify and support its military campaigns against the Almohad Caliphate. The 'Oratio in tempore belli adversus Saracenos' demonstrates the interconnectedness of medieval Castile with broader Latin liturgical traditions, offering a new perspective on interreligious conflict during this pivotal period. This adaptation highlights the role of religious rhetoric beyond the battlefield, reflecting the geopolitical shifts and cultural dynamics of the Iberian Peninsula under King Fernando III's reign.

Witcombe, T. (2023). Praying for Conquest in Thirteenth-Century Castile: The Oratio in tempore belli adversus Saracenos. A Plural Peninsula: Studies in Honour of Professor Simon Barton, 153–182. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004683754_007