Relations between Muslims and Christians in the medieval kingdom of Valencia from Jaume I to Pere IV: 1238-1387

The study of interfaith interactions in medieval Spain often follows one of two sweeping schemes of historical explanation. One usually either subscribes to the idea of an antagonistic Clash of Cultures in the vein of Samuel Huntington or of a peaceful convivencia (coexistence), most recently and eloquently advocated by scholars such as Maria Rosa Menocal. This study however takes more of a middle route, subscribing to the idea of conviencia (convenience) put forth by Brian Catlos. In particular this study will examine Muslim-Christian relations in the Kingdom of Valencia in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. First conquered and then ruled over by Jaume I of Aragon and his successors, Valencia serves as a prime example of the ways a Christian monarchy could interact with a majority Muslim population, both in negative and positive ways. However, these positive interactions do not arise from some anachronistic idea of toleration, but rather from the need of the medieval Christian kings of Valencia to act in a pragmatic manner when balancing their domestic and international agendas and policies. Following this theme of pragmatic conviencia, this study will examine the political, social, economic and religious interactions between the Christian leadership and Muslim population of medieval Valencia, looking at the period of conquest, one hundred and fifty years of Christian leadership and the proselytizing activities of Ramon Llull. The study will conclude with a brief examination of the status of Islam in Spain today.