An Intercultural Dialogue between the Muslim Taifa of Denia and the Christian County of Barcelona in the Eleventh Century

Abstract

Points of dialogue increased across the Muslim–Christian Iberian frontier over the course of the eleventh century. Rulers on both sides pursued policies of active communication, through violent and pacific means. This is especially evident in the relations between Denia and Barcelona. The growing Mediterranean interests of both polities brought them into frequent contact through trade, diplomacy and conflict. In fact, the intercultural entente established between the rulers of Denia and Barcelona allows for a much broader view of Iberian Muslim–Christian relations within the context of the eleventh-century Western Mediterranean.

Divisar el dorado. Evidencias materiales de las conexiones interculturales en un ajedrez de cristal de roca y el sello de una condesa (ss. X-XI)

“…522-528. On Almodis, whose direct correspondence with 'Alī b. Mujāhid, ruler of the taifa kingdom of Denia, has been partially preserved, see Bowman, 2020;Bruce, 2009;Wolff, 1989. 31 Gil, 2004 Bilingual seals are not particularly common in the Middles Ages in general, but they do exist where distinct cultures were in contact.…”

“…Further, Aurell, 1995: 221 n58, states that Reverter's wife was named Arsendis, not Ermessindis. 34 Aurell, 1995: 62-63;Bruce, 2009: 7. These diplomatic ties are investigated in the larger study I currently have underway on medieval Iberian art and rulership.…”