Religious devotion and conflict in an Aljamiado-Morisco folktale

What is it about?

The Aljamiado-Morisco tale of Moses and Jacob the Butcher is one version of a popular folktale type in which a pious figure (Moses) is promised a place in Paradise with a lowly counterpart (Jacob). However, through the performance of a series of good deeds, the seemingly unworthy counterpart proves his piety and value. This essay examines religious devotion as a form of both satisfactory pious expression and a form of resistance in a sixteenth-century version of this tale from Spain.

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Photo by Dimitry B on Unsplash

Photo by Dimitry B on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This essay contributes to the conversation of religious practice and devotion among the Morisco populations of sixteenth-century Spain. It demonstrates, through close examination of a popular narrative, that the Moriscos were able to adapt their religious understandings and beliefs to fit their political circumstances. Moreover, the story examined here provided the Morisco a blueprint for how to be pious in an environment that sought to stamp out their religious culture.