Santiago Matamoros and the Religious Battles of Medieval Spain

Medieval Spain saw intense religious and geopolitical struggles between Christians and Muslims. Jews were caught in the middle—viewed as spiritual outsiders who posed no military threat—which allowed some to serve as intermediaries between the two powers. Christians developed a potent iconography of their fight against Muslims centered on St. James (Santiago) Matamoros, the “slayer of Moors,” their term for Muslims. Once a humble pilgrim, James became a warrior saint said to aid Christian armies. His image remained popular throughout the Reconquista and later appeared in the Americas as Santiago Mataindios, the “slayer of Indians.”