Third/Ninth-Century Violence: “Saracens” and Sawdān in Erchempert's Historia

Abstract

AbstractThe aim of this article is to consider the depiction of violence and Islamic protagonists in Erchempert's Historia Langobardorum Beneventanorum, a third/ninth-century southern Italian source that describes the prevailing political and socio-economic circumstances of the south of Italy. It will suggest that, whilst violence cannot be excised as a facet of inter-communal relations in southern mainland Italy, one should, nonetheless, exercise some caution in accepting the assertions...