Saracen
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2008-07-16T09:50:41Z
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/213.93.9.155|213.93.9.155]] to last version by ClueBot (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
''For other uses, see [[Saracen (disambiguation)]].''
'''Saracens''' was a term used by Europeans in the [[Middle Ages]] for [[Fatimid]]s at first, then later all those who professed the religion of [[Islam]].<ref name="Britannica">[http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9377754/Saracens "Saracen." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007]. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 23 Sept. 2007.</ref>
==Etymology==
[[Image:Fatimids Empire 909 - 1171 (AD).PNG|thumb|right|the Fatimid Empire at its Greatest Extent]]
The term '''Saracen''' comes from [[Greek language|Greek]] ''Σαρακηνός'', which has often been thought to be derived from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word {{Unicode|شرقيين}} ''sharqiyyin'' ("easterners"), though the [[OED]] ([[s.v.]]) calls etymologies from this "not well founded". The term spread into [[Western Europe]] through the [[Byzantines]] and [[Crusaders]].<ref name="Britannica"/> After the rise of [[Islam]], and especially at the time of the [[Crusades]], its usage was extended to refer to all [[Muslim]]s, including non-Arab Muslims, particularly those in [[Sicily]] and [[southern Italy]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Where's Where: A Descriptive [[Gazetteer]] |year= 1974|publisher= Eyre Methuen Ltd.|location= London|id= ISBN 0-413-32290-4}}</ref>
In [[Christianity|Christian]] writing, the name was made to mean "those empty of [[Sarah]]" or "not from Sarah," as Arabs were, in [[Genealogies of Genesis|Biblical genealogies]], descended from [[Hagar (biblical)|Hagar]] and also called the [[Hagarenes]] (''Ἀγαρηνοί''). According to the [[Arthurian legend|Arthurian]] [[Lancelot-Grail]] Cycle, the name derives from [[Sarras]], an island important in the [[Holy Grail|Quest for the Holy Grail]].
==Saracens in Roman times==
The earliest datable reference to Saracens is found in [[Ptolemy]]'s ''[[Geographia (Ptolemy)|Geography]]'' (2nd century A.D.), which describes "Sarakene" as a region in the Northern [[Sinai]] named after the town Saraka located between [[Egypt]] and [[Palestine]].<ref name="retso1"> Retso pg. 505,506.</ref> Ptolemy also makes mention of a people called the ''sarakenoi'' living in north-western [[Arabia]].<ref name="retso1"/> [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] references Saracens in his ''[[Historia Ecclesiastica|Eccelastical history]]'', in which he narrates an account wherein [[Pope Dionysius of Alexandria|Dionysus the Bishop of Alexandria]] mentions Saracens in a letter while describing [[Decius (emperor)|the Roman emperor Decius's]] persecution: "Many were, in the Arabian mountain, enslaved by the barbarous ''sarkenoi''."<ref name="retso1"/> The ''[[Augustan History|Historia Augusta]]'', written in 400 [[CE]] also refers to an attack by ''Saraceni'' on [[Pescennius Niger]]'s army in [[Aegyptus]], 193 [[CE]] but provides little information on who they might be.<ref name="retso2"> Retso pg. 457.</ref>
[[Hippolytus of Rome|Hippolytus]], the book of the laws of countries and Uranius mention three distinct peoples in Arabia during the first half of the third century, the Saraceni, Taeni and [[Arab]]es.<ref name="retso1"/> The Taeni are later identified with the Arab tribe called tayyi were located around the [[Khaybar|Khaybar Oasis]] all the way up to the eastern [[Euphrates]] while the saracenoi were placed north of them.<ref name="retso1"/> These Saracens located in the Northern [[Hejaz]] appear as people with a certain military ability and opponents of the [[Roman Empire]] who are characterized by the Romans as ''barbaroi''.<ref name="retso1"/> They are described in a ''[[Notitia Dignitatum|Notitia dignitatum]]'' dating from the time of [[Diocletian]], during the 3rd century, as comprising distinctive units in the composition of the [[Roman army]] distinguishing between Arabs, Iiluturaens and Saracens.<ref name="retso3"> Retso pg. 464,465,466.</ref> The Saracens are described as forming the ''equites (heavy cavalry)'' from [[Phoenicia]] and [[Thamud]].<ref name="retso3"/> In a ''praeteritio'', the defeated enemies of Diocletians campaign in the [[Syrian desert]] are described as Saracens and other 4th century military reports make no mention of Arabs but refer to groups as far as Mesopotamia, involved in battles on both the Persian as well as Roman sides, as Saracens.<ref name="retso3"/><ref name="retso5"> Retso pg. 517.</ref>
The ''[[Augustan History|Historia Augusta]]'' carries an account of a letter to the [[Roman senate]], ascribed to [[Aurelian]], that describes the [[Palmyra|Palmyrian]] queen [[Zenobia]] as:
"I might say such was the fear that this woman inspired in the peoples of the east and also the Egyptians that neither [[Arab]]es, nor Saraceni, nor [[Armenia]]ns moved against her."<ref name="retso3"/> Another early [[Byzantine]] source chronicling the Saracens are the 6th century works by [[John Malalas|Ioannes Malalas]].<ref name="retso3"/> The difference between the two accounts of Saracens is that Malalas saw Palmyrans and all inhabitants of the Syrian desert as Saracens and not Arabs, while the Historia Augusta saw the Saracens as not being subjects of Zenobia and distinct from Palmyrans and Arabs.<ref name="retso3"/> Writing at the end of the fourth century Ammianus Marcellinus, a historian of [[Julian the Apostate]], notes that the term Saraceni designating "desert-dwellers" of the Syrian desert had replaced ''Arabes scenitae''.<ref name="retso3"/> After the time of Ammianus the Saracens were known as warriors of the desert.<ref>Retso pg.523</ref> The term Saracen, popular in both Greek and Roman literature, over time came to be associated with Arabs and Assyrians as well, and carried a definitive negative connotation.<ref name="retso5"/><ref name="hoy1"> Hoy pg. 39-45</ref>
The [[Sassanid|Middle Persian]] correspondent terms for Saracens are ''tazigan'' and ''tayyaye''; who were located by [[Stephanus of Byzantium]] in the 6th century at the [[Lakhmid]] capital city of [[Al-Hirah]].<ref>Retso pg.493</ref>
==Saracens in Christian literature==
Eusebius and [[Epiphanius Scholasticus]] in their [[Christian]] histories places Saracens east of the [[Gulf of Aqaba]] but beyond the [[Arabia Petraea|Roman province of Arabia]] and mention them as [[Ishmaelites]] through [[Kedar]]; thus, they are outside the promise given to [[Abraham]] and his descendants through [[Isaac]] and also beyond a privileged place in the family of nations or [[Dispensationalist theology|divine dispensation]].<ref>Retso pg.507</ref><ref name="hoy1"/> They were viewed as pagans and polytheists in ancient times and in later Christian times became associated with cruel [[tyrant]]s from early Christian history such as: [[Herod the Great]], [[Herod Antipas]] and [[Agrippa I]].<ref name="hoy1"/> Christian writings viewed them as [[Heresy|heretics]] who had to be brought into the [[Orthodox]] fold by [[Origen]].<ref name="hoy1"/> To [[Jerome|the Christian Saint Jerome]] the Arabs, who were also considered in Christian [[theology]] as Ishmaelites, are also by definition Saracens; [[pagan]] tent-dwelling raiders of the lands on the eastern fringes of the Roman empire.<ref name="hoy1"/> The term saracen carried the connotation of people living on the fringes of settled society, living off raids on towns and villages and became equated with both the "tent-dwelling" [[Bedouin]] as well as sedentary Arabs.<ref name="hoy1"/> Church writers of the period commonly describe Saracen raids on [[monastery|monasteries]] and their killing of [[monk]]s.<ref name="hoy1"/> The term and the negative image of Saracens was in popular usage in both the [[Greeks|Greek]] east as well as the [[Latin]] west through the Middle Ages.<ref name="hoy1"/> With the rise of [[Islam]] in the seventh century and its strong association with Arabs, tied the term closely with not just race and culture, but religion as well.<ref name="hoy1"/> The rise of the [[Arab Empire]] and the ensuing hostility with the [[Byzantine Empire]] saw itself expressed as conflict between Islam and Christianity and the association of the term with Islam was further accentuated both during and after the [[Crusades]].<ref name="hoy1"/>
[[John of Damascus]], a resident of the [[Caliph]]ate's capital city, described the Saracens in the early 8th century as:
:There is also the people-deceiving cult (threskeia) of the [[Ishmaelites]], the forerunner of the [[Antichrist]], which prevails until now. It derives from [[Ishmael]], who was born to [[Abraham]] from [[Hagar]], wherefore they are called [[Hagarenes]] and [[Ishmaelites]]. And they call them Saracens, inasmuch as they were sent away empty-handed by [[Sarah]] (ek tes Sarras kenous); for it was said to the angel by Hagar: "Sarah has sent me away empty-handed" (cf. [[Genesis]] xxi. 10, 14). These, then, were idolaters and worshippers of the morning star and [[Aphrodite]] whom in fact they called Akbar (Chabar) in their own language, which means "great". So until the times of [[Heraclius]] they were plain idolaters. From that time till now a false prophet appeared among them, surnamed [[Muhammad]] (Mamed), who, having happened upon the [[Old Testament|Old]] and the [[New Testament]] and apparently having conversed, in like manner, with an [[Arianism|Arian]] monk, put together his own [[heresy]]. And after ingratiating himself with the people by a pretence of piety, he spread rumours of a scripture (graphe) brought down to him from heaven. So, having drafted some ludicrous doctrines in his book, he handed over to them this form of worship (to sebas).<ref>The Fountain of Knowledge John of Damascus circa 730 AD Chapter On Heresy</ref>
In this extract, John might actually have been referring to [[Allat]], a pre-[[Islam]]ic goddess equated with [[Aphrodite]].
{{IPA|}}
==See also==
* [[Mohammedan]]
* [[Medieval Christian view of Muhammad]]
* [[Orientalism]]
* [[History of Islam in southern Italy]]
* [[Moors]]
* [[Byzantine-Arab Wars]]
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist|3}}
==References==
* Retso, Jan. 2003. ''The Arabs in Antiquity: Their History from the Assyrians to the Umayyads''. [[Routledge]]. ISBN 0-700-71679-3
* Hoy, Jaclyn. 2003. ''Storm: Set Adrift in a land called Holy''. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 1-401-08052-9
[[Category:Ancient peoples]]
[[Category:Islam and other religions]]
[[Category:Ethnic and religious slurs]]
[[ar:شرقيون]]
[[be-x-old:Сарацыны]]
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[[el:Σαρακηνοί]]
[[es:Sarraceno]]
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[[fr:Sarrasin (peuple)]]
[[ko:사라센]]
[[id:Saracen]]
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[[ja:サラセン人]]
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