A mysteriously invincible champion on a white horse appeared at a number of key battles of the Reconquista, helping the overmatched Christians decimate their enemies.
Santiago Matamoros: St James the Moor-slayer.🧵
Santiago Matamoros: St James the Moor-slayer.🧵
The first appearance came in the year 844 at Clavijo.
Tradition tells that King Ramiro I of Asturias was required by the King of Cordoba to hand over 100 maidens annually as tribute.
Tradition tells that King Ramiro I of Asturias was required by the King of Cordoba to hand over 100 maidens annually as tribute.
When King Ramiro decided he would no longer pay that tribute, King Abdelraman brought war against him.
The first day of battle did not go well for the several overmatched Christians. And the Moors appeared likely to do the same tomorrow.
The first day of battle did not go well for the several overmatched Christians. And the Moors appeared likely to do the same tomorrow.
The Christians must have been sorely tempted to beat a retreat from the battle altogether. They’d given it a good effort, but they had no chance.
Then King Ramiro was visited in a dream by Saint James, patron of Spain, who told the king that he himself "would join the Christians if they would fight again the following day,” according to James Fitzhenry.
They did show up to fight, and they won big.
Something similar happened again in 939 at Simancas, and again at Las Navas in 1212.
Something similar happened again in 939 at Simancas, and again at Las Navas in 1212.
The legend of Santiago Matamoros is fascinating, but more than anything I'm interested in the "if" in his promise. He would help the Spanish Christians if they lined up again for battle the next day.
This tells all about the Christian life.
This tells all about the Christian life.
Note: St James certainly did not say he would fight the battle for the Christians, allowing them to kick back and watch as he destroyed their enemies.
He said he would join them *if* they mustered the resolve to fight again.
He said he would join them *if* they mustered the resolve to fight again.
It reminds me of an excellent line from Leon Gautier’s treatise on chivalry: "'Fight, God is with you.' Such, in a few words, was the whole formula of Christian courage."
God will help us, but only if we show up and get to work!
God will help us, but only if we show up and get to work!
Christian life is of a deeply and mysteriously cooperative nature. God wants true-hearted soldiers willing to suit up for his cause. He will see the them through to triumph, but again he won’t fight their battles for them.
And sometimes God might make you wait until the second day of battle before he sends St James to your aid, perhaps because he wants to see if your heart is truly in the fight.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
