The Muslim Archother and the Royal Other: Aristocratic Notions of Otherness in Fourteenth-Century Portugal

This article examines aristocratic notions of otherness in fourteenth-century Portugal. I build upon previous
research into Muslim ethno-religious otherness in medieval Iberia, framing it among other forms of otherness, such as political otherness. Instead of approaching otherness as a static phenomenon restricted to Muslim otherness, I explore this particular form of otherness among other forms of the phenomenon. I also consider different degrees of otherness, as well as how these disparate forms and degrees interrelate.3 My main argument is that otherness in the eyes of fourteenth-century Portuguese aristocracy was primarily defined by political enmity or rivalry. I stress that, despite being ethnoreligious in origin, Muslim otherness is so conspicuous in fourteenth-century aristocratic historiographical discourse because of Islam’s political status, and not simply due to religious antagonism.