Message #18612

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Walaikum As-Salam and peace dear Sis.  Have heard of this senseless story earlier.  But thanks for these details and careful scrutiny to show its lack of conformity with logic.  This is another one of those Anastasia kind of spiel.

Wondering, what exactly is the goal of those who have hyped and puffed it as fodder for tale listeners?   ....  to show the power & influence of Alfonso through his sexual depravity?   He was a man with arrogant aspirations, wanting to become king of the entire Iberian peninsula taking over all Islamic territories.  Quoting Ibn Al-Kardabus, a 13th century Tunisian chronicler "the arrogant Castilian ruler even started to fashion himself as the “Emperor of the Two Religions”.   In this context, the decision to welcome Zaida at the Castilian court – instead of sending her to Morocco to her relatives in exile – and Alfonso’s sexual relationship with the Muslim princess, was not as a sign of coexistence, but a confident statement of power."   

The tomb marker showed the inscription in Latin: "H.R. Regina Elisabeth, uxor regis Adefonsi, filia Benabet Regis Sevillae, quae prius Zayda, fuit vocata."    In English that translates to   "Queen Elizabeth, wife of King Alfonso, daughter of Benabet, King of Seville, formerly Zayda."   This inscription is totally baffling.  While 'Elizabeth' is generally the medieval Spanish form of 'Isabel,'  who was "Benabet?"   Al-Mutamid was the Emir of Seville and surely "Benabet" is not the Latin variation of Al-Mutamid.  Therefore, who was he?   No answers.  
 

I concur, Alfonso was double-crossed by a palace maid or some female Jewish commoner posing as the daughter of Al-Mutamid for a more comfortable lifestyle.  'Benabet' sounds like a very Jewish name.  Never ever heard any Muslim having this name nor is it a modification of any Muslim name.  The truth about this imposter's non-Muslim origin was inadvertently leaked out on the tombstone inscription.  Also it does flatly confirm that she wasn't Mutamid's daughter-in-law.  So the persistence of the fabulists that she was is another enigma.