Abenamar and King Don Juan

Abenamar and King Don Juan Late medieval Spanish-Moorish historical ballad. In 1431 King Juan II of Castile besieged the Moorish stronghold of Granada. After defeating the Moors the king placed the Moorish Infante Abenalmao on the throne. The ballad tells in part how the king questions a Moorish slave, Abenamar, on the condition of the city. The Moorish lad replies with a description of its beauties. The king then says:

If thou art willing, O Granada I will woo thee for my bride, Cordova shall be thy dowry, And Sevilla by its side.

The answer, however, is

I’m no widow, good King John, I am still a wedded wife; And the Moor, who is my husband, Loves me better than his life (James Young Gibson translation).

Arabic poets, from whom this ballad stems, often used the term husband or spouse to refer to the lord of a region or city; the city is often spoken of as a bride.

SOURCE:

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow
– Copyright © 2009 by Anthony S. Mercatante