Lectio praecursoria: The Good Noblemen Who Conquered the Kingdom: Islam, Historiography, and Aristocratic Legitimation in Late-Medieval Portugal

This text consists of the 'lectio praecursoria' given at defense my doctoral dissertation "The Good Noblemen Who Conquered Kingdom: Islam, Historiography, and Aristocratic Legitimation in Late-Medieval Portugal". deals with aristocratic historiography political legitimation late-medieval Portugal (late thirteenth fourteenth centuries). It offers a perspective into historical imaginary Portuguese aristocracy; an that underlay argumentation members this social class defence their traditional rights jurisdictions against politicalcentralisation. examines how medieval aristocracy utilized memories past interactions Islam to justify its privileged status defend prerogatives time when group opposed royalist policy centralization. research is included wider debates on role culture — case, as resource justify, reinforce, reproduce, transform existing order.