Christian converts sold their language skills openly in Muslim lands

Evidence

A distinctive group among the newcomers consisted of those who changed their religion, and made a new career—those whom the Christians call renegade and whom the Muslims call Muhtadi, one who had found the true path of God. Considerable numbers of Christian—shall we say adventurers?—went from var­ ious parts of Europe into the Muslim lands, bringing useful skills—military, commercial, technical, and also linguistic—for which they were able to find a ready market. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 158

Categorization

• DEFINE: Contrasting terminology: Christians called apostates ‘renegades’ while Muslims called converts ‘Muhtadi’ (one who found the true path) — same people, opposite moral framing.
• FICTION: The ‘renegade’ who changes religion and recasts his skills as marketable — military, technical, linguistic — is a vivid character archetype for historical or fantasy fiction set in a contact zone.