Christian martyrdom at Saracen hands counted as victory equal to military triumph

Evidence

Yet in Saint Katherine, the “Saracen” Maxentius has found his match: her faith withstands his pleading, promises, and torture; she dies a martyr. The death of Christians at the hand of their Saracen enemies is as much a victory as the exploits of Charlemagne in the Chanson de Roland. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 717

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the broader theme in this book of how medieval Christendom reframed defeat against Islam as spiritual victory, and to my interest in how losing factions narrate their defeats.