Medieval historiography judged historical truth by theological fitness

Evidence

Whether historical facts alleged were true was decided on theological grounds, and in a framework of exaggerated contrast; it was appropriate, and therefore true, that the enemy of Christ should be in every way and as much as possible unlike Him. — Norman Daniel, Islam and the West, 1376

Categorization

• CANDY: Neat compact statement: enemy-of-Christ must be wholly unlike Christ, so the binary generates the historical depiction.