Medieval poems mirrored crusader indulgences as Saracen parody.

Evidence

Just as the Christians worship the Holy Trinity, so the Saracen paynim, or pagans, worship their own dark trinity of idols: Mahound (a corruption of Muhammad), Termagant and Apollyon. — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 84 (#expands, via linked claim)

This sort of confrontation of images of Saracen religion becomes more common as more information about Islam and its prophet reaches Europe. Some authors will even try to accommodate both versions: William of Malmesbury, writing in about 1125, knows that the Saracens are monotheists yet still believes they erected a statue of Muhammad in the temple of Jerusalem. Even King Alfonso VI of León and Castille describes the mosque of Toledo as the “habitation of demons” (though not, indeed, of idols). The twelfth-century Pseudo-Turpin Chronicle, a medieval “bestseller,” has one Saracen explain that Mahoumet is their messenger sent by God but another invokes him as “my God.” The same chronicle tells us that Mauhoumet made an idol of himself in Spain, used his necromancy to fill it with demons, and set it up to protect the Saracens from Christian attack. Hence the reader might believe that Mauhoumet is at the same time a man whom the Saracens accept as their prophet and an idol that this false prophet made of himself. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 723 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Medieval European epics invented Saracen idolatry to justify crusader violence — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 589; European epic poems invented a triad of Saracen idols including Mahumet — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 688; Crusade-era writers invented Saracen idolatry to justify their own violence — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 423 (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Medieval poets projected a pagan trinity onto Muslims mirroring the Christian one #expands (0.95) — Robert Irwin, For Lust of Knowing, 84
• Medieval Christian authors held contradictory views of Saracen religion simultaneously #complicates (0.90) — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 723
• Medieval European authors widely portrayed Saracens as idolaters of a pagan pantheon #complicates (0.85)