Warrior Sciences University-African Warrior History #8 ;The Moors and African Knighthood (in depth)

By HM Hardy - The "Black Lion " Ultimate Lutalo

While being a direct Moorish descendant, their history does have a specific interest to me. While i do NOT practice Moorish Sciences, am NOT a "Muslim or follower of Islam" or any other of the "general assumptions" i still believe in the general concepts of my predecessors. They were warriors / Knights, scholars, scientists, intellectuals and advancers of society and i do believe in that and carry that on in legacy. Those foundational concepts of whom they were are apart of who i am and the lineage i carry on. In some circles of study the Moors are "controversial" or even disliked, but i will make a point to give a fair and even overview into the Moors as a people / specific group as well as Moors as it was USED AS A TERM referring to a race of people as a whole in different time periods, because the misconceptions about them can heavily stem from this. In scholarly studies these are very important factors.

The Moors ; Who they were and terminology of their name

The history of the Moors as well as who they are at times have been very debated. The confusion that surrounds them stems from the fact that the name / term "Moor" referenced not only a large group of people, but different groups of people over the course of different time frames. Due to multiple factions over different time spans, it can blur their history. At times, the different "Caliphates " did not even get along with each other and warred versus one another. The Moors of Northern Africa (African/Africoid individuals) will be the focus of this work. They were warrior- scholars. Besides being very adept at warfare and military sciences, they were scientists, philosophers and scholars. Most do not know that all Moors were not Muslim as commonly thought. There were some whom were Christians and others that followed traditional African belief systems. "In the use of the term Moor in this article, it will not always be reflective of which grouping or background of "Moor" may be spoke upon (Christian, Muslim etc), so reference the subject its self for clarity".

Many alternatives have been used by the Europeans during ancient times for the term Moor which described the indigenous Africans, and contrary to popular belief, this term was not interchangeable with Islamic or any specific Arab or African ethnicity, religion, or civilization. Arabs themselves, rarely used the term Moor and often used the term "Berber" for the non- Arabian people of Northwest Africa that they came in contact with. Early Christians used the term "Saracen" indiscriminately in reference to Moors and other Muslim populations in general. Though there are many accounts of fierce African warriors that fought against the Christians among the Saracens. The English word Moor came from the Greek word mauro which literally means Black, blackened or charred, a term used by the Greeks to describe the Black skin color of the Africans. The evolution of the word from the Greek mauro to the Latin word maurus is obvious. The English transliteration is maurus with mauri being the plural form. This term was specifically used by the Romans when referring to the Black Africans, and writers in both Greek and Latin used the term literally as a racial identifier.

The original Africoid Berbers whom were called Moors were the North African ancestors of the present day dark complexioned people of the Sahara and Sahel. This would be those called the Fulani, Tuareg, Zenagha of Southern Morocco. The Kunta and Tebbu of the Sahel countries and others. The Trarza of Mauretania and Senegal, the Mogharba, and dozens of other Sudanese tribes, and the Chaamba of Chad and Algeria. The Berbers themselves said their ancestry come from the Mazoi warriors of Egypt, also known as the Medjai, Medjau or Medjay. The Medjay themselves were the elite warriors of Egypt. They served in the standing army as well as special soldiers (equal to modern day Army Rangers) in the ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) army, They also made up the police force. Prior to that, they were very well known mercenaries that fought in may places of the ancient world.

Warrior - Scholar Scientists

What made the Muslim Moors so advanced was that their society absorbed, synthesized, and expanded upon the knowledge of the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Greeks Chinese and Indians. They were open to new things, information and advancement. So they took in knowledge and information from many places and sources and continued progressing this amalgamation of sorts. When the Moorish Knights took a city, they were known to immediately sack libraries to hoard all the books to study. The African contingent of the Moors went into Europe around 711 A.D and over the course of time there, had some crushing battles that showed their warrior prowess. When the Moors ruled Southern Europe for 700 years they made many advances in technology, science and society in general. Europeans struggled after the Vandals destroyed Rome, and their civilization became backwards taking a steep decline. When the Moors took over southern Europe (specifically Spain) they ushered in the Renaissance Era. This brought in in the sciences, mathematics, astronomy as well as other things that built society up like hot and cold running water and such. Prior, the Kings and Queens whom inhabited pre-Moorish occupation lived in barns with chickens, cows and other animals freely roaming in and out (as stated,they were in decline from the fall of Rome). Also, bathing was considered a sin at the time in Europe. This was a breeding ground for sickness and disease. With running water and knowledge of the medical sciences, the Moors changed all of this, corralling animals and incorporating cleanliness , bathing and bath houses and related things. Being scholars, the Moors established the first University in Europe. Their educators were in such high demand that they could earn handsome sums of money educating. Moorish educators actually traveled to different places in Europe and back to Africa to teach and educate.

In the 700 years that the Moors dominated the Iberian peninsula was an era during which many people, mostly of European decent, either migrated or were brought to the lands of Arabia and North Africa. Although large numbers of Africans were bought from the Sudan area during that time, actual studies of the slave traffic of that time show the numbers of people of Slavic and European decent placed into servitude far exceeded the number of Sudanese and other Africans bought and sold by Moors of the Islamic empire. This story has been exaggerated and emphasized to promote self hatred in African descendants. In notes of Sir Walter Scott on Spanish Chronicles, European Christians were forced to pay tribute to the Moors in the form of women. It was also said that the Moors were " a veritable terror in the Mediterranean". They ravaged the coasts of Spain, Portugal and Southern France, capturing many. There is records of periodic landings of Corsairs along the coastal areas of Europe to take off entire populations of villages. In 1721 King George 1st even stated in reference to the that " a great number of his subjects had been delivered into slavery in Africa". One famous Moorish Sultan, Mulai Ismail of Meknes, Morocco, had as many as 25,000 European slaves who participated in the building of his colossal stables.

Moorish warriors are mentioned as early as the expedition to Sicily in 406 B.C. in a revolt in 350 B.C and the Roman Invasion of Africa in 256 B.C. They are mentioned in Livy's account of the second Punic War 218-201 B.C. In their bitter struggle for independence and to control the Mediterranean, the Carthaginians used Moorish troops as integral elements in all of their battle campaigns. With the Numidians, the Moors fought on the side of the Carthaginians against the Romans. Moorish warriors were particularly beneficial to the great Hannibal Barca, the legendary African General. Hannibal had over 6,000 Moors at his disposal and only suffered defeat when they were no longer available.

During the Dacian Wars of eastern Europe (101-105) the Roman military heavily relied on highly mobile units of Moorish cavalry. On a roman column dedicated to the wars of Trajan in Dacia, there is a special relief devoted to a large body of galloping horsemen, easily recognizable as Moors. Africoid soldiers, specifically identified as Moors, were actively recruited by Rome and served tours of duty in Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Poland and Romania to name a few places.

An original brass military diploma which dated from the middle of the second century A.D mentions Moorish soldiers in Moesia, which is modern Serbia. Another military diploma of A.D 158 speaks of Moorish soldiers from Africa in Dacia, or modern Rumania, and also auxiliary troops of Dacian Moors. A Roman document, Notitia Dignitatum which dated from the beginning of the 5th century A.D, mentions several Moorish battalions in the Balkans and the Moorish military colony Ad Mauros which was located on the Inn River near Vienna ; and in what is modern Besarabia, there was city called Maurocastrum. According to the document Notitia Dignatatium, 2,500 to 5,000 Illyrian Moorish soldiers in five separate military units, had served in the Near East. From this document we can deduce a number of things about the military prowess of Moorish warriors as well as at the beginning of the 5th century, at least 100,000 descendants of Moors lived in Illyricum, located in the present day Balkans.

M. Ameilius Aemilianus was a Moor born in Mauritania. In 253 after his departure from Lower Moesia (modern Serbia) where he was Governor, he defeated the Goths and was proclaimed emperor by his troops. In another case, Zenophilus, Consul of Numidia, boasts that ; My grandfather is a soldier, he had served in the Commitatus, for our family is of Moorish origin. The Commitiatus belonged to the renowned Equites Mauri, a Africoid horse Calvary of Northern Africa.

African Saracens - The mighty black giants of the battlefield

Early Christians used the term "Saracen" indiscriminately in reference to Moors and other Muslim populations in general. Though there are many accounts of fierce African warriors that fought against the Christians among the Saracens (a grouping mixed of different warriors). A literary work from the 14th century the "Rouland and Vernagu" describes a duel between the "black as pitch" Saracen Vernagu and the Christian Knight Roland. Another towering figure was Alagolfare, the Ethiopian giant of the "Sowdone of Babylone" whose"skin was "black and hard". It was said that ; This Astrogot (Alagolfare) of Ethiopia / he was a King of great strength. There was none such in Europe. So strong and so long in length / I trowe (?) he were a devils son of Beelzebub's line. In the tales of the African Saracens, their giant size, strength, and ferocity and skill in battle was always mentioned and they instilled fear in the enemies they faced based on these things. There are even written tales of them battling Vikings along the Mediterranean Sea.

As sailors they spread their martial arts knowledge to the Philippines and the term they use "moro -moro" in their martial arts is a reflection of the Moorish contribution. In Europe, many times,when Moors were depicted in any images they would include the symbol of a skull and crossbones which has always been associated with pirates. Moorish pirates and their history is well known, as they had many battles along the Barbary coast and the seas of Northern Africa. There is a secret organization called "skull and bones" and Freemasonry comes directly from Moorish Science. This line of knowledge also brought about other societies too, like the knights Templar. This goes much deeper because the Knights Templar used this knowledge as part of the training for their specialized warriors who fought using stealth and a number of other discreet tactics and methods. These are the same methods seen in other places like some secret East and West African warrior societies, and with the Moshuh Nanren, said to be the bodyguards of the royal family of China. The methods of the Moshuh Nanren are said to be the forerunner of what later became Ninjitsu methods in Japan.

Mobit Themin Warrior (Wearer of the veil)

Medieval artisans and writers portrayed Moors in a variety of roles in society. From members of the aristocracy to the military. Moorish Knights were depicted as foot soldiers, bowmen, lancers on horseback as well as high ranking officers.

Stemming from when the Moors were in rulership in Europe, lots of European families "coats of arms" depict Moors faces on them. This is because not only did these families have bloodline ties with the Moors, but Moors also built castles as well. The history of castle building and fortification originated in Africa, with many castles of note being in Ethiopia. There are many paintings in Europe of Moors in castles as well as in battles defending castles.

Interracial marriages also took place on a wide scale between the Moors and the Italians, who at that time had large admixtures of German blood due to the invasion of the Goths and Vandals. Besides Portugal and Spain, the blood of the Africans had also spread throughout all layers of Italian society, seeping its way into the leading and most illustrious royal family of the times; The Medicis. Skin color was not a barrier to power and honor in Italy as was demonstrated when Alessandro de Medici, often called “il Moro,” (the Moor) became the first Duke of Florence, Italy.

Alessandro de Medici, “il Moro,”

Although most Moorish families of nobility intermarried with Europeans, their surnames survived as a link to their African ancestry. Family names like Moore, Morris, Morrison, Morse, Black, Morandi, Morese, Negri, Schwarz (the German word for Black), all bear linguistic references to their African heritage. For example, the oldest Schwarz family crests (left) depict the image of an African, or Schwarzkopf, (meaning Black head in German). Other European families and cities embraced similar coats of arms which still exist today, showing the influential part Africans played in European history. These European families often call themselves “Black Nobility” yet claim no blackness but attribute the crests to the period when they conquered the Black Moors or slaves and state it is some sort of "honor by their ancestors." The obvious history proves otherwise, but this has to be noted for sake of argument.

Saint Maurice ; Knight of the Holy Lance

Black Knighthood; legend says the first knights were black or of African origins, with the term Knight referencing that their skin was “as dark as night “as a form of wordplay.

Saint Maurice Saint Maurice was according to tradition the leader of the legendary Roman Theban Legion in the 3rd century, and one of the favorite and most widely venerated saints of that group. He was the patron saint of several professions, locales, and kingdoms. He is also a highly revered saint in the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria and other churches of Oriental Orthodoxy. The name Maurice is derived from Latin and means "like a Moor". St. Maurice is the Knight of the Holy Lance and versions of his story. According to Eucherius, Maurice was a high official in the Thebaid region of Egypt, an early center for Christianity. He was the Commander of a Roman legion of Christian soldiers stationed in Africa. By decree of the Roman emperor Maximian, his contingent of 6,600 Knights were dispatched to Gaul and ordered to suppress a Christian uprising there. Maurice disobeyed the order, and he and the majority of his troops were killed in martyrdom, choosing to die rather than persecute Christians, renounce their faith, and sacrifice to the Gods of the Romans.

In the second half of the 4th century, the worship of St. Maurice spread over a broad area in Switzerland, northern Italy, Burgundy, and along the Rhine. Tours, Angers, Lyons, Chalon-sur-Saone and Dijon had Churches dedicated to St. Maurice. By the Epoch of Islamic Spain, the stature of St. Maurice reached immense proportions. Charlemagne, the grandson of Charles Martel and the most distinguished representative of Carolingian dynasty, attributed to St. Maurice the virtues of the perfect Christian warrior. In token of victory, Charlemagne had the lance of St. Maurice (a replica of the holy lance reputed to have pierced the side of Christ) carried before the Frankish army. St. Maurice was revered as a military saint and was prayed to when faced with situations that required great strength in the face of an enemy force. In 1240, a splendid Africoid statue of St. Maurice was placed in the Majestic cathedral of Magdeburg. The characteristics and features unmistakably and intentionally showing him as an African.

Born: 3rd century, Thebes, Egypt

Died: 287, Agaunum, Switzerland

Canonized: Pre-Congregation for the Causes of Saints

Major shrine: Abbey of St. Maurice, Agaunum (until 961), Magdeburg Cathedral (961-present)

Feast: September 22 (Catholic), December 27 (Orthodox), Thout 25 (Coptic Orthodox)

Attributes: banner, soldier, soldier being executed with other soldiers, knight, indigenous African in full armor, bearing a standard and a palm, knight in armor with a red cross on his breast, which is the badge of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.

The "legend of the Black Knight"

The Black Knight

The Black Knight is an ambiguous motif that exists in many Arthurian legends. In some cases, Black Knight is used to refer to a random knight who appears as a competitor to one of the Arthurian knights. In other episodes, Black Knight is a disguise often taken up by Sir Lancelot to escape attention. The most notable reference to a Black Knight is the tale of Sir Morien. According to a 13th century narrative of King Arthurian legends, Morien is called a son of a Moorish princess and is named the Black Knight because of his African lineage. The following is how he was described ;

He was all black, even as i tell ye : his head, his body, and his hands were all black, saving only his teeth. His shield and his armor were even those of a Moor, and black as raven.

The Black Knight

Sir Agrovale, one of the Knights of the Round Table, set out to look for Sir Lancelot when he became lost. During his search in far-off lands, he came across a Moorish princesses whom be bedded. From this union, Sir Morien was later born. Agrovale abandoned the Moorish princess and his illegitimate son and returned back to King Arthur’s court. Arthurian legends state that when Morien grew up, he set out to seek his father and reached England on this quest. This story is about his confrontation with Sir Lancelot.

In another story, Sir Morien was pitted against Sir Lancelot as a teenager. The combat continued for a long-time and in this hand-to-hand combat, neither was able to overpower the other. Finally, Sir Gawain intervened and asked the two to stop fighting in the spirit of good knights who meet a fine adversary. Since the origins of Sir Morien are described to be Moorish in Arthurian legends, subsequent stories related to him state that he always wore North African armor, very different from the armor of other Arthurian knights. Even the shield he bore was said to be of a Moorish make and shape.

The Black Knight and His Appearance Since Sir Morien was of an African descent and had black skin, he has been described to be of an exceptional appearance in Arthurian legends. One legend, for instance, repeatedly refers to his skin color as an unusual feature. According to these sagas, Sir Morien was black throughout and only his teeth were white, which is an obvious fact for a person of a different skin color but apparently a surprising fact for medieval authors. The legends further state that no one would have dared to face Sir Morien had he not called upon God in front of them and affirmed that he was not the devil. This exasperation of other knights over his appearance, the legends state, was also for the fact that he was exceptionally tall and very skilled in combat.

In closing

In this history compiled of the Moors, we now know that Moor refers to a broad spectrum of Africans of different cultures / territories with different and varied affiliations. In ancient times, all Africans were called Ethiopians or Kushites, and in the middle ages the terminology changed from that and all Africans were called Moors. In Medieval times, Moor did not mean simply people from Morocco or affiliates of any particular empire or group. The Moors as warriors / Knights, as scholars, as scientists,doctors and educators, and as builders of empires have a wealth off history and knowledge to learn from and to be proud of.

Article sources ;

AFRIKAN MOORS CIVILIZED EUROPE (online article)

https://blackhistory.neocities.org/moors.html

Book - Golden Age Of The Moor By Ivan Van Sertima

(With contributing authors)

James E. Brunson and Runoko Rashidi

John G. Jackson

Dana Rynolds

Wayne Chandler

Jose V. Pimenta - Bey

Jan Carew

Yusef Ali

Edward Scobie

Mamadou Chinyelu

Beatrice Lumpkin and Shiam Zitler

Ivan Van Sertima

James Ravell