Saint James | |
|---|---|
 Saint James Matamoros byGiovanni Battista Tiepolo | |
| The Moor-slayer | |
| Venerated in | Folk Catholicism |
| Feast | 25 July (same feast day as theApostle James the Great) |
| Attributes | Riding a whitesteed, holding aflag and asword |
| Patronage | Spain, and theSpanish people |
Saint James the Moor-slayer (Spanish:Santiago Matamoros) is the name given to the representation (painting, sculpture, etc.) of the apostleJames the Great, as a legendary, miraculous figure who appeared at the also legendaryBattle of Clavijo, helping the Christians conquer the MuslimMoors.
The story was invented centuries after the alleged battle was supposed to have taken place.[1][2] "Matamoros" is not a name nor an advocation of the saint. Aspects of the historicalBattle of Monte Laturce (859) were incorporated into this legend of the battle of Clavijo, asClaudio Sánchez-Albornoz demonstrated in 1948.[3] Historian Jean Mitchell-Lanham says: "While this event is based on legend, the supposed battle has provided one of the strongest ideological icons in the Spanish national identity."[4]
In the 17th century, followers of his cult (Santiaguistas) proposed the patronage of Spain under his name, in contrast to those who favoredTeresa of Ávila. TheSantiaguistas overcame and won this religious debate, naming him the Patron Saint of Spain, until November 1760 whenPope Clement XIII rescinded this honor and officially declared theImmaculate Conception as the patroness of Spain as a country, and installed the historical apostle James as patron of theSpaniards.[1]
The Christian kingAlfonso II of Asturias died in 842 and was succeeded by his nephew,Ramiro I of Asturias.
Meanwhile, in Christian circles, the legend grew that James, a disciple of Jesus, had gone to Spain, founded the Church there, and provided protection for the Christians. Historians have found no evidence for these old claims.[5] Old bones that were discovered in what is nowSantiago de Compostela were venerated as his relics.[6]: 20–47
The legend was that a battle took place. On Alfonso's death, the Moors demanded the reinstatement of thetribute of 100 virgins (fifty noble and fifty commoner), which Alfonso had defied. Ramiro denied them the tribute and prepared for battle. On the night before the Battle of Clavijo, he dreamt of St. James, who told him that God had chosen James as the patron for the Spanish kingdoms.
According to the legend, James appeared as a warrior on his white horse with a white banner to help Christian armies of King Ramiro I in a battle against the Moors. The Christians marched on the cry of¡Dios ayuda a Santiago! "God save St. James!". They slew more than 5000Muslims and James became known as "Matamoros".
The iconography of JamesMatamoros was used in theSpanish colonization of the Americas as a rival force to the indigenous gods, and protector of Spaniards from theindigenous peoples of the Americas. He was depicted as aconquistador.
Spanish colonial era reliefs depictingSantiago Matamoros serve as gate icons ofFort Santiago inIntramuros inManila, andFuerte de la Concepción y del Triunfo inOzamiz. Other places in the Philippines that have Saint James the Great under this specific title as patron includePlaridel,Bulacan;Bolinao,Pangasinan;Betis,Pampanga;Libon,Albay;Ibaan,Batangas andDapitan. Among someChinese Filipinos, the apostle is syncretised with the similarly martial Chinese deityGuan Yu, sometimes calledSanto Santiago,Te Ya Kong (HokkienChinese:帝爺公;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Tè-iâ-kong) orKuan Kong (HokkienChinese:關公;Pe̍h-ōe-jī:Koan-kong).[7]
TheOrder of Santiago, a Spanish order of knighthood, originates from St. James' supposed involvement at the Battle of Clavijo. A wide number of Mexican settlements were namedMatamoros by Spanish settlers in honor of their patron saint.
Matamoros can also be found as a Hispanic family name, for instanceMiguel Matamoros.
¡Santiago! or¡Santiago y cierra España! has been the historicalbattle cry of Spanish armies.
In the 1620s Spain debated who should be the country's patron—James, the current patron, or a combination of him and the newly canonizedTeresa of Ávila (1515–1582). Teresa's promoters said Spain faced new challenges, especiallythe threat of Protestantism and the declining society at home, and needed a modern patron saint who understood these problems and could lead the Spanish nation back. Santiago's supporters (Santiaguistas) fought back viciously and won the day, but Teresa of Ávila remained far more popular at the local level.[6]
The statue of James Matamoros at theSantiago de Compostela Cathedral, one of the holiest pilgrimages of theCatholic Church, was reported to be slated for removal after the2004 Madrid train bombings perpetrated by radical Islamists in an effort to seek "harmony and understanding" withthe Muslim community in Spain and to prevent anger from the Arab-Muslim world. However, church officials reversed that decision to remove the statue following an outcry.[8] Church officials[who?] said "one should not seek to demolish any historic masterpieces just because of an unfortunate event, no Muslim imagines Mecca being demolished just because it might offend non Muslims".[This quote needs a citation]
Media related toSaint James Moorslayer at Wikimedia Commons