博客來In the spring of 713, as the banners of Islam advance across the collapsing Visigothic kingdom, one man must decide between a glorious death and the survival of his people.
Teodomiro, a seasoned Visigothic lord ruling from the city of Orihuela, faces an Arab army that vastly outnumbers his own weary warriors. The walls are crumbling, supplies are dwindling, and the nobles who should have supported him have already fled or betrayed their oaths. With no allies and no hope of victory in open battle, he forges a desperate plan: a bold deception to convince the invaders that Orihuela is far better defended than it truly is. When Abd al-Aziz, the charismatic and ambitious son of the famous general Musa ibn Nusayr, arrives at the gates, he finds not a conquered city, but a cunning opponent. Teodomiro’s ruse leads to an unprecedented agreement: a political pact that will allow the Christian population to keep their properties, religion, and customs in exchange for tribute and loyalty. This is the historical Pact of Tudmir - one of the founding moments in the birth of al-Andalus. But peace is fragile, and every pact has its price. In the fertile Segura Valley, the Arab commander Qasim ibn Malik receives rich, irrigated lands as a reward. His authority is recognized, trade flourishes, and alliances are forged - including with a shrewd Jewish merchant, Yehuda ha-Levi, and with local Hispano-Gothic families eager to adapt to the new order. Yet not everyone benefits from the apparent harmony. High in the harsh mountains, far from the fertile fields and flowing water, Berber warriors who fought in the conquest are left with the poorest lands and the bitter sense of having been used and discarded. Among them, the proud and relentless leader Ifri ibn Yusuf watches the growing wealth of the Arabs with rage. In his fortress-village, he trains his men and steels the hearts of his people, preparing for the day when the Berbers will rise against Arab rule. From the besieged walls of Orihuela to the silent, wind-swept peaks of the mountains, The Pact of Tudmir weaves together the lives of nobles, warriors, merchants, and peasants whose fates are caught in the turbulent birth of medieval Spain. Loyalty and treachery, faith and survival, coexistence and revolt all collide in a land where no one can remain neutral. Based on real events and historical figures, this gripping novel brings to life the complex origins of al-Andalus: The dramatic negotiation of a unique political pact between conquerors and defeated.The cultural and religious crossroads of Christians, Muslims, and Jews.
The deep tensions between Arab elites and Berber warriors that will soon explode into open revolt. Perfect for readers who enjoy richly detailed historical fiction, morally ambiguous characters, and the epic transformation of an entire society, The Pact of Tudmir is the first chapter in an unforgettable saga about power, identity, and survival at the dawn of a new world.
