Good Pedro, Bad Pedro

Good Pedro, Bad Pedro

Touring the Alcazar In Seville yesterday was an experience of holding extremes in aesthetic, political and moral tension with one another. The Alcazar was built as a fort in 913 CE, and has been expanded and reconstructed over the 11 centuries of its existence. It's most recent renovation was enacted by Pedro I who, between 1364 and 1366 crested the Alcazar's crown jewel, the Palacio de Don Pedro. We wrote in a previous blog about the style we are calling "mash up" that is, the combination of primarily Muslim and Christian styles in one building and the Alcazar is no exception. Although Pedro was often at odds with his fellow Roman Catholics, he had a long-standing alliance with the Muslim emir of Granada, Mohammed V. In 1364, Pedro decided to build a new palace within the Alcazar, his friend Mohammed sent the best artisans of the day to help Pedro's dream come true.

As we toured this mist amazing historical site, I was struck by the fact that this Roman Catholic ruler embraced not only Muslim architecture, but allowed Arabic inscriptions from the Qu'ran to decorate the door frame of his own "holy of holies" -- his throne room. Pedro I was also called derisively by his enemies "Pedro the King of the Jews" because he not only allowed Jews to thrive in his city, he executed some half dozen persons who were fomenting a plan to kill some of his Jewish friends and employees. His relationships with Jews and Muslims went beyond "tolerance" and clearly swung towards friendship and admiration for the gifts of these two great traditions.

At the time, he was not called "Peter (Pedro) the cruel" for nothing!! He probably murdered his first wife, abandoned his mistress, murdered anyone who was disloyal to him, and had no problem dispatching people with ease. So, lest we overly romanticize this great "tolerant King" we can't forget that it was really at the whim and fancy of Peter's needs and wishes instead of an over-arching philosophy of multiculturalism.

Our visit to the Alcazar palace and ground was easily one of the great highlights of our time in Seville.