muladís

Muladí refers to Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula who converted to Christianity during the period of Muslim rule (Al-Andalus) and, in some sources, to their descendants. The term is of Arabic origin (muwallad) and entered medieval Latin and Romance writings to designate “new Christians” of Muslim origin, in contrast with older Christian populations. Its exact meaning and usage vary by region and time, and historians sometimes treat muladí as a broad label for converts from Islam rather than as a fixed social category.

Origins and usage: Christian chroniclers from the 9th century onward describe individuals from Muslim communities who embraced Christianity for political, social, or personal reasons, or who did so under pressure. The muladí identity was often ambiguous: some converts fully integrated into Christian society, while others retained elements of their Islamic upbringing or loyalties. Because sources differ, some scholars prefer terms such as muwallad or simply “new Christians” rather than a single, uniform category.

Social and legal context: Muladíes could experience advantages through conversion, yet they frequently faced social stigma and legal restrictions associated with being newcomers to the Christian church. Their status depended on local custom, royal policy, and the evolving relations between Christian and Muslim communities.

Relation to other groups: The historical landscape also includes Mozárabes (Christians living under Muslim rule), Mudéjares ( Muslims living under Christian rule), and later Moriscos (Muslims who formally converted to Christianity after the late 15th century). The muladí term intersects with these identities but denotes a distinct, conversion-based category that shifts with regional politics and sources.

Historiography: Modern scholarship stresses the fluidity of the category and the challenges of precise boundaries, reflecting diverse local practices and varying aims of contemporary chroniclers.