Creating an Ideal Self: Representations of Infidels in the Late Medieval Anatolian Frontier Narratives

Abstract

The grand epic narratives of the religious heroes of the Muslim conquest of Anatolia have been well-known repositories of the world views and ideologies of the frontier society of late medieval Asia Minor. This article investigates the represen- tation of the “other” of various categories, such as Frenk, Rum, and Yunan, in epics such as the Battalnâme, the Danişmendnâme, and the Saltuknâme, arguing that the representation of these groups primarily functions as a negative self-image, as an in- version of the ideals of the frontier communities, such as chivalry, justice, generosity, courage, and self-discipline. It draws special attention to the “companion figure” of the hero as a tool to promote gaza ideology while inviting conversion of non-Muslim allies.