U službi kalifa: historijski roman iz dobe hrvatske straže u Španiji
In the Service of the Caliph (1907) is a historical novel by Velimir Deželić Sr. about Croatian soldiers in the service of the Moorish Caliph in medieval Spain, their heroism, and the conflict between Christianity and Islam.
Velimir Deželić senior (1864–1941), a prolific Croatian writer, historian and publicist, published the novel In the Service of the Caliph: A Historical Novel from the Age of the Croatian Guard in Spain in 1907 (Tisak i naklada Antun Scholz, Zagreb). The work is one of Deželić's early historical novels and is followed by Hadžib's Fate (1908).
The novel is set in the period of medieval Spain under Moorish rule (Al-Andalus). The author uses the historical fact that caliphs and Moorish rulers often employed foreign mercenaries, among whom were Croats (Slavs), known as excellent warriors and bodyguards. Through the fates of Croatian heroes serving the caliph, Deželić depicts their heroic exploits, internal conflicts, loyalty and longing for their distant homeland.
The work combines an adventure plot with romantic and patriotic elements typical of Croatian historical novels from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emphasizes Croatian heroism, the religious and national consciousness of the characters in a foreign environment, the conflict between Christian and Islamic culture, and the themes of honor, love, and betrayal. The style is dynamic, narrative, and accessible, intended for a wide audience.
In the context of Deželić's oeuvre (which includes numerous historical novels such as The First King, The Glory of Croatian Glory, In the Claws of the Lion), this novel stands out for its exotic themes and its attempt to present Croatian history and heroism in a broader European-Mediterranean context. Today, it is considered a rare antiquarian edition and an interesting example of popular Croatian historical fiction from the early 20th century.
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