Martyrs of Córdoba

The Martyrs of Córdoba were a group of about 48 Christian men and women in 9th‑century Muslim‑ruled Al-Andalus (now southern Spain). They were executed between about 850 and 859 for acts such as publicly declaring their Christian faith, denouncing Islam or converting from Islam. Their story is known mainly through the writings of the priest and scholar Eulogius of Córdoba, who encouraged them and recorded their martyrdom.

 Historical background 
In 711 a Muslim army from North Africa conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula, and the region became known as Al‑Andalus under Islamic rule. Under the Emirate of Córdoba, Christians (and Jews) lived as “dhimmis” — protected but subordinate, and subject to special taxes and laws. Under Islamic law (sharīʿa) in this period, blasphemy against Islam or apostasy (leaving Islam) were punishable by death.

Over time many Christians in Al‑Andalus faced social, legal and economic pressure, and some sought martyrdom as a form of witness and protest.

 The martyrdoms 
Between about 850 and 859, a series of executions took place in Córdoba (and the surrounding region) involving Christians who had publicly denounced Islam, or declared they were Christians despite being born to Muslim fathers, or otherwise accused of apostasy or blasphemy. Many of the martyrs approached the Muslim authorities, declared their Christian belief, or criticised Muhammad, thereby inviting judgment and execution.

Their deaths were mostly by decapitation, but also by other means. Eulogius recorded their acts and gave theological justification for their decisions, viewing the martyrs as witnesses to the Christian faith under Muslim rule.

 List of martyrs 
The following gives a few examples of the martyrs (full list is longer).  
 Perfectus – priest in Córdoba, executed 18 April 850 after denouncing Muhammad publicly.  
 Isaac of Córdoba – from a wealthy family, left his government post to become a monk, then publicly proclaimed Christianity and was executed 3 June 851.  
 Aurelius and Natalia; Felix and Liliosa with the deacon George the Deacon – about 27 July c. 852, they were Iberians from religiously mixed families, required to follow Islam legally, but revealed they were Christians and were condemned for apostasy.  
 Aurea of Córdoba – born in Córdoba to Muslim parents, widow, became a Christian nun, was discovered, forced to renounce Christianity under duress, then resumed it in secret, and finally again refused to recant and was executed 19 July 856.  
 Roderick (Rudericus) of Córdoba and Salomon of Córdoba – 13 March 857; Roderick, a priest in Cabra, was betrayed by his Muslim brother, accused of apostasy and executed alongside Salomon.  
 Eulogius of Córdoba – 11 March 859; the scholar‑priest who encouraged the movement and recorded it was himself executed for supporting apostates and blasphemers.  
 Leocritia of Córdoba – young girl converted from Islam by a relative, with Eulogius’s help went into hiding, was found, arrested and executed 15 March 859 for apostasy.

Cordoba
Category:Spanish Roman Catholic saints
Category:People from the Emirate of Córdoba
Category:Martyred groups
Category:People from Córdoba, Spain
 Cordoba
Category:Christian saints killed by Muslims
Category:Christians executed for refusing to convert to Islam
Cordoba
Category:Massacres in Spain
Category:9th-century people from al-Andalus
Category:Christians from al-Andalus