The moorish traitor, the betrayed moorish: variants of the stereotype in the republican balladry of the Spanish Civil War

Abstract

In the ballads written is support of the spanish republic , there is an open outcry against the war crimes committed by the nacionals, while as the same time they try to praise the convative spirit of the republican soldiers. another purpose was to promote hate against insurrents and their allies, serving as a prapagandistic tool against Francisco Franco, and the others generals. Whitin this context of denounce and criticism of the rebels, the so called Moorish ballad offter us a repulsive vision of the inhabitant of notherm Africa, an important source of men for the rebels African army. this vision of the moroccans is related to the multi secular stereotype of the cruel and violent Moor inthe spanish mind.