Six different texts, six different versions of the same event, some written by Christians and some by Muslims. Text number one was written by a Christian. The text refers to the date “the year of Our Lord 713″ which is a common Christian manner of dating, and also the year “713″ is A.D. a Christian date, the Muslim equivalent would be in the 70s. Also the text mentions that Spain was “taken”, and it mentions how “after the persecution or conquest” some of the “Christians who had been able to escape the battle were able to flee to the mountains”, it is in the perspective of the Christians who lost the battle. The second text was also written by Christians, as can be seen once again in the manner of dating in anno domini “year of our Lord”, it also mentions the word “amen” which is common in Christianity for the ending of a prayer or lesson. The third text, once again, was written by a Christian, states that “King Roderic disappeared, perhaps a victim of the combat”, it depicts Roderic as a martyr. Also the dates are of the Christian calender “709″ and “711″. Text number four was written by Muslims, the choosing of Roderic to be King seems to be that of a third party, one that just viewed the event. It also talks mentions Spain in the context, “the Island of Spain” it seems to be described as a foreign and unfamiliar land. Another point, it mentions in great detail the plans of battle, “The ships came and went till all the troops had landed” and how they overthrew Roderic, “Then Roderic and his following were killed”, the Spanairds were also called “infidels” which is not a description a Christian would give themselves. The fifth text was also written by a Muslim, the detailsof the battle from the Muslim perspective, “They hidduring the day, and at nightfall he send the ships back to bring the rest of his men”. The sixth text was written by neither a Christian nor Muslim, the text mentions both Muslim and Christian calenders, it also describes Roderic’s rule as “evil” and the “Musa invading altogether unjustly”, the historic battle is told showing the good and bad of both sides as if the author was writing about the battle for a history textbook. The texts number (from oldest to newest) 3, 2, 1, 4, 5, 6. Four, five, and six are written in a tone that seems more historian, while three, two, and one seem more in the moment. Also in some of the texts Roderic’s death is not noted, one mentions that it was unkown what happened to him.
