A French epic poem from the twelfth century, The Song of Antioch, provides us with a clear example of how a Christian author portrayed Saracens as pagans to justify the actions of the First Crusade, particularly the conquest of Antioch. In the poem, the author implicates both the pagans of Rome and the Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus. With Saracens serving as contemporary stand-ins for Roman pagans, they, along with Jews, must be defeated in the name of Christ and for the sake of divine vengeance. The author even appropriates the figure of Muhammad into the Saracen pagan cult. Muhammad takes the form of an idol named Mahomes, suspended in midair by magnets. When the Saracen general, Sansadoines, is defeated, he destroys the idol, demonstrating in the process how powerless Mahomes was to protect the Saracens from defeat.

XREF: Relates to orientalism and postcolonial readings of how conquered peoples are reframed to legitimize violence, echoing Said's framework.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 126