In the 1970s, films were very popular in which Swedish women, who were doing tourism on the Costa del Sol, fell "in love" with the Iberian Latin lover , but this feeling between the Normans and the Iberians dates back to the 9th century.
In the year 844, ruling al-Andalus, the emir Abd al-Rahman II , the Vikings went up the Guadalquivir and sacked Seville. After gathering a powerful Andalusian army, the emir managed to defeat them at the Battle of Tablada. To clarify terms and sign a lasting peace, the emir sent an embassy to the Viking court. At the head of this embassy was the court poet Al-Gazal , famous for his skillful handling of irony and for his… beauty of him (the Antonio Banderas of the time).
Escorted by a Viking ship, they arrived at “a large island in the ocean where there were streams and gardens […] It was close to other islands and the mainland […] (Greenland?)
The Norman king showered them with many gifts and gave them a grand reception. Al-Gazal thanked them for their welcome but warned them not to be forced to bow down to the king, arguing that they did not bow down to pagan kings. That's how it was done... but the Norman monarch had an ace up his sleeve.
When they went to enter the throne room, they realized that the lintel of the door was very low and the only way to get through was by bending down. The Viking smiled but did not count on the cunning of the Andalusian. Neither short nor lazy, Al-Gazal sat on the ground and shuffled his buttocks to get through the door, of course with his head held high. Given the cunning of the poet, he no longer tried to humiliate him and they spent several days of pleasant conversation and chat.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly but… the queen had also marveled at the ambassador, but physically. Al-Gazal reciprocated with compliments and verses but only to reciprocate the good treatment received and to get information. The frequent meetings and the gifts received caused rumors to spread through the court. The poet's companions warned him that it was very dangerous to continue with this game and to settle the matter. He did so and the embassy left the court.
Al-Ghazal left such a mark that the history of the Iberian Latin lover It was passed from generation to generation until in the 70s the Nordics decided to emigrate – in tourist mode – to the Costa del Sol to look for it. The problem is that the one they found was….
Alfredo Landa.
Source:The Templars and other medieval enigmas – Juan Eslava Galán