Book Review – Defenders of the West by Raymond Ibrahim

What Raymond Ibrahim has done here is reveal an accurate history of men maligned in our current day during a time in history maligned as well. I was so impressed with this work of history. Ibrahim’s first and last chapters are almost as important as the eight men covered in this book. With his introduction, he lays everything out on the table and especially his methodology. He is using primary sources where at all possible, he’s using secondary sources at the time when needed, he’s using modern interpretations only when necessary, and he’s using primary sources of the same events on the other side of the conflicts to bolster his claims. This is exactly what I want to see in the historical books I want to read and learn from.

Ibrahim has other works that talk about this period of the Middle Ages/Crusades in other books but here focuses on eight men as follows: Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar “The Cid”, King Richard “The Lionheart”, Ferdinand III of Spain, Louis IX of France, John Hunyadi, Gjergj Kastrioti “Skanderbeg”, and Vlad III of Romania “Dracula/The Impaler”.

Using these men, Ibrahim shows that the Crusades were not this conquering colonialism against poor people. They were a response to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Christians in Christian lands and in the Holy Lands by barbarous Ottamans and other Muslim groups. The first thing that Ibrahim makes clear is just how bloodthirsty and horrific the Muslim rulers and warriors were. I will leave the book to go into the details but this was eye-opening information that is either not discussed or hidden from most discussions. Also, the fact that these men were zealous Christians, and while Vlad III is probably the most surprising to most, I was more surprised at St. Louis IX’s piety and just how quickly France fell after someone so inspiring to his people in Christian charity inspired it. Another point that stand out is how honorable and battle-tested these men were. Another amazing story is the Skanderbeg who was a Janissary. I know in college I learned about this and what was taught there is not what Janissaries actually were. Again, the stories of all these men were amazing to learn about.

These aren’t sickly kings looking upon the battlefield from afar. They are leading the charge and coming up with strategies which instill fear into their enemies. Finally, the fact that their Christian worldview informs their decisions and in how they act after battle. Wherein their enemies would do unspeakable things to the Christians they ruled over, these men would rule with Christian outlooks and freedom and liberties were afforded to civilians and foes alike.

Ibrahim’s final chapter really solidifies the point of what this history tells us. What it says about the men who have been slandered, the time period that has been whitewashed, and the outcomes that are still affecting us today but have been hidden in the name of other lies. If you’re into modern politics and want to read the first and last chapter you will get a great primer in why the book was written and why it’s needed.

This was a top-notch, well-researched, well-presented, and fair historical book. I will definitely be checking out more from Ibrahim and learn more about these men and time to see what else has been missing from an accurate understanding and showing that the Christian worldview really does service for the grandeur of the Western world we have enjoyed.