Alcazaba also of arabic origin (al-qasaba, stronghold), it is used to name fortifications built inside a city, – specially in southern spain (cordoba, alcala la real, almera, or malaga).
Alcazar – word of arabic origin (al-qasar) that means “fortress”. In spain, it is usually used to name castles with residential function. Examples: the “alcazares” of segovia, toledo or ciudad rodrigo; “los reales alcazares” of sevilla.
Almena (english merlon) – this is a line of prismatic stone fortification elements that line the tops of walls, crenells, crenellation, merlons. Usually refers to crenellation where the merlons are capped with a stone spike or pyramidal coping.
Arcada- a line of arches, sometimes in conjunction with a colonnade, usually built along a wall or around a courtyard.
Arrow – flecha
Axe – hacha
Baron/baroness – barón/baronesa)
Bastion – a fortification element that projects outward, beyond the main fortress, to cover dead ground. A bastion is used mainly in association with modern artillery fortresses.
Battering ram – ariete
Bow – arco
Castle – castillo
Castle – el castillo
Castro – pre-romanic (celtic or celtiberian) fortified village. Example: “castro de la ventosa”, at cacabelos, or the ancient castro of molina de aragon. It also appears at the name of many fortified towns: castrourdiales, castrotorafe, castrofuerte, castroverde, castrillo, puentecastro.
Catapult – catapulta
Coronation – la coronación
Count/countess – conde/condesa)
Court – el corte
Crossbow – ballesta
Crown – la corona
Crown prince – el príncipe heredero
Cuidadela (citadel) – it is used to describe a fortified location or fortress with a garrison, and often refers to modern artillery fortresses. It is also used to name royal residences, even if they are not fortified. The word appears in the names of some towns, as “alcazar de san juan” or “alcazaron” (lit. “two castles”)
Dagger – daga
Defensive wall – muralla
Duke/duchess – duque/duquesa)
Emperor – el emperador
Empress – la emperatriz
Flail – mangual
Fortification – fortificación
Highness – alteza
King – el rey
Knife cuchillo
Knight – cabellero
Mace – maza
Majesty – majestad
Marquis/marchioness – marqués/marquesa)
Matacan – a projection built onto the outer surface of a wall, parapet or gate with holes or slits on the bottom. The structures allowed the protected defenders to pour hot oil, boiling water and rubble, etc. At the enemy below.
Moat – foso
Monarch – el monarca
Mota – low hill placed on a plain. It is usually (but not always) artificial. Examples: “castillo de la mota” at medina del campo, or benavente; “mota del marquas”, at the town of the same name.
Mudojar – population of muslim religion who lived in the christian kingdoms. Also the architectural style, with arab influences, that was developped at spain at xiv, xv & xvi centuries, and usually performed by mudajares or moriscos (christians descendant of muslims). Example: the castle of coca is built at this style.
Palace – el palacio
Prince – el príncipe
Princess – la princesa
Queen – la reina
Royal family – la familia real
Saber – sable
Siege – asedio
Siege engine – arma de asedio
Spear – lanza
Sword – espada
Throne – el trono
Torre – tower. It is used to describe a fortified location usually consisting of a single tower defending a region or shoreline, but towers are often referred to as fortresses.
Torre albarrana – a tower which is built separated from the main wall of a fortification, and connected to it by means of an arch.
Tower – torre
Trebuchet – fundíbulo
Viscount/viscountess – vizconde/vizcondesa)
War hammer – martillo de guerra
Weapon – arma
Word Document at: 162 Spanish Mediaeval Vocabulary
Next: 163 Spanish Fencing Terms
WereVerse Universe Baby!
