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An alcázar is a type of Islamic castle or palace located in the Iberian Peninsula (also known as al-Andalus) built during Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries.They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout the Umayyad caliphate and later, for Christian rulers following the Spanish Reconquista. The term alcázar is also used for many medieval castles built by Christians on early Roman, Visigothic or Islamic fortifications and is frequently used as a synonym for castillo or castle.

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Terminology

The Spanish word alcázar (pronounced [alˈkaθaɾ]) derives from the Arabic word القصر al-qaṣr "the fort, castle, or palace," that in turn derives from the Latin word Castrum ("fortress", "military camp").

Similar words exist in Galician (alcázar, pronounced [alˈkaθɐɾ]), Portuguese (alcácer, pronounced [ɐɫˈkasɛɾ]), and Catalan (alcàsser, pronounced [əlˈkasəɾ]).

Spain also has Muslim citadels known as alcazabas (القصبة al-qasbah). However, not all castles in Spain are called alcázar: the majority are called castillo in Spanish or castell in Catalan.^[1] Nor was every alcázar or alcazaba in Iberia built by the Muslims: many castles with these names were built after the Islamic caliphate was expelled from the Iberian Peninsula. Following the Spanish Reconquista, Christian patrons built or refurbished palaces to resemble the Islamic style, known as Mudéjar.^[2]

Often, alcázars are described as "Moorish," a term used by Europeans to refer to followers of the Islamic faith. While "Moors" has been used for centuries to reference Spanish Muslims, today however, the discussion of "Moorishness" must be approached with care. The term has been radicalized historically in Spain to signify the Other and exoticize the Muslim population.^[3] Modern language utilizes the terms Islamic, Muslim, and Andalusi instead of Moorish, but it is worth clarifying the historical context.

History

Alcázars were owned by Islamic, and later, Christian rulers of al-Andalus, the buildings symbolized the ruler's power and wealth over the region. Over time, the different cultural influences of the buildings merged, marking the Alcázar as a transmission among Islamic, Christian and Jewish cultures.^[4]

Origin

Alcázars first became constructed under the Umayyad Dynasty. It was after conquering the Visigothic Kingdom when the Umayyads began expanding on their architecture to create a sophisticated Islamic empire.^[4]After the 717 conquest, Umayyad caliphs established their capital in Córdoba, Spain, transforming the former Visigoth palace into the Alcázar of the Caliphs.^[5]

Umayyad Dynasty (711-1010)

The reign of the Umayyad Dynasty in Arabia ended with the rise of the Abbasid caliphate in the second half of the eighth century. Umayyad caliph Abd al-Rahman I fled the Middle East, traveling West for five years before finally settling in what would become known as Al-Andalus after the Islamic conquest of Iberia in 711. He and his descendants built palaces equivalent to grand cities that became homes to rulers and Andalusian elites.^[6]

Madinat al-Zahra was designed by Umayyad caliph Abd al-Rahman III and constructed with supervision from his son, Al-Hakam II.^[7] It was the first Umayyad palace-city located in Spain following the dynasty's flee from the Abbasids in Iraq. Founded in 936 CE, the palace-city rivaled its counterparts in Baghdad.^[8]

Reconquista (897-1492)

Not long after the Islamic Empire reached the Pyrenees Mountains in the 8th century, Christian forces began their reconquest of Spain. Starting with the capture of Barcelona in 801 and ending with Granada in 1492, Christian rulers began the 700-year long transition from an Islamic to a Christian Spain.^[9] Many of the Islamic-styled architecture constructed by Arabic rulers became denatured under Christian rule. ^[10] This process involved Christian rulers appropriating and emulating the architecture of al-Andalus to signify their own power over the area.^[11]

After the capture of Córdoba in 1236, Ferdinand III expanded on his campaign of devastation, reaching Seville a few years later. The siege of Seville lasted sixteen months and ended when Christian forces isolated the Muslims by land and sea, forcing them to surrender. Islamic Seville capitulated on November 23 1248, with Castilian troops occupying the Alcázar of Seville immediately.

The Christian king of Castile y León, King Pedro I began commissioning Mudéjar craftsmen to build upon the alcázars all over Andalusia. Pedro I saw architecture like the Alhambra and wanted to emulate a similar political message of royal power.^[11] A visual culture between Islamic architecture and the Castilian-Leonese crown began to form as Pedro I oversaw the construction of Islamic-inspired façades and throne rooms. The most notable additions can be seen in the Alcázar of Seville, where the decorative Islamic style was continued, featuring Arabic inscriptions in praise of King "Sultan" Don Pedro and Allah.^[9]
European and Christian iconography on azulejo at the Alcázar of Seville

Nasrid Dynasty (1184-1492)

The Nasrids were the last ruling Islamic dynasty in Iberia before falling to the Reconquista in 1492. They are known for maintaining a Muslim stronghold in Southern Spain for many years despite the impending Spanish monarchy to the North.^[12] Arguably their greatest architectural accomplishment is the Alhambra located in Granada.

The Alhambra, translated to "the red one" in English, is a large fortified palace-city built by the Nasrid Dynasty to function as a royal residence. It is well known for its use of Islamic aesthetics in the architecture, along with religious inscriptions.^[1] The Alhambra contains several palaces and gardens from which Nasrid Sultans conducted business and went about their daily lives.

Post Reconquista (1492-present day)

While a majority of the Muslim population was forced out of Spain following the Reconquista, some Mudéjars remained, continuing to build hybrid monuments for Christian patrons throughout the 16th century.^[9]

In the years following the Christian reconquest of Spain, the Alhambra underwent many changes in European styles and endured some neglect.^[10] Since 1828, there has been a consistent effort to restore and conserve Islamic structures like the Alhambra in Spain.^[10]

Common Features

The construction that defines Alcázars is the distinctive Iberian practices that can be found in the architectural design.^[13] This technique is coined as being Mudéjar in style due to the presence of Morisco and Mudéjar craftsmen throughout both Muslim and Christian rule that had largely contributed to, and had a lasting influence on, the construction of buildings.^[14] Features of the Alcázars reflected Islamic influence with their geometric design and the inward-looking style emphasizing seclusion and privacy for the occupant.^[10] Alcázars of the Iberian Peninsula usually consisted of a complex system of buildings with multiple palaces, halls, and courtyards, all serving a specific function. ^[15]

Gardens

Gardens played a vital role in the settlement of Islamic Spain, providing a space of relaxation, economic benefits, and the illusion of paradise to its beholder.^[16] Alcázar courtyards housed some of the most grandiose gardens in the region, reflecting the wealth of its ruler. The influence of the gardens can be see today as some gardens still remain, having been preserved and admired by the Christian rulers post-Muslim rule.^[13]

Inner courtyard gardens was the most common approach of horticulture in the Alcázars. Gardens would be placed into a system of interconnected courtyards where the buildings completely enclosed the space.^[16] The gardens were kept from outside view, following Islamic architectural practices of an inward, plain interior that disguised decorated, private areas; only those fortunate enough could witness the courtyards.^[13]

Basic components of the Alcázar gardens included: a raised grid formation, an irrigation system with a collecting pool as its distribution point, and formal walkways and pavement. Continued influence of Islamic techniques can be seen in the composition of the gardens that are geometric, symmetrical, and often quadripartite arrangement, known as a charbagh.^[16] A range of shrubs, trees, vegetables and flowers were grown in these gardens. The fruits could be cultivated and marketable while also supplying the garden with a pleasant fragrance and aesthetic beauty. The fruit trees in the gardens of the Alcázar of Seville are reported to have introduced new, "exotic" fruits to Europe such as lemons, oranges, apricots, and peaches. ^[16]

Water system

Constant irrigation was necessary to maintain the lush flora of the gardens. Intricate Arabic irrigation designs were incorporated into the courtyards of the Alcázars by Muslim rulers to serve multiple purposes. The systems supplied the gardens with a constant flow of fresh water, aesthetically refreshed the space, and had a cooling effect on the courtyard and surrounding buildings.^[10] Each irrigation system of the Alcázars had unique elements, defining the individuality of the location. These techniques ranged from still pools, flowing channels, and fountains, and were implemented to achieve a visual and architectural link from exterior to interior spaces.^[16] Water created a sense of of peace and spiritual stability in the gardens.^[10]

The Comares Palace of the Alhambra uses a large pool in the center of the courtyard as both a functioning irrigation system and an artistic spectacle.^[16] Shrubbery flanked the sides of the pool and therefore had access to water and the pool reflects the two porticoed sides of the surrounding buildings, providing an interesting illusion to the viewer.
The courtyards in the Alcázar of Seville features an irrigation tank with flower beds on each side, along with aqueducts dividing deeply sunken flower beds.^[16] The flower beds are arranged in a geometric pattern with channels providing water from a central basin.

Inscriptions

Since the Umayyad Dynasty, displays of monumental inscriptions with religious or civic purpose are commonly seen on the entrances and façades of Iberian architecture.^[11] In both Muslim-built and Christian Mudéjar palaces in Spain, inscriptions are prevalent in the palace design. One instance is the Alhambra in Granada where Arabic inscriptions are present throughout the palace walls. Some of these incriptions include excerpts from the Quran, poetry written by Ibn al-Khatib and Ibn Zamrak, and the Nasrid dynasty's motto. A recurring saying throughout is also present, ولا غالب إلا الله or "there is no victor but God."^[17]

At the Alcázar of Seville, a mix of Arabic and Spanish inscriptions uplift the bilingual atmosphere of Mudéjar style Spanish architecture. The palaces's patron, Peter of Castile, was a Christian that embraced the Muslims' taste for beauty in the form of the Islamic decoration, including inscriptions in Arabic, Alcázar.^[2]

Nasrid motto decoratively inscribed in the wall of the Alhambra
Decorative Arabic inscriptions from the Alcázar of Seville
Hybrid inscription on the Alhambra walls; the Arabic Nasrid motto inscribed on the traditionally European coat of arms.

Triumphal Arch

Arches—either single or triple, in the form of Roman triumphal arches—in the alcázars of al-Andalus were used to provide formal and symbolic character to the buildings. They are rich in Islamic-inspired decoration and are located strategically; commonly opening up to the main squares or courtyards.^[11]

The Alhambra emulates a triumphal arch between the Puerta del Vino (Wine gate) and the Puerta de la Justicia (Justice Gate). It is decorated with various colors and ornamentation that includes a stucco of the coat of arms of the Band of the Sultan Muhammad V of Granada (1354–1359 and 1362–1391)^[11] The arches in the Alhambra serve multiple purposes, one opening into the grant courtyards of the building, and the other providing a view outside to Granada—where the rulers could contemplate the land they controlled.
The Alcázar of Seville features a triumphal arch at the entrance to the Patio de la Montería, opening up to the palace's monumental façade.The triple archway is decorated in heraldic designs, including the badge of Knights of the Band.^[11]

Extant Alcázars

Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, also called "the Alcázar of Córdoba", located in Córdoba, Andalusia, is an Islamic palace that became a Christian site after the 13th century Reconquista of Córdoba. The Muslims had expanded a Visigoth fortress into a large compound with gardens and a large library. This alcázar was the summer home of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, and the site of their meeting with Christopher Columbus before his famous voyage to the Americas.
The Alcázar of the Caliphs of Córdoba was the seat of the government of Al-Andalus, and the residence of the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba since the arrival of the Muslims in the 8th Century until the Christian conquest of the city, in 1236. It had a total area of 39,000 square metres (420,000 sq ft). Part of its structure survives.
Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera, was a fortified palace-city located in Southern Spain. In 1931, it was designated as a Spanish Historic site, Bien de Interés Cultural. Today, it functions as a public park for locals in Jerez de la Frontera.
Alcázar of Segovia
Alcázar of Segovia was first cited in the 12th century, though its foundations date back to Roman times. It is a castle built by the Christian monarchs in the place of an Islamic fort. During the Middle Ages when in the Kingdom of Castile, the alcázar of Segovia was the favorite residence of the Castilian monarchs, and almost each successive king added new parts to the building, transforming the original fortress into a courtier residence and prolonging the construction of the castle until the 16th century, when king Philip II added the conical spires and the slate roofs. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs, but they were restored in the very same style in which they were built 300 years before. In this castle there was the proclamation of Isabella I as queen of Castile in 1474 starting the War of the Castilian Succession.
Alcázar of Seville, on the site of the palace of the Almohad Caliphate called al-Muwarak, was built in the 1360s by Christian Castilian craftsmen in Mudéjar style, and frequently remodeled. It was first used by Peter of Castile with his mistress María de Padilla. The structures and gardens are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
View of the Alcázar of Toledo
Alcázar of Toledo was used as a military academy in modern times. The Siege of the Alcázar in the Spanish Civil War references this castle, which was held by the Nationalist colonel José Moscardó Ituarte against Republican forces. Republican forces captured Moscardó's 24-year-old son Luis, and on 23 July 1936 informed Moscardó that if he did not turn over the alcázar within ten minutes his son would die. When Moscardó did not surrender, Luis was murdered, not immediately but one month later, on 23 August.
The Alhambra in Granada, a palace and complex fortress. It was the last Muslim stronghold in Al-Andalus before it functioned as a royal Christian palace following the Reconquista.^[1] Today it serves as one of Spain's most popular tourist sites.

Extinct Landmark Alcázars

Castle of Burgos was originally built by Muslims in Spain but became known as a royal residence commonly used by the Kings of Castile . It lost value after the Habsburg family acquired the palace and following its partial destruction at the hands of French forces in 1813. Citizens attempted to partially restore the palace in the late 20th century, it now hosts a museum where visitors can view remaining portions of the castle grounds.
The Royal Alcazar of Madrid was a palace built by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, (rebuilt by his son, Philip II) and was the main royal residence in Madrid until the Buen Retiro Palace partly superseded it in the 17th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1734, and the present Royal Palace of Madrid was built on the site.
The Castle Alcázar of Segorbe, province of Castellón, autonomous community of Valencia, was an enormous complex that for over a thousand years was the residence of lords, dukes and kings.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). "The Palace". Edinburgh University Press. Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning: 446–457.
^ ^a ^b Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2004). "The Alcazar of Seville and Mudejar Architecture". Gesta. 2: 87–98.
^ Fuchs, Barbara (2009). Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 31–39.
^ ^a ^b Heather., Ecker, (2004). Caliphs and kings : the art and influence of Islamic Spain : selections from the Hispanic Society of America, New York. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 0-295-98421-X. OCLC 123338252.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Arnold, Felix (2017-08-24). "Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean". Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001.
^ Brann, Ross (2013). A Sea of Languages: Rethinking the Arabic Role in Medieval Literary History. University of Toronto Press. pp. 119–34.
^ Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2000). The Literature of Al-Andalus. Cambridge University Press. pp. 25–29. ISBN 978-0521471596.
^ Capilla, Susan Calvo (2014). "The Reuse of Classical Antiquity in the Palace of Madinat al-Zahra and its Role in the Construction of Caliphal Legitimacy". Muqarnas. 31: 1–33.
^ ^a ^b ^c R. Brooks, Jeffery. "Azulejos to Zaguanes: The Islamic Legacy in the Built Environment of Hispano-America". Journal of the Southwest. Spring–Summer, 2003, Vol. 45, No. 1/2, Architecture: 289–327 – via JSTOR.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). Islamic Architecture : Form, Function and Meaning. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-6915-9. OCLC 1302166732.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Mirko., Bacci, Michele. Studer-Karlen, Manuela. Vagnoni,. Meanings and functions of the ruler's image in the Mediterranean world (11th-15th centuries). ISBN 978-90-04-51158-3. OCLC 1299243758.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Drayson, Elizabeth (4 March 2022). "Nasrid Granada: The Case for Spain's Cross-Cultural Identity". University of Cambridge. 1: 75–79.
^ ^a ^b ^c Fuchs, Barbara (2011). Exotic nation : Maurophilia and the construction of early modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-2173-2. OCLC 751833756.
^ Catlos, Brian A. (2018). Kingdoms of faith : a new history of Islamic Spain. 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104: Basic Books. ISBN 978-1-78738-410-1. OCLC 1230970147.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
^ F., Glick, Thomas (1995). From Muslim fortress to Christian castle : social and cultural change in medieval Spain. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-3348-9. OCLC 1024066138.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Dixon Hunt, John; et al. "Garens". Grove Art Online – via Oxford Art Online.
^ Bush, Olga (2009). "The Writing on the Wall: Reading the Decoration of the Alhambra". Muqarnas. 26: 119–148.

[:4-1] Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). "The Palace". Edinburgh University Press. Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning: 446–457.

[:7-2] Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2004). "The Alcazar of Seville and Mudejar Architecture". Gesta. 2: 87–98.

[3] Fuchs, Barbara (2009). Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. pp. 31–39.

[:1-4] Heather., Ecker, (2004). Caliphs and kings : the art and influence of Islamic Spain : selections from the Hispanic Society of America, New York. Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution. ISBN 0-295-98421-X. OCLC 123338252.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:2-5] Arnold, Felix (2017-08-24). "Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean". Oxford Scholarship Online. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001.

[6] Brann, Ross (2013). A Sea of Languages: Rethinking the Arabic Role in Medieval Literary History. University of Toronto Press. pp. 119–34.

[7] Ruggles, D. Fairchild (2000). The Literature of Al-Andalus. Cambridge University Press. pp. 25–29. ISBN 978-0521471596.

[8] Capilla, Susan Calvo (2014). "The Reuse of Classical Antiquity in the Palace of Madinat al-Zahra and its Role in the Construction of Caliphal Legitimacy". Muqarnas. 31: 1–33.

[:6-9] R. Brooks, Jeffery. "Azulejos to Zaguanes: The Islamic Legacy in the Built Environment of Hispano-America". Journal of the Southwest. Spring–Summer, 2003, Vol. 45, No. 1/2, Architecture: 289–327 – via JSTOR.

[:5-10] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Hillenbrand, Robert (1994). Islamic Architecture : Form, Function and Meaning. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 978-1-4744-6915-9. OCLC 1302166732.

[:8-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Mirko., Bacci, Michele. Studer-Karlen, Manuela. Vagnoni,. Meanings and functions of the ruler's image in the Mediterranean world (11th-15th centuries). ISBN 978-90-04-51158-3. OCLC 1299243758.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[12] Drayson, Elizabeth (4 March 2022). "Nasrid Granada: The Case for Spain's Cross-Cultural Identity". University of Cambridge. 1: 75–79.

[:0-13] Fuchs, Barbara (2011). Exotic nation : Maurophilia and the construction of early modern Spain. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 978-0-8122-2173-2. OCLC 751833756.

[14] Catlos, Brian A. (2018). Kingdoms of faith : a new history of Islamic Spain. 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104: Basic Books. ISBN 978-1-78738-410-1. OCLC 1230970147.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)

[15] F., Glick, Thomas (1995). From Muslim fortress to Christian castle : social and cultural change in medieval Spain. Manchester University Press. ISBN 0-7190-3348-9. OCLC 1024066138.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

[:3-16] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Dixon Hunt, John; et al. "Garens". Grove Art Online – via Oxford Art Online.

[17] Bush, Olga (2009). "The Writing on the Wall: Reading the Decoration of the Alhambra". Muqarnas. 26: 119–148.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[File:Patio de las doncellas-ret.jpg|thumb|A view of the ''Patio de las doncellas'', a ''[[Sahn|ṣaḥn]]'' within the [[Alcázar of Seville]].]]
+[[File:Patio de las doncellas-ret.jpg|thumb|A view of the ''Patio de las doncellas ("The Courtyard of the Maidens"),''  a ''[[Sahn|ṣaḥn]]'' within the [[Alcázar of Seville]].]]
-An alcázar is a type of Islamic castle or palace located in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] built during Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries.They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout Umayyad rule and later for Christian rulers following the Spanish [[Reconquista]]. The term alcázar is also used for many medieval castles built by Christians on early Roman, Visigothic or Islamic fortifications and is frequently used as a synonym for castillo or castle.{{Dashboard.wikiedu.org draft template/about this sandbox}}
+An alcázar is a type of Islamic castle or palace located in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] (also known as [[al-Andalus]]) built during Muslim rule between the 8th and 15th centuries.They functioned as homes and regional capitals for governmental figures throughout the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad caliphate]] and later, for Christian rulers following the Spanish [[Reconquista]]. The term alcázar is also used for many medieval castles built by Christians on early Roman, Visigothic or Islamic fortifications and is frequently used as a synonym for castillo or castle.{{Dashboard.wikiedu.org draft template/about this sandbox}}
 == Terminology ==
-The [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word ''alcázar'' (<small>pronounced</small> [[Help:IPA/Spanish|[alˈkaθaɾ]]]) derives from the [[Arabic]] word القصر ''al-qaṣr'' "the fort, castle, or palace"., which in turn derives from the [[latin]] word ''[[Castrum]]'' ("fortress", "military camp").
+The [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word ''alcázar'' (<small>pronounced</small> [[Help:IPA/Spanish|[alˈkaθaɾ]]]) derives from the [[Arabic]] word القصر ''al-qaṣr'' "the fort, castle, or palace," that in turn derives from the [[Latin]] word ''[[Castrum]]'' ("fortress", "military camp").
 Similar words exist in [[Galician language|Galician]] (''alcázar'', <small>pronounced</small> [[Help:IPA/Galician|[alˈkaθɐɾ]]]), [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] (''alcácer'', pronounced [[Help:IPA/Portuguese|[ɐɫˈkasɛɾ]]]), and [[Catalan language|Catalan]] (''alcàsser'', <small>pronounced</small> [[Help:IPA/Catalan|[əlˈkasəɾ]]]).
-Spain also has Muslim citadels known as [[Alcazaba|alcazabas]] (القصبة [[Kasbah|''al-qasbah'']]). However, not all castles in Spain are called alcázar: the majority are called ''castillo'' in Spanish or ''castell'' in Catalan.<ref name=":4" /> Nor was every alcázar or alcazaba in Iberia built by the Muslims: many castles with these names were built after the Islamic caliphate was expelled from the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. Following the Spanish [[Reconquista]], non-Muslim Spanish patrons built or refurbished palaces to resemble the Islamic style, known as [[Mudéjar style|Mudéjar]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ruggles |first=D. Fairchild |date=2004 |title=The Alcazar of Seville and Mudejar Architecture |journal=Gesta |volume=2 |pages=87-98}}</ref>
+Spain also has Muslim citadels known as [[Alcazaba|alcazabas]] (القصبة [[Kasbah|''al-qasbah'']]). However, not all castles in Spain are called alcázar: the majority are called ''castillo'' in Spanish or ''castell'' in Catalan.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Hillenbrand |first=Robert |date=1994 |title=The Palace |journal=Edinburgh University Press |volume=Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning |pages=446-457}}</ref> Nor was every alcázar or alcazaba in Iberia built by the Muslims: many castles with these names were built after the Islamic caliphate was expelled from the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. Following the Spanish [[Reconquista]], Christian patrons built or refurbished palaces to resemble the Islamic style, known as [[Mudéjar style|Mudéjar]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last=Ruggles |first=D. Fairchild |date=2004 |title=The Alcazar of Seville and Mudejar Architecture |journal=Gesta |volume=2 |pages=87-98}}</ref>
-Often, alcázars are described as "Moorish," a term used by Europeans to refer to followers of the Islamic faith. While "[[Moors#:~:text%3DThe%20term%20Moor%20is%20an%2Cto%20Arabs%20and%20Arabized%20Iberians.|Moors]]" has been used for centuries to reference Spanish Muslims, today however, the discussion of "Moorishness" must be approached with care, as the term has been radicalized in Spain, [[Other (philosophy)|othering]] the Muslim population.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuchs |first=Barbara |title=Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2009 |pages=31-39}}</ref> Modern language utilizes the terms Islamic, Muslim, and Andalusi instead of Moorish, but it is worth clarifying the historical context.
+Often, alcázars are described as "Moorish," a term used by Europeans to refer to followers of the Islamic faith. While "[[Moors#:~:text%3DThe%20term%20Moor%20is%20an%2Cto%20Arabs%20and%20Arabized%20Iberians.|Moors]]" has been used for centuries to reference Spanish Muslims, today however, the discussion of "Moorishness" must be approached with care. The term has been radicalized historically in Spain to signify the [[Other (philosophy)|Other]] and [[Exoticism|exoticize]] the Muslim population.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fuchs |first=Barbara |title=Exotic Nation: Maurophilia and the Construction of Early Modern Spain |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |year=2009 |pages=31-39}}</ref> Modern language utilizes the terms Islamic, Muslim, and Andalusi instead of Moorish, but it is worth clarifying the historical context.
 == History ==
+Alcázars were owned by Islamic, and later, Christian rulers of [[al-Andalus]], the buildings symbolized the ruler's power and wealth over the region. Over time, the different cultural influences of the buildings merged, marking the Alcázar as a transmission among Islamic, Christian and Jewish cultures.<ref name=":1" />
-[[File:Court of the Lions by night 2019.jpg|thumb|Court of the Lions in the heart of the [[Alhambra]], at night.]]
-Alcázars were owned by Islamic, and later, Christian rulers of [[al-Andalus]], the buildings symbolized the ruler's power and wealth over the region. Over time, the different cultural influences of the buildings merged, marking the Alcázar as a transmission between high Islamic culture, Western Christendom and Jewry.<ref name=":1" />
 === Origin ===
-Alcázars first became constructed under [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyad Dynasty]]. It was after conquering the [[Visigothic Kingdom]] when the Umayyads began expanding on their current architecture to create a sophisticated Islamic empire.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Heather. |first=Ecker, |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/123338252 |title=Caliphs and kings : the art and influence of Islamic Spain : selections from the Hispanic Society of America, New York |date=2004 |publisher=Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution |isbn=0-295-98421-X |oclc=123338252}}</ref>After the 717 conquest, Umayyad [[Caliphate|caliphs]] established their capital in Córdoba, Spain, transforming the former Visigoth palace into the [[Alcázar of the Caliphs (Córdoba)|Alcázar of the Caliphs]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Arnold |first=Felix |date=2017-08-24 |title=Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001 |journal=Oxford Scholarship Online |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001}}</ref>
+Alcázars first became constructed under the [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyad Dynasty]]. It was after conquering the [[Visigothic Kingdom]] when the Umayyads began expanding on their architecture to create a sophisticated Islamic empire.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Heather. |first=Ecker, |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/123338252 |title=Caliphs and kings : the art and influence of Islamic Spain : selections from the Hispanic Society of America, New York |date=2004 |publisher=Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution |isbn=0-295-98421-X |oclc=123338252}}</ref>After the 717 conquest, Umayyad [[Caliphate|caliphs]] established their capital in Córdoba, Spain, transforming the former Visigoth palace into the [[Alcázar of the Caliphs (Córdoba)|Alcázar of the Caliphs]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Arnold |first=Felix |date=2017-08-24 |title=Islamic Palace Architecture in the Western Mediterranean |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001 |journal=Oxford Scholarship Online |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190624552.001.0001}}</ref>
-=== Umayyad Dynasty ===
+=== Umayyad Dynasty (711-1010) ===
+[[File:Portico - Madinat al-Zahra.JPG|thumb|217x217px|[[Portico]] remains of the [[Madinat al-Zahra]] in [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]]]]
-(711-1010)
+The reign of the Umayyad Dynasty in Arabia ended with the rise of the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasid caliphate]] in the second half of the eighth century. Umayyad caliph [[Abd al-Rahman I]] fled the Middle East, traveling West for five years before finally settling in what would become known as Al-Andalus after the Islamic conquest of Iberia in 711. He and his descendants built palaces equivalent to grand cities that became homes to rulers and Andalusian elites.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brann |first=Ross |title=A Sea of Languages: Rethinking the Arabic Role in Medieval Literary History |publisher=University of Toronto Press |year=2013 |pages=119-34}}</ref>
-* [[Madinat al-Zahra]] was designed by Umayyad caliph Abd ar-Rahman III and constructed with supervision from his son, al-Hakam.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ruggles |first=D. Fairchild |title=The Literature of Al-Andalus |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0521471596 |pages=25-29}}</ref> It was the first Umayyad palace-city located in Spain following the dynasty's flee from the Abbasids in Iraq. Founded in 936 CE, the palace-city rivaled its counterparts to the South in Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Capilla |first=Susan Calvo |date=2014 |title=The Reuse of Classical Antiquity in the Palace of Madinat al-Zahra and its Role in the Construction of Caliphal Legitimacy |journal=Muqarnas |volume=31 |pages=1-33}}</ref>
+* [[Madinat al-Zahra]] was designed by Umayyad caliph [[Abd al-Rahman III]] and constructed with supervision from his son, [[Al-Hakam II]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ruggles |first=D. Fairchild |title=The Literature of Al-Andalus |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0521471596 |pages=25-29}}</ref> It was the first Umayyad palace-city located in Spain following the dynasty's flee from the Abbasids in Iraq. Founded in 936 CE, the palace-city rivaled its counterparts in Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Capilla |first=Susan Calvo |date=2014 |title=The Reuse of Classical Antiquity in the Palace of Madinat al-Zahra and its Role in the Construction of Caliphal Legitimacy |journal=Muqarnas |volume=31 |pages=1-33}}</ref>
-=== ''Reconquista'' ===
+=== ''Reconquista'' (897-1492) ===
+Not long after the Islamic Empire reached the [[Pyrenees|Pyrenees Mountains]] in the 8th century, Christian forces began their reconquest of Spain. Starting with the capture of Barcelona in 801 and ending with Granada in 1492, Christian rulers began the 700-year long transition from an Islamic to a Christian Spain.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=R. Brooks |first=Jeffery |title=Azulejos to Zaguanes: The Islamic Legacy in the Built Environment of Hispano-America |journal=Journal of the Southwest |volume=Spring - Summer, 2003, Vol. 45, No. 1/2, Architecture |pages=289-327 |via=JSTOR}}</ref> Many of the Islamic-styled architecture constructed by Arabic rulers became denatured under Christian rule. <ref name=":5" /> This process involved Christian rulers appropriating and emulating the architecture of al-Andalus to signify their own power over the area.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Mirko. |first=Bacci, Michele. Studer-Karlen, Manuela. Vagnoni, |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1299243758 |title=Meanings and functions of the ruler's image in the Mediterranean world (11th-15th centuries) |isbn=978-90-04-51158-3 |oclc=1299243758}}</ref>
-(711-1492)
+* After the capture of Córdoba in 1236, [[Ferdinand III of Castile|Ferdinand III]] expanded on his campaign of devastation, reaching Seville a few years later. The [[siege of Seville]] lasted sixteen months and ended when Christian forces isolated the Muslims by land and sea, forcing them to surrender. Islamic Seville capitulated on November 23 1248, with Castilian troops occupying the [[Alcázar of Seville]] immediately.
-=== Nasrid Dynasty ===
-(1232-1492)
+* The Christian king of [[Castile and León|Castile y León]], [[Peter of Castile|King Pedro I]] began commissioning [[Mudéjar]] craftsmen to build upon the alcázars all over Andalusia. Pedro I saw architecture like the Alhambra and wanted to emulate a similar political message of royal power.<ref name=":8" /> A visual culture between Islamic architecture and the Castilian-Leonese crown began to form as Pedro I oversaw the construction of Islamic-inspired [[Façade|façades]] and throne rooms. The most notable additions can be seen in the [[Alcázar of Seville]], where the decorative Islamic style was continued, featuring Arabic inscriptions in praise of King "Sultan" Don Pedro and Allah.<ref name=":6" />[[File:Sevilla Spain Alcazar-of-Seville-01.jpg|center|thumb|European and Christian iconography on [[azulejo]] at the [[Alcázar of Seville]]]]
-=== Post ''Reconquista'' ===
-(1492--)
+=== [[Nasrid dynasty|Nasrid Dynasty]] (1184-1492) ===
+[[File:Court of the Lions by night 2019.jpg|thumb|[[Court of the Lions]] in the heart of the [[Alhambra]], at night.|left|235x235px]]
+The Nasrids were the last ruling Islamic dynasty in Iberia before falling to the Reconquista in 1492. They are known for maintaining a Muslim stronghold in Southern Spain for many years despite the impending Spanish monarchy to the North.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Drayson |first=Elizabeth |date=4 March 2022 |title=Nasrid Granada: The Case for Spain's Cross-Cultural Identity |url=https://www.mdpi.com/2409-9252/2/1/7 |journal=University of Cambridge |volume=1 |pages=75-79}}</ref> Arguably their greatest architectural accomplishment is the [[Alhambra]] located in Granada.
+* The [[Alhambra]], translated to "the red one" in English, is a large fortified palace-city built by the Nasrid Dynasty to function as a royal residence. It is well known for its use of Islamic aesthetics in the architecture, along with religious inscriptions.<ref name=":4" /> The Alhambra contains several palaces and gardens from which Nasrid Sultans conducted business and went about their daily lives.
+=== Post ''Reconquista'' (1492-present day) ===
+While a majority of the Muslim population was forced out of Spain following the ''Reconquista,'' some [[Mudéjar|Mudéjars]] remained, continuing to build hybrid monuments for Christian patrons throughout the 16th century.<ref name=":6" />
+* In the years following the Christian reconquest of Spain, the [[Alhambra]] underwent many changes in European styles and endured some neglect.<ref name=":5" /> Since 1828, there has been a consistent effort to restore and conserve Islamic structures like the Alhambra in Spain.<ref name=":5" />
 == Common Features ==
-The construction that defines Alcázars is the distinctive Iberian practices that can be found in the architectural design<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fuchs |first=Barbara |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/751833756 |title=Exotic nation : Maurophilia and the construction of early modern Spain |date=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-2173-2 |oclc=751833756}}</ref>. This technique is coined as being [[Mudéjar art|Mudéjar]] in style due to the presence of [[Morisco]] and [[Mudéjar]] craftsmen throughout both Muslim and Christian rule that had largely contributed, and had a lasting influence in the construction of buildings<ref>{{Cite book |last=Catlos |first=Brian A. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1230970147 |title=Kingdoms of faith : a new history of Islamic Spain |publisher=Basic Books |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-78738-410-1 |location=1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 |oclc=1230970147}}</ref>. The decoration imitates the geometric design seen in Arabic palaces. Alcázars of the Iberian Peninsula usually consisted of a complex system of buildings with multiple palaces, halls, and courtyards, all serving a specific function <ref>{{Cite book |last=F. |first=Glick, Thomas |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1024066138 |title=From Muslim fortress to Christian castle : social and cultural change in medieval Spain |date=1995 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=0-7190-3348-9 |oclc=1024066138}}</ref>.
+The construction that defines Alcázars is the distinctive Iberian practices that can be found in the architectural design.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Fuchs |first=Barbara |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/751833756 |title=Exotic nation : Maurophilia and the construction of early modern Spain |date=2011 |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |isbn=978-0-8122-2173-2 |oclc=751833756}}</ref> This technique is coined as being [[Mudéjar art|Mudéjar]] in style due to the presence of [[Morisco]] and [[Mudéjar]] craftsmen throughout both Muslim and Christian rule that had largely contributed to, and had a lasting influence on, the construction of buildings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Catlos |first=Brian A. |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1230970147 |title=Kingdoms of faith : a new history of Islamic Spain |publisher=Basic Books |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-78738-410-1 |location=1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 |oclc=1230970147}}</ref> Features of the Alcázars reflected Islamic influence with their geometric design and the inward-looking style emphasizing seclusion and privacy for the occupant.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Hillenbrand |first=Robert |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1302166732 |title=Islamic Architecture : Form, Function and Meaning |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-1-4744-6915-9 |oclc=1302166732}}</ref> Alcázars of the Iberian Peninsula usually consisted of a complex system of buildings with multiple palaces, halls, and courtyards, all serving a specific function. <ref>{{Cite book |last=F. |first=Glick, Thomas |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1024066138 |title=From Muslim fortress to Christian castle : social and cultural change in medieval Spain |date=1995 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=0-7190-3348-9 |oclc=1024066138}}</ref>
 [[File:Alcázar of Madrid. Ground floor plan LCCN2015647606.jpg|center|thumb|285x285px|Ground floor plan of the [[Royal Alcázar of Madrid]]]]
 === Gardens ===
-[[File:Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianno - Cordoba.jpg|thumb|237x237px|Garden of [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos|The King's Alcazar]] in Cordoba]]Gardens played a vital role in the settlement of Islamic Spain, providing a space of relaxation, economic benefits, and the illusion of paradise to its beholder<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Garden |url=https://www-oxfordartonline-com.sandiego.idm.oclc.org/groveart/view/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000030700 |website=Grove Art Online}}</ref>. Alcázar courtyards housed some of the most grandiose gardens in the region, reflecting the wealth of its ruler. The influence of the gardens can be see today as some gardens still remain, having been preserved and admired by the Christian rulers post-Muslim rule<ref name=":0" />.
+[[File:Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianno - Cordoba.jpg|thumb|237x237px|Garden of [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos|The King's Alcazar]] in Córdoba]]Gardens played a vital role in the settlement of Islamic Spain, providing a space of relaxation, economic benefits, and the illusion of paradise to its beholder.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Dixon Hunt |first=John |last2=Trenton |first2=Barnes |display-authors=1 |title=Garens |url=https://www-oxfordartonline-com.sandiego.idm.oclc.org/groveart/view/10.1093/gao/9781884446054.001.0001/oao-9781884446054-e-7000030700?rskey=jjU9cQ#oao-9781884446054-e-7000030700-div1-7000030701 |journal=Grove Art Online |via=Oxford Art Online}}</ref> Alcázar courtyards housed some of the most grandiose gardens in the region, reflecting the wealth of its ruler. The influence of the gardens can be see today as some gardens still remain, having been preserved and admired by the Christian rulers post-Muslim rule.<ref name=":0" />
-Inner courtyard gardens was the most common approach of [[horticulture]] in the Alcázars. Gardens would be placed into a system of interconnected courtyards where the buildings completely enclosed the space. <ref name=":3" />. The gardens were kept from outside view, following Islamic architectural practices of an inward, plain interior that disguised decorated, private areas; only those fortunate enough could witness the courtyards<ref name=":0" />.
+Inner courtyard gardens was the most common approach of [[horticulture]] in the Alcázars. Gardens would be placed into a system of interconnected courtyards where the buildings completely enclosed the space.<ref name=":3" /> The gardens were kept from outside view, following Islamic architectural practices of an inward, plain interior that disguised decorated, private areas; only those fortunate enough could witness the courtyards.<ref name=":0" />
-Basic components of the Alcázar gardens included: a raised grid formation, an irrigation system with a collecting pool as its distribution point, and formal walkways and pavement. Continued influence of Islamic techniques can be seen in the composition of the gardens, being geometric, symmetrical, and sometimes having a quadripartite arrangement.<ref name=":3" /> A range of shrubs, trees, vegetables and flowers were grown in these gardens. The fruits could be cultivated and marketable while also supplying the garden with a pleasant fragrance and aesthetic beauty. The fruit trees in the gardens of the [[Alcázar of Seville]] are reported to have introduced 'exotic' fruits to Europe such as lemons, oranges, apricots, and peaches. <ref name=":3" />
+Basic components of the Alcázar gardens included: a raised grid formation, an irrigation system with a collecting pool as its distribution point, and formal walkways and pavement. Continued influence of Islamic techniques can be seen in the composition of the gardens that are geometric, symmetrical, and often quadripartite arrangement, known as a [[charbagh]].<ref name=":3" /> A range of shrubs, trees, vegetables and flowers were grown in these gardens. The fruits could be cultivated and marketable while also supplying the garden with a pleasant fragrance and aesthetic beauty. The fruit trees in the gardens of the [[Alcázar of Seville]] are reported to have introduced new, "exotic" fruits to Europe such as lemons, oranges, apricots, and peaches. <ref name=":3" />
 [[File:Gardens of the Alcázar of Segovia.jpg|center|thumb|298x298px|Garden from the [[Alcázar of Segovia]]]]
-[[File:Lower pools and irrigation channel, Alcázar, Cordoba, 21 July 2016.JPG|left|thumb|232x232px|Water system of [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos|The King's Alcazar]],  the lower pools and irrigation channel are pictured]]
+[[File:Lower pools and irrigation channel, Alcázar, Cordoba, 21 July 2016.JPG|left|thumb|299x299px|Water system of [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos|The King's Alcazar]],  the lower pools and irrigation channel are pictured]]
-[[File:Irrigation Alhambra gardens.jpg|thumb|264x264px|The irrigation system of the [[Alhambra]]; source of spring water used on the gardens]]
+[[File:Irrigation Alhambra gardens.jpg|thumb|304x304px|The irrigation system of the [[Alhambra]]; source of spring water used on the gardens]]
 ==== Water system ====
-Constant irrigation was necessary to maintain the lush flora of the gardens. Intricate Arabic irrigation designs were incorporated into the courtyards of the Alcázars by Muslim rulers to serve multiple purposes. The systems supplied the gardens with a constant flow of fresh water, aesthetically refreshed the space, and had a cooling effect on the courtyard and surrounding buildings<ref name=":3" /> (instert new citation).Each irrigation system of the Alcázars had unique elements, defining the individuality of the location. These techniques ranged from still pools, flowing channels, and fountains, and were implemented to achieve a link from exterior to interior spaces of the palace.<ref name=":3" />
+Constant irrigation was necessary to maintain the lush flora of the gardens. Intricate Arabic irrigation designs were incorporated into the courtyards of the Alcázars by Muslim rulers to serve multiple purposes. The systems supplied the gardens with a constant flow of fresh water, aesthetically refreshed the space, and had a cooling effect on the courtyard and surrounding buildings.<ref name=":5" /> Each irrigation system of the Alcázars had unique elements, defining the individuality of the location. These techniques ranged from still pools, flowing channels, and fountains, and were implemented to achieve a visual and architectural link from exterior to interior spaces.<ref name=":3" /> Water created a sense of of peace and spiritual stability in the gardens.<ref name=":5" />
+* The [[Court of the Myrtles|Comares Palace]] of the Alhambra uses a large pool in the center of the courtyard as both a functioning irrigation system and an artistic spectacle.<ref name=":3" /> Shrubbery flanked the sides of the pool and therefore had access to water and the pool reflects the two [[Portico|porticoed]] sides of the surrounding buildings, providing an interesting illusion to the viewer.
+* The courtyards in the [[Alcázar of Seville]] features an [[irrigation tank]] with flower beds on each side, along with aqueducts dividing deeply sunken flower beds.<ref name=":3" /> The flower beds are arranged in a geometric pattern with channels providing water from a central basin.
 === Inscriptions ===
-In both Muslim-built and Judeo-Christian [[Mudéjar style|Mudéjar]] Spanish palaces inscriptions are prevalent in the palace design. One instance is the Alhambra in Granada where Arabic inscriptions are present throughout the palace walls. They include quotes from the Quran, excerpts from poems written by Ibn al-Khatīb and Ibn Zamrak, the [[Nasrid dynasty]]'s motto and a recurring saying throughout, ولا غالب إلا الله or "there is no victor but God."
+Since the [[Umayyad dynasty|Umayyad Dynasty]], displays of monumental inscriptions with religious or civic purpose are commonly seen on the entrances and [[Façade|façades]] of Iberian architecture.<ref name=":8" /> In both Muslim-built and Christian [[Mudéjar style|Mudéjar]] palaces in Spain, inscriptions are prevalent in the palace design. One instance is the [[Alhambra]] in Granada where Arabic inscriptions are present throughout the palace walls. Some of these incriptions include excerpts from the [[Quran]], poetry written by [[Ibn al-Khatib]] and [[Ibn Zamrak]], and the [[Nasrid dynasty]]'s motto. A recurring saying throughout is also present, ولا غالب إلا الله or "there is no victor but God."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bush |first=Olga |date=2009 |title=The Writing on the Wall: Reading the Decoration of the Alhambra |journal=Muqarnas |volume=26 |pages=119-148}}</ref>
-At the [[Alcázar of Seville]], a mix of Arabic and Spanish inscriptions uplift the bilingual atmosphere of [[Mudéjar style]] Spanish architecture. The palaces's patron, Pedro I, was a Christian that embraced the Muslims' taste for beauty in the form of the Alcázar.<gallery>
+At the [[Alcázar of Seville]], a mix of Arabic and Spanish inscriptions uplift the bilingual atmosphere of [[Mudéjar style]] Spanish architecture. The palaces's patron, [[Peter of Castile]], was a Christian that embraced the Muslims' taste for beauty in the form of the Islamic decoration, including inscriptions in Arabic, Alcázar.<ref name=":7" /><gallery>
 File:Nasrid motto Alhambra Granada Andalusia Spain.jpg|Nasrid motto decoratively inscribed in the wall of the [[Alhambra]]
-File:Epigraphs (68053667).jpg|Decorative Arabic inscriptions from the [[Alcázar of Seville|Alcazar of Seville]]
+File:Epigraphs (68053667).jpg|Decorative Arabic inscriptions from the [[Alcázar of Seville]]
 File:Escudo de la dinastía nazarí (Palacio de la Alhambra, Spain).JPG|Hybrid inscription on the [[Alhambra]] walls; the Arabic Nasrid motto inscribed on the traditionally European [[coat of arms]].
-File:Sevilla Spain Alcazar-of-Seville-01.jpg|European and Christian iconography on [[azulejo]] at the [[Alcázar of Seville|Reales Alcázar]]
 </gallery>
+[[File:Alcázar of Seville 4.JPG|thumb|Three archway of the [[Alcázar of Seville]]]]
+=== [[Triumphal arch|Triumphal Arch]] ===
-== Extant Alcázars ==
+Arches—either single or triple, in the form of Roman [[Triumphal arch|triumphal arches]]—in the alcázars of al-Andalus were used to provide formal and symbolic character to the buildings. They are rich in Islamic-inspired decoration and are located strategically; commonly opening up to the main squares or courtyards.<ref name=":8" />
+* The [[Alhambra]] emulates a triumphal arch between the Puerta del Vino (Wine gate) and the Puerta de la Justicia (Justice Gate). It is decorated with various colors and ornamentation that includes a [[stucco]] of the coat of arms of the Band of the Sultan [[Muhammad V of Granada]] (1354–1359 and 1362–1391)<ref name=":8" /> The arches in the Alhambra serve multiple purposes, one opening into the grant courtyards of the building, and the other providing a view outside to Granada—where the rulers could contemplate the land they controlled.
-* [[Alcázar of Segovia]] was first cited in the 12th century, though its foundations date back to Roman times. It is a castle built by the Christian monarchs in the place of a Moorish fort. During the Middle Ages when in the [[Kingdom of Castile]], the alcázar of [[Segovia]] was the favorite residence of the [[List of Castilian monarchs|Castilian monarchs]], and almost each king added new parts to the building, transforming the original fortress into a courtier residence and prolonging the construction of the castle until the 16th century, when king [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] added the conical spires and the slate roofs. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs, but they were restored in the very same style in which they were built 300 years before. In this castle there was the proclamation of Isabella I as queen of Castile in 1474 starting the [[War of the Castilian Succession]].
+* The [[Alcázar of Seville]] features a triumphal arch at the entrance to the Patio de la Montería, opening up to the palace's monumental [[Façade|façade.]]The triple archway is decorated in [[Heraldry|heraldic]] designs, including the badge of [[Order of the Band|Knights of the Band]].<ref name=":8" />
-* [[Alcázar of Toledo]] was used as a military academy in modern times. The [[Siege of the Alcázar]] in the [[Spanish Civil War]] references this castle, which was held by the [[Francoist Spain|Nationalist]] colonel [[José Moscardó Ituarte]] against [[Second Spanish Republic|Republican]] forces. Republican forces captured Moscardó's 24-year-old son Luis, and on 23 July 1936 informed Moscardó that if he did not turn over the alcázar within ten minutes his son would die. When Moscardó did not surrender, Luis was murdered, not immediately but one month later, on 23 August.
-* [[Alcázar of Seville]], on the site of the palace of the [[Almohad Caliphate]] called ''al-Muwarak'', was built in the 1360s by Christian Castilian craftsmen in [[Mudéjar art|Mudéjar]] style, and frequently remodeled. It was first used by [[Peter of Castile]] with his mistress [[María de Padilla]]. The structures and gardens are a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]].
+[[File:Arched viewpoint in the Alhambra Palace.jpg|center|thumb|Arched viewpoint from the [[Alhambra]] ]]
-* [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos]], also called "the Alcázar of Córdoba", in [[Córdoba, Andalusia]], was a Moorish palace after the 13th century [[Reconquista]] of Córdoba. The Moors had expanded a Visigoth fortress into a large compound with gardens and a large library. This alcázar was the summer home of King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|Ferdinand]] and Queen [[Isabella I of Castile|Isabella]], and the site of their meeting with [[Christopher Columbus]] before his famous voyage to the Americas.
-* [[Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera]], was a fortified palace-city located in Southern Spain. Today, it is home to a public park.
+== Extant Alcázars ==
-* [[Castle of Burgos]], ruins of what was once an alcázar and a royal residence.
+* [[Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos]], also called "the Alcázar of Córdoba", located in [[Córdoba, Andalusia]], is an Islamic palace that became a Christian site after the 13th century [[Reconquista]] of Córdoba. The Muslims had expanded a Visigoth fortress into a large compound with gardens and a large library. This alcázar was the summer home of King [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|Ferdinand]] II of Aragon and Queen [[Isabella I of Castile|Isabella]] I of Castile, and the site of their meeting with [[Christopher Columbus]] before his famous voyage to the Americas.
-* The [[Alhambra]] in [[Granada]], a palace and complex fortress. It was the last Muslim stronghold in Al-Andalus before it functioned as a royal Christian palace following the Reconquista.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Hillenbrand |first=Robert |date=1994 |title=The Palace |journal=Edinburgh University Press |volume=Islamic Architecture: Form, Function and Meaning |pages=446-457}}</ref>
+* The [[Alcázar of the Caliphs (Córdoba)|Alcázar of the Caliphs of Córdoba]] was the seat of the government of Al-Andalus, and the residence of the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba since the arrival of the Muslims in the 8th Century until the Christian conquest of the city, in 1236. It had a total area of 39,000 square metres (420,000 sq ft). Part of its structure survives.
+* [[Alcázar of Jerez de la Frontera]], was a fortified palace-city located in Southern Spain. In 1931, it was designated as a Spanish Historic site, [[Bien de Interés Cultural|Bien de Interés Cultural.]] Today, it functions as a public park for locals in [[Jerez de la Frontera]].[[File:Segovia - Alcázar de Segovia 05 2017-10-22.jpg|thumb|203x203px|[[Alcázar of Segovia]]]]
+* [[Alcázar of Segovia]] was first cited in the 12th century, though its foundations date back to Roman times. It is a castle built by the Christian monarchs in the place of an Islamic fort. During the Middle Ages when in the [[Kingdom of Castile]], the alcázar of [[Segovia]] was the favorite residence of the [[List of Castilian monarchs|Castilian monarchs]], and almost each successive king added new parts to the building, transforming the original fortress into a courtier residence and prolonging the construction of the castle until the 16th century, when king [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]] added the conical spires and the slate roofs. A fire in 1862 destroyed part of the roofs, but they were restored in the very same style in which they were built 300 years before. In this castle there was the proclamation of Isabella I as queen of Castile in 1474 starting the [[War of the Castilian Succession]].
+* [[Alcázar of Seville]], on the site of the palace of the [[Almohad Caliphate]] called ''al-Muwarak'', was built in the 1360s by Christian Castilian craftsmen in [[Mudéjar art|Mudéjar]] style, and frequently remodeled. It was first used by [[Peter of Castile]] with his mistress [[María de Padilla]]. The structures and gardens are a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]].[[File:Toledo-Alcázar-2.jpg|left|thumb|View of the [[Alcázar of Toledo]]]]
+*[[Alcázar of Toledo]] was used as a military academy in modern times. The [[Siege of the Alcázar]] in the [[Spanish Civil War]] references this castle, which was held by the [[Francoist Spain|Nationalist]] colonel [[José Moscardó Ituarte]] against [[Second Spanish Republic|Republican]] forces. Republican forces captured Moscardó's 24-year-old son Luis, and on 23 July 1936 informed Moscardó that if he did not turn over the alcázar within ten minutes his son would die. When Moscardó did not surrender, Luis was murdered, not immediately but one month later, on 23 August.
+* The [[Alhambra]] in [[Granada]], a palace and complex fortress. It was the last Muslim stronghold in Al-Andalus before it functioned as a royal Christian palace following the Reconquista.<ref name=":4" /> Today it serves as one of Spain's most popular tourist sites.
 === Extinct Landmark Alcázars ===
+* [[Castle of Burgos]] was originally built by Muslims in Spain but became known as a royal residence commonly used by the Kings of [[Castile and Leon|Castile]] . It lost value after the [[House of Habsburg|Habsburg family]] acquired the palace and following its partial destruction at the hands of French forces in 1813.  Citizens attempted to partially restore the palace in the late 20th century, it now hosts a museum where visitors can view remaining portions of the castle grounds.
-* The [[Alcázar of the Caliphs (Córdoba)|Alcázar of the Caliphs of Córdoba]] was the seat of the government of Al-Andalus, and the residence of the emirs and caliphs of Córdoba since the arrival of the Muslims in the 8th Century until the Christian conquest of the city, in 1236. It had a total area of 39,000 square metres (420,000 sq ft). Part of its structure survives.
-* The [[Royal Alcazar of Madrid]] was a palace built by Emperor Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, (rebuilt by his son, [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]]) and was the main royal residence in [[Madrid]] until the [[Buen Retiro Palace]] partly superseded it in the 17th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1734, and the present [[Royal Palace of Madrid]] was built on the site. This was called ''Palacio Nuevo'' and has never been called alcázar.
+* The [[Royal Alcazar of Madrid]] was a palace built by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Holy Roman Emperor Charles V]], (rebuilt by his son, [[Philip II of Spain|Philip II]]) and was the main royal residence in [[Madrid]] until the [[Buen Retiro Palace]] partly superseded it in the 17th century. It was destroyed by fire in 1734, and the present [[Royal Palace of Madrid]] was built on the site.
 * The [[Castle Alcázar of Segorbe]], province of Castellón, autonomous community of Valencia, was an enormous complex that for over a thousand years was the residence of lords, dukes and kings.
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