Arzala

Arzala is a toponym that appears in historical and geographic contexts, primarily in references related to the Maghreb and Iberian interactions. The spelling of this name varies by language and period, with common variants including Arzila, Arzilla, and Al-Arzilah. In many sources, Arzala is treated as a transliteration variant of these forms rather than as a separate modern settlement.

The most widely cited reference associated with Arzala is a coastal locality near the present-day town of Asilah in Morocco. In historical chronicles, this site is described as a fortified outpost on the Atlantic coast and played a role in 15th-century conflicts between Portuguese and Moroccan forces. The siege of Arzila in 1471 is among the notable events recorded in both Iberian and Moroccan historical accounts. Over time, control of the area shifted and the fortress declined, with the site today existing primarily as ruins adjacent to Asilah rather than as an active administrative center.

In contemporary geography, there is no single, widely recognized settlement currently designated solely as Arzala. The name is more commonly encountered in historical texts, old maps, and discussions of the Arzila/Arzilla locality, rather than as a distinct modern municipality. The term continues to appear in discussions of regional history and toponymy, often in connection with its better-known variant spellings.

See also: Arzila, Arzilla, Al-Arzilah. These entries provide related historical and geographical context for the same coastal locality formerly associated with the name Arzala.