alfoz

Alfoz is a term originating from Arabic, meaning a fortified town and its surrounding territory. Historically, it referred to the area under the jurisdiction of a castle or walled city in medieval Iberia. This included the immediate lands that provided resources and sustenance for the inhabitants of the fortified center. The alfoz was essential for the self-sufficiency and defense of the settlement, encompassing agricultural lands, villages, hamlets, and any other dependent settlements.

The concept of the alfoz was particularly prevalent during the Reconquista, a period when Christian kingdoms gradually reconquered territories from Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. As new territories were captured, they were often organized around a newly established or conquered castle. The lord of the castle would then govern the surrounding alfoz, collecting taxes, administering justice, and organizing its defense. The size and importance of an alfoz could vary significantly, depending on the strategic value and economic productivity of the area. Over time, as borders stabilized and feudal structures evolved, the distinction between the fortified center and its alfoz sometimes blurred, but the term remained a significant element in the historical administrative and territorial organization of many regions.