A Naṣrid guardian in rural areas: Abrahím El Boraque according to Arabic Romanised documents (1475)

Abstract

This study explores the figure of guardian (alcaide, del árabe al-qāʻid), in rural areas, using Abrahím El Boraque as an example, and his patrimony in the Cubillas estate (Granada). Our source for this analysis was a collection of Romanised Arabic and Castilian documents from the 15th century, that refer to the Cubillas river, in the northwest of the Granada capital. Basing ourselves on this character, we created an image of these guardians: how they exercised their power, what their social and family relationships were, and the assets they had. This will help us provide specific data on a fundamental agent who is a link between the State and rural communities with the aim of better understanding this relationship in the Naṣrid world.