"azagaya" Topic
5 Posts
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42flanker | 17 Nov 2020 1:08 p.m. PST |
Greetings all. Dipping my toe into the 14th century, I'd be grateful for information as to the nature of the 'azagaya' mentioned in sources relating to the wars of the reconquista in Granada. When an Old French source states that in battle against the Saracens in Spain a Christian knight was mortally wounded, struck in or through the body by an 'archegaye, ' what should be envisaged? References I have read suggest 'azagaya' might simply signify a lance used by Moorish light cavalry, but also a projectile, be it javelin, 'dart' or bolt fired from an arbalest. Any guidance on the subject gratefully received. |
Eumelus | 17 Nov 2020 1:22 p.m. PST |
Isn't this the same word as "assegai" (Arab word meaning javelin, not the "ilkwa" of the Zulu)? |
42flanker | 17 Nov 2020 3:14 p.m. PST |
It would seem that the word travelled south, or perhaps round the Cape, with Arab or Portuguese traders. |
Swampster | 18 Nov 2020 10:32 a.m. PST |
There is a paper on this – the archegaye- at link He discounts projectiles shot from arbalests, crossbows etc. (It is possible to access Academia with a free account). He thinks the link was made through a folk etymology linking the _arch_ in the word to things like archer, which is obviously false. He says that establishing exactly what the weapon is is tricky. It is different to darts, javelins and spears/lances since it is mentioned alongside them, but in a way that shows it can be thrown. In Froissart, it seems to be used solely by the Spanish. He finishes by saying (more or less) that the medieval word and the modern word have the same origin but are not necessarily used for the same thing. My guess would be the medieval archegaye would be pretty long but midway in length and weight between a javelin and a spear – but since those two can be all sorts of lengths, weight and points it is all a bit vague. The same author has at least two other papers on the use of the word. One of them makes special mention of assistance from Thom Richardson of the Royal Armouries – who is also a wargamer. |
42flanker | 19 Nov 2020 12:43 a.m. PST |
Great reference, Swampster. Very interesting. Thank you very much |
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