Alguazil

The alguazil (of the Arab Al-ghaxil : archer) or alguacilillo is the “police officer” of the Arène during the Corrida.

Presentation

Origins

Alguazil is the name which in Spain the policemen carried, which fulfilled at the same time the functions of usher, of gendarme and policeman.

Role

The contemporary alguazils intervene in the Arène S. They are vêtus of black, with the mode of their predecessors of the 17th century. If they always symbolize the order, they are especially the memory of a past.

Apart from the Bullfight of rejón and Portuguese Race, they are only, with the Picador S, to move with horse.

Two, they are placed under the authority of the president. Mainly charged to take care of the respect of the payment by all the actors of the bullfight, they give, if necessary, the trophies (one or two ears, or two ears and the tail) with the Matador on decision of the president.

The alguazils open the Paseo, in front of the Cuadrilla S. They advance with horse, with the signal given by president who tightens a white handkerchief. This last throws to them, the top of the presidential platform, a factitious key, memory of time when the municipalities kept those of the Toril S until the beginning of the bullfight, by fear of the flight of the bulls.

In certain arenas, the alguazils always carry out a show of despejo , in remembering the time when, for the construction of the arenas as from the 18th century, it was necessary to evacuate the Plaza mayor where the engagements were held. At the time, a whole squadron was necessary to evacuate the place of the idlers.

Another use

Alguazil is said by joke or contempt of agents subordinates of the police force or justice charged to carry out arrests (ex: It was stopped by alguazils).

Sources

the Bullfight , of François Coupry, Editions Essential Milan

Gallery

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