Editing Almogavars (section)

== Description ==
They were characterized as being infantry [[shock troops]] that fought on foot, with light arms and baggage, generally with a pair of javelins, one short spear ("ascona muntera" in Catalan, meaning "a hunting spear") and a [[falchion]]. They had full beards and dressed poorly, only in a short gown (both in summer and winter); they wore a thick leather belt and leather sandals. In addition, they always carried a good piece of flint with them that they struck their weapons with before going into battle, which gave off enormous sparks, which, together with their terrible cries, terrorized their enemies. Endowed with great valor and ferocity, those from the Crown of Aragon entered into combat to the cry of "[[Awake iron!]] Let's kill, let's kill", "for [[Saint George]]!" and "Aragon! Aragon!".<ref>{{cite news | author = Arroyo, F. | title = El precio de la 'venganza catalana' | date = 8 October 2005 | journal = El País | url = http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cataluna/precio/venganza/catalana/elpepuespcat/20051008elpcat_8/Tes}}</ref><ref>Antonio de Bofarull (ed. y trad. al castellano), Ramón Muntaner, [https://books.google.com/books?id=9jULAAAAIAAJ&q=cr%C3%B3nica+catalana ''Crónica catalana''], Barcelona, Jaime Jepús, 1860.</ref>

[[File:Almogávar Warrior.jpg|thumb|Painting of an Almogavar warrior, [[José Moreno Carbonero]] (1898)]]

The following excerpt from the chronicle ''Llibre del rei en Pere d'Aragó e dels seus antecessors passats'' (''Book of King Peter of Aragon and of his past ancestors'') by [[Bernat Desclot]], describes the Almogavars:

{{blockquote|These people who are called Almogavars live for nothing more than the profession of arms.   They don't live in the cities or the villages, but rather in the mountains and forests, and fight every day against the Saracens: and enter the Saracens' land for a day or two, pillaging and taking Saracens captive; and that is how they live. And they endure harsh living conditions which others could not endure. They could well spend two days without eating if necessary, eating herbs of the fields with no problem. And the ''adalids'' (leaders) who lead them know the country and roads. And they do not wear more than a tunic or shirt, be it summer or winter, and they wear leather breeches on their legs and leather sandals on their feet. And they carry a good knife and a good shoulder strap and a flint steel in their belt. And they each carry a good lance and two spears, as well as a leather shoulder bag, where they carry their food. And they are very strong and very quick, for escape and for pursuit, and they are Catalans and Aragonese and Serrans.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://www.lluisvives.com/servlet/SirveObras/jlv/12142747518921506765213/p0000003.htm#I_85_ |title=Crònica ''Bernat Desclot'' |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-date=28 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100828073338/http://www.lluisvives.com/servlet/SirveObras/jlv/12142747518921506765213/p0000003.htm#I_85_ |url-status=dead }}</ref>|[[Bernat Desclot]]|''Libre del rei en Pere e dels seus antecessors passats'', cap. LXXIX<ref>Boya Balet, Ángel (1987). ''La compañía de almogávares en Grecia'', p. 21.</ref>}}

However, such descriptions are not complete and the description of the Almogavars, as much in clothing as in arms or way of life, differs more or less depending on place and time. Thus, the previous description, which describes them as people living not in villages but in remote areas such as forests and mountains, as well as the description of their weapons, only refers to Almogavars of the time indicated, and probably earlier centuries. The last Almogavars, those who from the second half of the 15th century to the 16th had the border of Granada as their sphere of influence, were residents of the towns there, very knowledgeable about the terrain, and rampaged against the Granadan territory.<ref name=":1"/>

Their basic characteristics were lifelong dedication to war, not just as a profession but as a way of life, perfectly adapted to the conditions of the border with the Saracens, based on looting and the sale or ransom of prisoners, frugality and resistance to fatigue, light weapons and hierarchical organization.