ALCALDE (from the Arab. al-quadi, the "

See also:

• CADI (g¢di)

Cadi " or

See also:

• JUDGE (Lat. judex, Fr. juge)

judge ")  , the title in Spanish for officials of somewhat varied functions, in which, however, there is always a judicial element . Alcalde de corte was a judge of the palace court, having jurisdiction in and about the residence of the king . But the mayor of a town or village who discharged the functions of a justice of the peace was also an alcalde . It is in this sense that the title is now exclusively used . He is subject to yearly election and the post has often been an undesirable one in Spain . The title of alcalde must be carefully distinguished from alcaide, which is derived from the Arabic al-qudid, a general, and means' the governor of a fortress .