The adarga was a traditional defense employed by the Moorish light horseman, who used it along with the lance. Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries the adarga was also used by Christian Iberian soldiers and nobility, including their own light cavalry (Portuguese: ginetes; Spanish: jinetes), some of whom adopted Moorish fighting patterns.
The adarga, a defensive shield used by Moorish light horsemen, became popular among Christian Iberian soldiers and nobility during the 14th and 15th centuries, who incorporated it into their own cavalry tactics.