PUBLICACIONES

ENTRE DOS MUNDOS

Authors: Rosa María Martínez de Codes and César Chaparro Gómez (coords.)
Publication Date: 2024
Editorial: European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation
Collection: Entre dos mundos: América y Europa desde Extremadura
Number: 10
ISBN: 978-84-128495-2-3
Price: €20

This book brings together contributions from the Campus Yuste course held at the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste from 4 to 6 July 2023.

In 16th- and 17th-century Europe, royal power gave rise to a diverse array of public and private festivities, which, at first glance, might seem like mere entertainment designed to appeal to the senses of spectators. However, these celebrations were far more than simple amusements; they were, above all, an effective means of propaganda and a display of monarchy, shaping the will of both courtiers and the general populace.

In recent years, the history of the formation of the Modern State (15th–17th centuries) has increasingly emphasised the concept of political ritual and, consequently, courtly behaviour. In this edition of the worlds of Charles V, our focus is on analysing the behaviours and attitudes of members of the various courts and courtly societies shaped by the monarchy, expressed through festivities —an everyday occurrence that has often been overlooked or insufficiently examined by historians, despite offering rich insights into ways of thinking and worldviews. This approach also takes into account the contributions of literature and art, which provide valuable perspectives on the courtly worldview, strongly influenced by classicism.

The viceregal courts of the Americas adopted and adapted multiple manifestations of political and festive rituals, including musical theatre, masquerades, and street processions featuring allegorical floats with dancers and musicians, all designed to evoke the presence of the king and reinforce loyalty to the Crown. These events reveal the mindset, behaviours, and organisation of viceregal courtly society. At the same time, this sphere also encompassed a range of games and public spectacles in which the people indulged in joy and collective or individual recreation, with the sole purpose of entertainment.