Old Court Life in Spain in two volumes is a historical account of early Spain presented through customs of the royal court, from Witica and Roderich to the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel. The first volume covers the period from 8th to 14th century, starting with Visigothic Kings of Hispania Witica and Roderich. The volume surveys the history of Iberian Peninsula in this period, focusing on the court life and customs, ending with Don Pedro called the Cruel, the last ruler of the main branch of the House of Ivrea. The Second volume deals with the 14th and 15th century Spain, surveying the historical events and presenting tradition and practice on royal court nearing the end of the Reconquista and the changes that occurred with the passing of time.
Old Court Life in Spain in two volumes is a historical account of early Spain presented through customs of the royal court, from Witica and Roderich to the reign of Ferdinand and Isabel._x000D_ The first volume covers the period from 8th to 14th century, starting with Visigothic Kings of Hispania Witica and Roderich. The volume surveys the history of Iberian Peninsula in this period, focusing on the court life and customs, ending with Don Pedro called the Cruel, the last ruler of the main branch of the House of Ivrea. The Second volume deals with the 14th and 15th century Spain, surveying the historical events and presenting tradition and practice on royal court nearing the end of the Reconquista and the changes that occurred with the passing of time.
The Secret History of the Court of Spain During the Last Century by Rachel Challice offers a fascinating and in-depth exploration of the hidden dynamics and intrigues that shaped the Spanish court over the past hundred years. Challice's work provides readers with a unique glimpse into the political, social, and personal dramas that have influenced Spain’s royal history. Drawing from a wealth of historical sources and contemporary accounts, Challice reveals the often unseen aspects of court life, including behind-the-scenes power struggles, secret alliances, and the personal ambitions of key figures. The book delves into the lives of prominent members of the Spanish aristocracy, shedding light on their relationships, conflicts, and the impact of their actions on the broader historical narrative. The Secret History combines rigorous historical analysis with engaging storytelling, offering readers a rich tapestry of events and personalities that have defined Spain’s royal court. Challice's detailed research and insightful commentary make this book an invaluable resource for historians and enthusiasts of Spanish history alike. This work stands out for its thorough examination of a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of Spanish history. The Secret History of the Court of Spain During the Last Century is a compelling read for those interested in the complexities of royal politics and the intricate world of courtly life.
Kate Fordham, escaping terrible personal trauma, has fled to the beautiful sunlit city of Granada, the ancient capital of the Moors in Spain. There she is scraping by with an unfulfilling job in a busy bar. One day, in the glorious gardens of the Alhambra—once home to Sultan Abu Abdullah Mohammed—Kate finds a scrap of paper hidden in one of the ancient walls. Upon it, in strange symbols, has been inscribed a message from another era. The message has lain undiscovered since before the Fall of Granada in 1492, when the city was surrendered to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Born of love, in a time of danger and desperation, the fragment will be the catalyst that changes Kate's life forever. An epic saga of romance and redemption, Court of Lions brings one of the great turning-points in human history to life, telling the dual stories of a modern woman and the last Moorish sultan of Granada, as they both move towards their cataclysmic destinies.
When Philip IV of Spain died in 1665, his heir, Carlos II, was three years old. In addition to this looming dynastic crisis, decades of enormous military commitments had left Spain a virtually bankrupt state with vulnerable frontiers and a depleted army. In Silvia Z. Mitchell’s revisionist account, Queen, Mother, and Stateswoman, Queen Regent Mariana of Austria emerges as a towering figure at court and on the international stage, while her key collaborators—the secretaries, ministers, and diplomats who have previously been ignored or undervalued—take their rightful place in history. Mitchell provides a nuanced account of Mariana of Austria’s ten-year regency (1665–75) of the global Spanish Empire and examines her subsequent role as queen mother. Drawing from previously unmined primary sources, including Council of State deliberations, diplomatic correspondence, Mariana’s and Carlos’s letters, royal household papers, manuscripts, and legal documents, Mitchell describes how, over the course of her regency, Mariana led the monarchy out of danger and helped redefine the military and diplomatic blocs of Europe in Spain’s favor. She follows Mariana’s exile from court and recounts how the dowager queen used her extensive connections and diplomatic experience to move the negotiations for her son’s marriage forward, effectively exploiting the process to regain her position. A new narrative of the Spanish Habsburg monarchy in the later seventeenth century, this volume advances our knowledge of women’s legitimate political entitlement in the early modern period. It will be welcomed by scholars and students of queenship, women’s studies, and early modern Spain.
