I was wondering if anyone knows of a good source for information on late 15th, early 16th century Spain...I've noticed that in many re-creational groups, there seems to be a noticable absence of such personas, and was wondering if anyone has any ideas about spaniards in this time frame...I'm specifically interested in armour and clothing, but also their culture and political involvements in the rest of Europe's affairs.

Thanks in advance for anything you may have!

I know someone in the Richard III Society who is really into the Spanish Culture of the the 15th century. I will send her a message and see if she has some sources that you might find interesting.

Cheers,

Now, I did notice this entry on the site:

"On the accession of Charles V. to the kingdom of Spain [1516], he introduced the Burgundian flag, - the red raguled saltire on a white ground- which was to some extent used for two hundred and fifty years. The ships of the Armada, in 1588, bore the Burgundian cross."

Did Spain have a strong connection to Burgundy in the years I am interested in? Did Spain have any part in the War of the Roses? I'm very interested in that war, and was originally going to make my persona Burgundian, but Spaniards are rather under-represented and I have a soft spot in my heart for Spain (been in love with Spain since high school!).

Also, armour-wise, did the Spainiards wear basically the same kind of harnesses as Burgundy? Or did they wear a different style? I'm trying to decide if I want to go with a peascod (sp?) breastplate or an articulated one, but I will go with anything that fits my persona. Same question goes for clothing...would a "Standard" late 15th Century garb kit fit (i.e., the full garb kit being sold at Historic Enterprises *drool*), or did the Spaniards have a different style of dress?

My idea right now is to be a man-at-arms, perhaps a minor noble or land owner, though this is not necessary. I know that the requirements to accurately portray even the most minor of nobles would require a huge kit (and servents to boot!), but I *do* want to get to this point eventually. I don't have a whole lot more developed at this moment, because I don't want to lock myself into something before I have all the facts.

I really want to get some serious persona development, and make my kit match, rather than the other way around...no katana-wielding scottish-accented spanish-named egyptian here! Any information would be appreciated, thanks all for your help!

Marcus

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Did Spain have a strong connection to Burgundy in the years I am interested in? Did Spain have any part in the War of the Roses?

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Charles the Bold's mother was Isabell of Portugal. Charles was by blood related to the house of Lancaster, and through his marriage to Edward IV's sister Margaret of York, tied to the house of York. I am not certain how strong the connection between Burgundy and Spain was or whether the Spanish had any major involvement in the WoR. You generally only read about it from the English/French POV.

Chef de Chambre?? Any comments?

Here are some links you might wish to take a look at.

One is Georgetown University's Labyrinth site. They offer links to many sites that are specialized. Iberia happened to be one of them. Take a look. You might find art work and other information that is specific to the location/class/impression you wish to draw your portrayal from.

http://www.georgetown.edu/labyrinth/subjects/iberia/iberia.html

The second is a bibliography for books about medieval Spain. It might prove useful.

http://www.uca.edu/history/medsp.htm

I haven't had the op to get in touch with my friend in the R3 Society. As soon as I do, I will let you know what she says.

Cheers,

Jenn

I wish I could help but what I know of Spain consists of 2 things: the Elizabethan view of Spain (cough, cough) and the home of the Andalusian (great horse!)

Good luck in your endeavor, I'm following this thread with interest.

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The Order of the Golden Fleece was established in 1430 by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy in celebration of the properous and wealthy domaines united in his person that ran from Flanders to Switzerland. Just as with the Danish Order of the Elephant, it is not known why Phillip chose the golden fleece as the sign and symbol of his order. Some point out the great wealth he obtained from the wool trade in Flanders, others to the spread of humanism and classical literature, and yet others point to the symbol of Jason for the archangel Gideon. In his youth Philip always longed to go on crusade to the golden East, and so the choice of Jason journying east to gain the golden reward may be a rememberance of his desires. We must also remember that Jason chose a select crew of the greatest of the Greek warriors, and Philip's "Compaignons" of the Fleece are his crew of dedicated, Christian demi-saints.

The sovereignty of the order, in hereditary possession of the House of Burgundy, was, in default of a male heir, destined for the husband of the heiress of the Duchy until the majority of her son. In 1477, the Grand Mastership passed, therefore, to the House of Habsburg following the marriage of Mary, daughter of Charles the Bold, last Duke of Burgundy, to Archduke (later Emperor) Maximilian of Austria. Following the marriage of Joan (Juana) the Mad of Castille and Aragon with Archduke Phillip of Austria (son of Maximilian and Mary), control of the order passed in 1516 to the Spanish branch ot the House of Habsburg. At that time the Order was enlarged by 10 places for Spanish members, clearly indicating the Habsburgs long-term plans for Spain in their patrimony. The first Spanish investisure came in 1519, the year of Charles' accession. Charles V (I), son of Phillip, willed the Grand Mastership of the order along with the throne of Spain to his son, Phillip II, after having, in 1521, ceded his Austrian possessions to his brother Ferdinand I. This last act was very important years later when both Austria and Spain claimed the order.

In 1700, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs, Charles II, designated as his heir his grandnephew, Phillip of France, Duke of Anjou,
grandson of Louis XV, who became Phillip V (a designation that led to the War of the Spanish Succession). The legitimate Sovereign Heads of the order, Phillip V and Ferdinand VI, united the Golden Fleece to the Crown of Spain, the Duchy of Burgundy existing only in theory, having been annexed by France in the reign of Louis XI.

However, in 1712, the Head of the House of Austria reclaimed the order, together with the Spanish crown, appropriated the treasury of the order, and proclaimed himself Soverign Head. The treasury was later brought to Vienna from Bruges when threatened by French revolutionaries (where it remains to this day). Since 1712, therefore, there have been two Orders of the Golden Fleece, the one being confered by the Austrian Monarch, the other by the Spanish Monarch, and each contesting the legitimacy of the other.

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Sorry for being a tad long winded, I always found it interesting how ownership of something passes from one country to another in the abscence of an heir.

Cheers,

Jenn

As a side note, is anyone familiar with period Spanish names? I know my own name, Marcus, can be translated fairly easily into Marco (a definite period name), but I wonder about my wife's name...her real name is Raina, which means "queen" in spanish, but I don't know if this would have been used in period...

Thanks again, I really appreciate it!

You know, I think the one thing we forgot to ask is, what class are you and your wife looking to portray? What type of role are you looking to fulfill: Man at Arms, Knight, Merchant, etc...? This is usually a key factor for getting the best taylored info.

Maria (My R3 friend) responded. I am posting a couple of links below. She is compiling a list of books and other things and will probably send it to me tonight. I can either post it or send it to you via email. I also asked her about names to see if Raina can be used as is.

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I definitely can, but let me do it this evening so I can get all the titles and authors straight.

Meanwhile, here's a nice website for Portugal: http://www.ribatejo.com/hp/

Here's a good browsing spot for W. Europe in general: http://worldroots.com/brigitte/b0a_index.html (Brigitte's Pages)

And the Mad Monarch's pages is also nice: http://www.xs4all.nl/~kvenjb/madmon.htm

Let [Marcus] know that I do have a book that focuses on Medieval Spanish costume. Also that Townsend Miller's "Castles and the Crown" and his biography of "Henry IV" (of Castile) are well worth the reading, and that Miller can really bring his characters to life.

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There was more to her note. I will have to send it to you. It primarily deals with descriptions of Spanish Kings and Princes and depending on your portrayal, I wasn't sure if it was good to post it.

Cheers,

Jenn

It was way too long to post down here! Hope it helps!

i have this great book on hispanic clothing and style from about 1480-1550.

unfortunately it is at home and i'm not.

the title off of my head is "hispanic costume from 1480-1550" ?

it uses paintings and original works as examples plus it quote a lot of inventories of different households (also another good sorce of names for the time period) it separates the clothes by type and use. what years of use etc. plus it goes into materials used aswell.

i'll get you the title tommorrow. hope this helps.

have fun,

here's the book i was telling you about:

Hispanic Costume 1480-1530 by Ruth Matilda Anderson. Printed by the Order of Trustees the Hispanic Society of America. New York, 1979. ISBN 87535-126-3.

here's another title that i came across once "Das Trachtenbuch" it a series from about 1530? that has a number of spaniards. i believe that Dover reprinted it.

the first book details both men's and women's dress, from hairstyles to footwear and everything in between. plus all of the illustrations are faximilies of the originals not artist interpreations. they are in B/W but are refereced in order to find a copy of the same else where in colour. it's also very "kewl" because it names the article by their hispanic names.

i like to leaf through picture books of actual paintings to get ideas as to how to look like, what colours to wear, etc. try finding some books on hispanic paintings or illuminations.

by the by, what kind of spaniard are you going to be? from which "kingdom"? it was Fernando II of Aragon (1479-1516, aka Feranando V of Castilla 1474-1516) and Iabel of Castilla (1474-1504) (cousins by the by)that united the kindoms of the penninsula. you also had their cousin Ferrante (1458-94) over in the kindom of Napoles which was Aragonesa until the death of Alfonso V of Aragon (1416-58); at his death he split the kindom of Aragon twixt his brother Juan II (1458-79) who was the father of Fernando II, and his son Ferrante who got the italian pocessions of Aragon including Cerdena, and Sicilia.

you also had approx 8 different penninsular languages being spoken: arabe, bable, castellano, catalan, gallego, ladino, portugues, vasco.

have fun,

Thanks for all the info! I am thinking Aragonesa, and am in the process of finding more information on that specific kingdom...I must say I am absolutely amazed and thrilled at the help this board has been for finding this stuff.

Alasdair, I have that site bookmarked, lots of good stuff, but I'm interested in slightly earlier than the New World...I will still be contacting them, though, I'm sure they have lots of good information!

I found this site that might interest you as well. It docuements buttons and buckles located in Spanish New World settlements during the 16th century.
http://www.artifacts.org/conquest.htm

have fun,

Here's some info on a late 15th Spanish lady's effigy that may be of some use to you:
http://www.geocities.com/~thorngrove/effigy.htm

I have no idea how accurate the assessment is, and the figure in the pics is not extremely detailed, but at least it's something!

SPF