Felipe IV - History Lab

Landscape with gypsies

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:31:28 +0000

The first Gypsies arrived in Spain at the beginning of the 15th century. Crossing the Pyrenees, they arrived on the peninsula in the form of small bands made up of men, women and children. In 1425, Alfonso V of Aragon granted a group led by Don Juan de Egipto Menor a permit, allowing them to travel through the monarch’s territory for a period of three months. The name ‘Egypt Minor’ was used in the Middle Ages to refer to the present-day area of Cyprus and Syria; since the first Gypsy settlers to arrive in Spain used this name, it can be assumed that they all came from the same place. Towards the second half of the 15th century, another significant group arrived across the Mediterranean, which was nicknamed “Grecians”, as they were believed to be from there. These groups of gypsies justified their journey by presenting themselves as pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela, in order to atone for their sins. After an initial warm welcome, in which they were treated with benevolence due to their status as penitent travellers, a series of legal measures against them soon began with the aim of controlling them and making them similar to the rest of the Spaniards. The first measure, issued by the Catholic Monarchs in 1499, ordered the expulsion from the kingdom of all Gypsies who were not subject to any trade and lived nomadically. The anti-Gypsy legislation enacted by the following monarchs was practically similar until 1633, when Philip IV annulled the expulsion decree and a period of legal integration of the minority prevailed until 1793. Finally, under Charles III, the Gypsies began to be slowly accepted by the majority society when it was declared that they “did not come from an infectious root” and that, consequently, they could take up any occupation.

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The Spears or the Surrender of Breda (1625)

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:30:26 +0000

From the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Netherlands fought for independence from Spain in a long war, known as the Flanders War or the Eighty Years’ War. In 1590, the city of Breda, important for its strategic position to launch new offensives, was taken by the Dutch, and between 1609 and 1621 enjoyed a truce that expired when Philip IV ascended to the Spanish throne, who resumed the war and the clashes with the United Provinces of the North. To captain the expedition to Breda and lead the Flanders Thirds, the monarch appointed the Genoese aristocrat Ambrosio de Spinola, who would be in charge of fighting the Dutch with 40,000 men. Breda, which was defended by Justin de Nassau of the House of Orange, was besieged in 1625 so that it could not receive supplies and ammunition. The troops garrisoning the city finally surrendered on 5 June 1625, with the Spanish generals decreeing that the defeated were to be treated with respect and dignity. This treatment is depicted in the play, where it can be seen how the enemy is treated with chivalry. In the foreground we see how the victorious general receives, almost affectionately, the key from the defeated enemy.

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The Royal Cloth

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:30:14 +0000

Philip IV and his courtly circle are hunting a wild boar in a forest clearing in one of the most common courtly practices. The monarch is depicted on horseback in the centre of the composition carrying a spear intended for hunting while accompanied by the Count Duke of Olivares and probably his two brothers. Wild boar hunting was an expensive as well as traditional practice that marked special occasions when the king hunted the animal within the boundaries of a canvas. This painting by Velázquez was intended for the Torre de la Parada. This image is an excellent resource for an insight into the leisure and festive celebrations of the Court in the Modern Age.

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Royal confessors in 16th and 17th century Spain

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:29:25 +0000

The Order of Preachers had a marked presence at the court of the Habsburgs, enjoying full hegemony as royal confessors in the 17th century. This position of great social prestige was the goal of so many years dedicated to the ecclesiastical career, even exceeding, when it was held, the goals of their ecclesiastical work, acquiring in many cases an enormous political weight that should be outside all their legal attributions.
The post of confessor to the king represented one of the most influential positions, since, compared to other members of the court, one had full access to the sovereign. At that time, there were doubts about the way in which the services rendered to the monarch were to be recognised, which was also linked to the role of the royal valides and the consideration that was held between the two positions.
Although the Order of Preachers was present in a wide variety of important positions within the court of the Habsburgs, in the 17th century they occupied almost exclusively the position of confessor to the king. It was during the reigns of Philip III and Charles II when these attributions became an element of friction between the great power groups of the court, essentially due to the continuous dismissal and promotion of confessors, thus affecting broad groups of power.

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Europe in the 17th century

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:28:16 +0000

Digital portal with information about the most important figures of the 17th century and the evolution of the European states. There is information and images about the reigns of Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II and the states of England, France, Poland, Russia and the German Empire. After each of the sections, there is an interactive activity for students to test the knowledge they have acquired. Director: Arturo Ramo García

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Commented work: Las meninas, by Velázquez

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:28:16 +0000

Within the collection created by the Museo del Prado “Audioguías infatiles Museo del Prado” is a repertoire of videos explained for children of different works of the museum. The animated representation of the Infanta Margarita from her portrait in Velázquez’s Las Meninas explains the most relevant aspects of the work and its historical context. On this occasion, the 2.20 minute video focuses on the painting Las Meninas or The Family of Philip IV, one of the best-known masterpieces in the Prado Museum collection.

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The political decadence of the Golden Age. Memory of Spain

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:59 +0000

Episode 14 of the documentary series “Memories of Spain”. In the descriptor that appears on the rtve a la carta website, the following summary is given: Philip III reigns in Spain (1578-1621). He was succeeded by Philip IV (1605-1665). We are in the Golden Age, although the decline of the great Empire that Spain had been soon began. This programme uses images from the TVE archive from the series: ‘Cervantes’ by Alfonso Hungría, ‘Don Quixote’ by Gutiérrez Aragón, ‘El Alcalde de Zalamea’ by Federico Ruiz and ‘El Buscón’ by Luciano Berriatua. It is advised by Ricardo García Cárcel and lasts 44:52 minutes

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Baroque Spain

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:54 +0000

Kairos is an educational project of the National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training of the Ministry of Education, directed by Dr. Antonio Rodríguez de las Heras. Together with methodological contributions aimed at reinforcing the teaching of history, it contains proposals for the development of History content taught in Secondary Education and Baccalaureate. This content refers to the unit “La España del Barroco” for the subject History of Spain Bachillerato (2006).

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17th century Spain

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:48 +0000

Website of Professor Juan Carlos Ocaña which explains the block of contents on “17th century Spain”, adapted to the subject of History of Spain in the Second Baccalaureate (2005), in which the following sections are included: The Habsburgs in the 17th century: rule of the Validates and internal conflicts; the crisis of 1640; 17th century Spain: the decline of the Spanish empire in Europe; 17th century Spain: economic and social evolution in the 17th century; 17th century Spain: cultural splendour. The Golden Age

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Politics, economy and society. Theme: The 17th century. Session 1

ad_hlab_min — Sat, 19 Feb 2022 16:27:41 +0000

Explanatory video outlining the socio-economic and political characteristics of the 17th century in Modern Europe. During this period, Europe was plunged into a deep crisis. Population growth was slowed by successive plague epidemics, wars that led to terrible famines, low agricultural yields and poor harvests. On the other hand, the trade established with America, as well as the network established between Europe and Africa, provided excellent profits. Internationally, England and Holland began to compete with Spain and Portugal, expanding mainly in Asia and attacking Iberian cities and routes with pirates and privateers. France imposed its dominance in Europe over all other nations after the Peace of Westphalia, which ended the Thirty Years’ War in Germany.

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