Royalty in Spain

Book Categories: Juan Carlos, History, Medieval, Alfonso X, Isabella I, Joanna the Mad, Charles I, Philip II, Eulalia, Bourbons, Habsburgs, Others, Visigoths, Palaces & Art, Portugal

King Juan Carlos

Juan Carlos: Steering Spain From Dictatorship to Democracy by Paul Preston. A biography of Spain's current monarch, King Juan Carlos, who matured from a playful young prince into the skillful king who defended Spain's democracy.

The King: A Life of Juan Carlos of Spain by Jose Luis De Vilallonga is a biography of the current king of Spain. Out of print, but sometimes available from AbeBooks.

Books About King Juan Carlos in Spanish

Spanish History & Royalty

Empire: How Spain Became a World Power, 1492-1763 by Henry Kamen. Recreates the dazzling world of imperial Spain, from the capture of Moorish Granada to its expansion into Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean, and the opening up of the frontiers in Texas and California.

The Castles and the Crown: Spain 1451-1555 by Townsend Miller. This illustrated history focuses on the royal family, particularly Queen Isabella and her daughter Joanna the Mad. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

Imperial Spain 1469-1716 by John H. Elliot. Study of the sudden rise of a barren and isolated country to be the greatest power on earth, and its equally sudden decline.

The History of the Mohammedan Dynasties in Spain by Ahmed Mohammed Al Makkari, translated by Pascual De Gauangos. Reprinted from the first edition of 1840-43.

A Concise History of Spain by William D. Phillips Jr. and Carla Rahn Phillips. A survey of Spain's complex history from prehistoric times to the modern era, with illustrations and maps.

The Story of Spain by Mark Williams. A brief, readable account of the country's rich history.

The Resilience of the Spanish Monarchy 1665-1700 by Christopher Storrs. A new appraisal of the reasons for the survival of Spain and its empire under the last Spanish Habsburg, Carlos II.

Queenship and Political Power in Medieval and Early Modern Spain edited by Theresa Earenfight. The essays in this collection demonstrate the range and depth of current research on Iberian queenship, and re-examine long-held assumptions about women and power in pre-modern Spain.

Royalty and Theater

Majesty and Humanity: Kings and Their Doubles in the Political Drama of the Spanish Golden Age by Alban K. Forcione. In an age of regal spectacles, Spanish theater showed a surprising preoccupation with the disrobing of the king, reflecting a struggle to reconcile the monarch and the man.

Monarchy, Political Culture and Drama in Seventeenth-Century Madrid: Theater of Negotiation by Jodi Campbell. Analyzes portrayals of kingship during the age of absolutism. Spanish popular theater is shown to favor the idea of reciprocal obligations between subjects and monarch.

Books About the History of Portugal

Medieval Rulers of Aragon, Castile, and Leon

Transforming the State by Marta Vanlandingham. King, court, and political culture in the realms of Aragon, 1213-1387.

Power, Piety, and Patronage in Late Medieval Queenship: Maria de Luna by Nuria Silleras-Fernandez. Biography of María de Luna, wife of King Martin I of Aragon.

Kingship and Propaganda: Royal Eloquence and the Crown of Aragon C.1200-1450 by Suzanne F. Cawsey. Looks at letters of the kings and queens of Aragon and their advisers.

Knights on the Frontier: The Moorish Guard of the Kings of Castile (1410-1467) by Ana Echevarria. The kings of Castile maintained a personal cavalry guard in the 15th century. This Muslim elite provides a case-study of conversion in the Iberian Peninsula, and the transformation of royal armies from feudal companies to professional forces.

The King's Other Body: Maria of Castile and the Crown of Aragon by Theresa Earenfight. Queen María of Castile, wife of Alfonso V of Aragon, governed Catalunya in the mid-15th century with powers equivalent to the king's. This book is both a biography and an analysis of her political partnership with her husband.

Conciliar Church Policy During the Reign of Fernando IV, King of Castile-Leon, 1295-1312 by Paulette L. Pepin. Examines the relationship between the clergy and the monarchy in medieval Spain.

Alfonso X, King of Castile and Leon

Chronicle of Alfonso X by Fernan Sanchez De Valladolid, translated by Shelby Thacker and Jose Escobar. Alfonso X, the Wise (1221-1284), king of Castille and Leon from 1252, is noted as a patron of science and the arts. This is a translation of the "Chronica de Alfonso X," commisioned by Alfonso XI in the 14th century to memorialize his grandfather.

Alfonso X, the Learned by H. Salvador Martinez. Biography of 13th century king of Castile, León and Galicia.

Alfonso X and the Cantigas De Santa Maria: A Poetic Biography by Joseph F. O'Callaghan. In the "Cantigas de Santa Maria," a collection of more than 400 poems in praise of the Virgin Mary, Alfonso X has left us a kind of poetic biography, recounting specific events in his life. He tells us about his family, his war against the Muslims, the treachery of the nobility, and more.

Alfonso X, the Cortes, and Government in Medieval Spain by Joseph F. O'Callaghan. A collection of essays covering the Cortes and royal taxation, the economic and financial policies of Alfonso the Learned, kings and lords in conflict, and more.

King Dinis of Portugal and the Alfonsine Heritage by Sheila R. Ackerlind is about Alfonso X of Leon and Castile, and King Dionsius of Portugal.

Alfonso X: El Sabio: Cantigas De Loor by Alfonso X, edited by Martin G. Cunningham. An edition for performers and scholars of the "Cantigas de Loor," a sub-corpus of the "Cantigas of Santa Maria." The introduction is in English with parallel Spanish. Includes a chapter on the pronunciation of medieval Galician.

Songs of Holy Mary of Alfonso X, the Wise: A Translation of the Cantigas De Santa Maria by Alfonso X, translated by Kathleen Kulp-Hill.

Supernatural in Early Spain Studied in the Works of the Court of Alfonso X, El Sabio by Frank Callcott. Analyzes references made in the works of Alfonso X to the supernatural.

More Books About Alfonso X

Queen Isabella I

Isabel the Queen: Life and Times by Peggy K. Liss. Biography of Spain's powerful Queen Isabella I.

Isabella of Castile: The First Renaissance Queen by Nancy Rubin. This biography traces Isabella's development from an orphaned and neglected princess into Spain's most powerful monarch.

Queen Isabel I of Castile: Power, Patronage, Persona edited by Barbara F. Weissberger. Essays examine how the Queen influenced music, literature, architecture, painting, and her own image.

Isabel La Catolica, Queen of Castile: Critical Essays by David A. Boruchoff. Examines the world into which Isabella I was born, her marriage and reign, and the construction of her image from the 15th century onward.

Isabel of Castille by I. Plunket. A biography.

The World of Columbus edited by James R. McGovern. Includes an essay on Spain during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Queen's Cross by Lawrence Schoonover. Novel about Isabella of Castile, her husband Ferdinand of Aragon, and their reconquest of Spain.

Columbus and the Crowns by William H. Prescott is about Chistopher Columbus's dealings with Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand. Out of print, but sometimes available at AbeBooks.

Crown of Aloes by Norah Lofts. An excellent, entertaining novel about Isabella. Out of print, but available at Alibris.

Queen Isabella and the Unification of Spain by Nancy Whitelaw. Nonfiction for children ages 9 to 12.

Isabel Saves the Prince: Based on a True Story of Isabel I of Spain by Joan Holub, illustrated by Nonna Aleshina. Fiction for children ages 4 to 8.

Isabel I: Jewel of Castilla, Spain, 1466 by Carolyn Meyer is a novel for children from the "Royal Diaries" series. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

More Books About Queen Isabella

Queen Joanna the Mad

Juana the Mad: Sovereignty and Dynasty in Renaissance Europe by Bethany Aram. The daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, Joanna went insane after the death of her beloved husband, Philip the Handsome. For more than 45 years she was confined in the castle of Tordesillas, where she died in 1555. Her eldest son was Holy Roman emperor Charles V.

Juana of Castile: History and Myth of the Mad Queen edited Maria A. Gomez, Juan-Navarro Santiago, and Phyllis Zatlin.

Seek the Darkness: The Story of Juana La Loca by Amarie Dennis. This 1961 biography is out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

Fiction

The Last Queen: A Novel by C. W. Gortner. Challenges the myths about Queen Juana of Castile (Joanna the Mad), revealing a brave, determined woman.

That Other Juana by Linda Carlino. A story of obsessive love, uncontrolled passion, and cruel betrayal, set in 16th century Spain.

The Scroll of Seduction by Gioconda Belli. Novel about a 16-year-old girl and an art historian who relive the story of Spanish queen Joanna the Mad and her legendary love for her husband, Philip the Handsome.

The Prisoner of Tordesillas by Lawrence L. Schoonover. A novel about Joanna the Mad. From Alibris.

Books About Joanna's Sister Katherine of Aragon

Charles I (Emperor Charles V)

Charles V and the Castilian Assembly of the Clergy: Negotiations for the Ecclesiastical Subsidy by Sean T. Perrone. Illuminates the limits of royal control over the church in 16th century Castile.

The Empire of the Cities: Emperor Charles V, the Comunero Revolt, and the Transformation of the Spanish System by Aurelio Espinosa. Provides insight into the monarchical government, royal institutions and management procedures under Emperor Charles V.

More Books About Charles V

King Philip II

Philip of Spain by Henry Arthur Francis Kamen. Biography drawing on unpublished correspondence and other archival sources.

Philip II by Patrick Williams. Looks at Philip's government and the pressures of his tortured private life, exploring the paradox of a prudent young ruler who became extraordinarily aggressive in old age, reshaping the world through his successes and failures.

The Courtier and the King by James M. Boyden. Ruy Gomez De Silva, Philip II, and the court of Spain.

For a Queen's Love: The Stories of the Royal Wives of Philip II by Jean Plaidy. The story of Philip II of Spain: fanatic, murderer, husband, father, and lover. First published in 1954 as "The Spanish Bridegroom."

The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen. Novel based on the story of Sofonisba Anguissola, renowned artist of the Renaissance. At the court of King Felipe II of Spain, Sofi becomes embroiled in a love triangle involving the Queen, the King, and the King's illegitimate half brother.

Infanta Eulalia

La Infanta Republicana: Doña Eulalia de Borbón by José M. Zavala. Biography of Spain's Princess Eulalia (1864-1958), daughter of Queen Isabella II. This book is in Spanish.

Memoirs of HRH Infanta Eulalia by Princess Eulalia of Spain. Out of print, but available from Alibris in English and/or Spanish.

Other Spanish Royals and Courtiers

The Empress, the Queen, and the Nun by Magdalena S. Sanchez is about three powerful women in the court of Philip III of Spain -- Empress Maria, Margaret of Austria, and Margaret of the Cross -- who worked to advance the cause of the Habsburgs.

The Great Favourite: The Duke of Lerma and the Court and Government of Philip III of Spain, 1598-1621 by Patrick Williams. Biography of Francisco Gómez de Sandoval, Duke of Lerma (1553-1625) the last major unknown statesman in modern European history.

Philip V of Spain: The King Who Reigned Twice by Henry Arthur Francis Kamen. Sympathetic biography of the 18th century Spanish king who suffered from depression (and sometimes thought he was a frog). The title refers to the fact that Philip abdicated in favor of his son but later returned to the throne.

Patrons, Partisans, and Palace Intrigues: The Court Society of Colonial Mexico 1702-1710 by Christoph Rosenmüller. Appointed viceroy of New Spain by King Philip V, the Duke of Alburquerque thwarted Spanish reform efforts and persecuted local craftsmen and merchants. In the end, a clique at the royal court in Madrid sought revenge.

The Prince and the Infanta: The Cultural Politics of the Spanish Match by Glyn Redworth. About one of the most bizarre episodes in British history -- the struggle of a 17th century Prince of Wales to win a Spanish princess as his bride.

Ena: Spain's English Queen by Gerald Noel. Biography of Victoria Eugenie of Battenberg, nicknamed Ena. A granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she married Spain's King Alfonso XIII. Out of print, but sometimes available from Alibris.

Books About the Habsburgs

Visigothic Kings of Hispania

Visigothic Spain 409-711 by Roger Collins. Between the end of Roman rule in the early fifth century and the Arab conquest in the eighth, Spain was ruled by the Visigoths. This book looks at how the Visigothic kingdom was governed, the Arab conquest, and the rise of Spain as an intellectual force. I found it very interesting.

King Sisebut and the Culture of Visigothic Spain by John Martyn. Explores the intersection of the political and the religious in medieval times. Includes translations of selected letters of Sisebut, Sisebut's poetry, lives of saints Desiderius and Masona, and more.

The King and the Whore: King Roderick and La Cava by Elizabeth Drayson. King Roderic was an 8th century Visigoth king of Hispania. This book explores the legends about his relationship with a woman called La Cava.

Spanish Palaces and Art

Spanish Splendor: Great Palaces, Castles, and Country Homes by Juan José Junquera y Matos and Enrique Ruspoli y Morenés, photographs by Roberto Schezen. Visits more than 30 historically significant properties, from Aragon, Galicia, and the Basque regions in the north to the central cities of Madrid and Toledo, from the fabled Andalusian cities of Seville and Granada in the south to the Catalan capital, Barcelona.

Gardens, Landscape, and Vision in the Palaces of Islamic Spain by D. Fairchild Ruggles. A history of the gardens and palatine architecture of Islamic Spain.

The Escoriál: Art and Power in the Renaissance by Henry Kamen. Looks at King Philip II's motives for building the Escorial, a Spanish royal palace, and the meaning of its design.

A Palace for a King: The Buen Retiro and the Court of Philip IV by Jonathan Brown and Sir John Elliott. The Buen Retiro, a royal pleasure palace, was built for Philip IV of Spain in the 1630s. This is a total history of its construction, decoration, and use.

Paintings for the Planet King: Philip IV and the Buen Retiro Palace edited by Andres Ubeda De Los Cobos. Philip IV of Spain (r. 1621-65) was known as the Planet King. This book is a guide the 800 paintings by master artists that once hung in his Buen Retiro Palace. Illustrated.

The Royal Chapel in the Time of the Habsburgs: Music and Court Ceremony in Early Modern Europe edited by Tess Knighton, Juan José Carreras, Bernardo Garcéa García. The royal chapel established by Philip II in Madrid was a central institution of royal power until well into the 18th century. Using it as a focus, the essays in this illustrated volume examine the development of the main court chapels of Europe.

Seville: Royal Palace by Juan Carlos Hernandez Nunez.

The Royal Palaces of Spain by Juan A. Hernandez Ferrero, photographs by Humberto Rivas. Looks at eight palaces, including the Palace of Madrid, the Palace of El Escorial, and Reales Alcazares de Seville, and describes their unique histories. Out of print, but available from Alibris.

The Alhambra by Owen Jones. A two volume set of plans, elevations, sections and drawings of the fabulous palace built near Granada by Moorish kings in the 13th and 14th centuries. From Alibris.