The Spanish Royal Court
The Difference in Spain
In most royal courts of Europe throughout the centuries, notably those of France, England and Burgundy, the tendencies, traditions, and customs of the court are based solely around a single focus of royal power - the king. Yet, it was completely different in Spain, for the ways of the court were not celebrating only one ruler, but two - Ferdinand and Isabella alike, and their respective kingdoms and so-forth. Both of them inherited established court systems. These systems continued politically and legally to govern the couple’s inheritances of territory, as well. Even though Castile and Aragon, Ferdinand and Isabella’s crowns, were slowly beginning to agree and unify within their policies and such, the two court systems continued to possess their own, individual identities and roles, and even histories, in the lives of these supreme monarchs.
Until Isabella was crowned Queen in 1474, the biggest development in Castilian court organization had been the growth of importance of the chamber, or camara, which slowly became an administrative department, one that gave the chamberlain, or camarero, a more prominent role. In this court system, there was a clear distinction between court offices that were outside the royal household and those that were of the household. There were many people involved in these duties of the court, including chief chancellor (canciller mayor), the chief notary (notario mayor), the chief constable (alguacil mayor), and the household and court magistrate (alcalde de casa y corte). In the fifteenth century under Isabella, the court became more independent in its various sections, especially concerning the chancellery (chancilleria), or High Court, more commonly known as the audiencia. Isabella also made sure that court life was very distinct and detailed in all its operations and roles, because her preoccupation with the financial weakness of both her and her husband’s crown left them financially tight, and they had to make do and be quite specific. This led to the further fragmentation of the court into more specialized departments, etc.
Because Isabella and Ferdinand had a practical and strong devotion to their religion, Christianity, it is only natural that they were just as adamant in their personal religious beliefs outside of the ruling of their country and politics, but in their own lifestyles, household, and court. As far as these two monarchs were concerned, the Catholic religion was the inner core and true purpose in life. It was with this Christian religion with which they worked to reform the Church in general, and was what they went to war for against Islam and Judaism. So, Mass and chapel were quite important in Ferdinand and Isabella’s court life. The chapel traditionally consisted of a hierarchy of clergy, with jurisdictional and sacramental powers, a group of instrumentalists and singers who provided music for the liturgy during the Mass, but also sang and played in the secular royal court for social events, feasts, or royal ceremonies. Great importance was attached, as well, to the correct daily performance of Catholic worship. The chapel staff, which consisted of boys (mozos), and upholsterers (reposteros) were responsible for bringing in liturgical objects that would be used during the mass. They also brought in blankets and pillows, cushions and curtains to suit and comfort the Queen so that she could experience the Mass in utmost relaxation and calm. There was also a group of notable composers in the Castilian royal chapel who wrote beautifully classic songs used during the religious ceremony, like Juan de Anchieta, Lope de Baeana, Alonso Perez de Alba, Juan del Encima, and Francisco de Millan.
Also, Isabella’s chapel very closely followed the Catholic liturgical year, and therefore gave great priority to major festivals associated with Jesus himself - Christmas, Easter, Holy Week, etc. This calendar also commemorates female saints, as Isabella is commemorated herself by many poets and songwriters who praised her for her rule as a Queen, which seems like an early form of feminism in both accounts.
Overall, the court was a place of many levels and positions, all circling around the royal king and queen and the religious ceremonies like the Mass that took place everyday. Every person had to complete their job punctually, perfectly, and accurately to make sure all details ran smoothly, and so that the rulers, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, would be satisfied, and so that these cultural influences would go on for ages to come.