"Ceremony", feast and power during the reigns of Juan II and Enrique IV of Castile: textile art as a sign of prestige, in the light of Chronicles

Abstract

This paper deals with the importance of chronicles in the process of elucidating the relevance of ornamental textiles in ceremonial and festive acts of civic nature. Moreover, in these cases we can appreciate that ornamental textiles turned into a symbol of ostentation related to the self-legitimation and propaganda mechanisms of Castilian monarchy and nobility right through the reigns of Juan II and Enrique IV. In order to achieve this aim, we will review the political and social circumstances that forced these two estates to strengthen their public image. On top of that, we are going to analyse the notoriety attained by their feast and ceremonies in the urban area, as well as to identify the presence of textile as an element of pageantry in this sort of episodes.