Under the Sign of Aljubarrota: Juan I of Castile’s Emblematic and Chivalric Parable (1379-1390)

Abstract

This study examines emblems and orders of chivalry that emerged during the reign of Juan I of Castile (1379-1390) within the context of political events, royal ceremony and the symbolism of power developed by the new Trastamara dynasty. Following Enrique II’s chivalric program, his son fomented the Order of the Sash (Orden de la Banda) linking it to the Crown and adding to its emblems chimerical beasts (dragon, griffin, falcon) that projected prophetic and laudable messages of his power. The defeat of Aljubarrota (1385) was a turning point as new emblems were created such as that of the Holy Ghost and the Rose which emphasized the Christian dimension of his orders of chivalry in the framework of a military reform and religious renovation undertaken at the end of his reign.