Why did Philip II move the Spanish court to Madrid?
Philip II moves the court to Madrid
Felipe II traslada la corte a Madrid
May 1561. Until 1561 the Spanish court moved from city to city.
Where: Spain, Madrid, Toledo
What happened
Until 1561 the Spanish court moved from city to city. On 7 May 1561 Philip II wrote from Toledo to the officials of the royal works in Madrid: 'I have decided to go to that town of Madrid with my house and court', and in early June the court arrived. No law ever declared Madrid the capital; the king simply stayed, drawn by the central position, the hunting grounds and the room to build. Madrid, a town of some 20,000 people, grew several times over within a generation. Except for five years in Valladolid (1601–06) it has been the seat of Spain's government ever since, and the Madrid of Cervantes, Lope and Velázquez became the stage of the Golden Age.
Say it
Desde 1561 Madrid es la capital de España.
Since 1561 Madrid has been the capital of Spain.
Why it matters
Madrid's speech became the prestige variety of Castilian, and the city the home of the Royal Academy; Spanish culture has a capital because of this move.
Connected
- The Siglo de Oro (c. 1492–1681)
- Philip II builds El Escorial (1563–1584)
- Philip II builds El Escorial (1563–1584)
- The Real Academia Española is founded (3 August 1713)
Sources
- Las reales cédulas del asentamiento de la Corte en Madrid (Libros de la Corte) — Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, repositorio