PhD Program in Historical studies
The court in Valladolid and the convent of the Descalzas Reales
When the court of Philip III moved to Valladolid (1600-1606) under the express wish of the Duke of Lerma, Queen MargaretMargaret of Habsburg (1584-1611) was the daughter of Charles II of Styria, the third son of Emperor Ferdinand I. She was married by proxy in Ferrara with Philip III of Spain, in 1599. She died soon after giving birth to her eighth child. Among his heirs were the future Philip IV of Spain, the infantes Carlos and Fernando, the future queen of France Anne of Austria and the future empress Maria Anna von Habsburg. did not hesitate to found a convent similar to that of Descalzas Reales she had left in Madrid. The construction of the convent of Valladolid of the Descalzas Reales did not end until 1615, and for that the queen could not see the building completed before her death in 1611. In its constitutions, it is noted that the number of religious belonging to the Order of the Discalsed Franciscan nunsThey are a community of female religious who follow the rules of the reform of Saint Colette, of French origin. The first convent in Spain was that of Gandía, under the patronage of the Borja family, the dukes of Gandía. Most of the women of this noble family professed in the convent. From there, the Franciscan nuns moved to Madrid for the foundation of the convent of the Descalzas Reales. was set at 33, as for the monastery in Madrid, and novices who wanted to take their vows in the convent could not enter into the congregation without the approval of the sovereign. In this way, the monarchs appeared to be the protectors of these convents and their coats of arms were not lacking either within the structure nor on the façade.
The monument was made up of the church, two cloisters, chapels and a large orchard. Outside, the walls of the convent are made of stone and masonry, as they were in most of the monasteries of the time. In this case, it was an old noble’s residence adapted to monastic life, with the elimination of the balconies and their replacement windows with fitted blinds to ensure enclosure. The church of the Descalzas of Valladolid was designed by Francisco de la MoraFrancisco de la Mora (1553-1610) was one of the most distinguished architects of sixteenth century Spain. He worked with Juan de Herrera in the Monastery of El Escorial. In Madrid made the first part of the Plaza Mayor, and was responsible for the changes on the outer part of the Alcázar and was appointed Maestro Mayor de las obras reales de la Villa de Madrid (Chief overseer of the royal construction work for Madrid). His main work was the Ducal Palace of Lerma. Shortly before his death, he was in charge of the design of the Descalzas Reales convent of Valladolid., architect to Philip III, even if the execution of the work was directed by Diego de Praves. The church is on the corner and therefore has a side entrance. The façade is all brick and has a flat and rectangular shape. In the upper part, which terminates in a pediment with a rounded convex moulding, royal coats of arms stand on each side, reminiscent of the patronage of the rulers. The main body is dominated by a niche, in which the painting by Gregorio Fernández Virgen con Ángeles en honor a la Asunción (Virgin with angels in honour of the Assumption), was placed. A small pediment with three spheres on pedestals was placed above the niche. On the roof there is a small bell tower which has three bells. The interior has a single nave, dominated by the dome without a roof lantern. The main altarpiece contains sculptures of religious paintings by Gregorio Fernández and Santiago MoránSantiago Morán (1571-1626) was a pintor de cámara (Court painter) of Philip III, belonging to the school of Juan Pantoja de la Cruz. He made several portraits of the royal family, of which the best known is that of the Infanta Margarita Francisca. At the same time, he completed major assignments for the monarchs, such as the main altarpiece of the Descalzas Reales convent of Valladolid.. The Baroque pulpit, in iron with a wooden canopy, is also well-preserved. The cloister, also dating from the time of Philip III, is composed of two areas of a square shape, with round arches on both sides and a geometric floor at the center of which there is a well.
When the court returned to Madrid, the Descalzas of Valladolid remained under the care and protection of the Chancillería RealThe Chancillería Real (Royal Chancellery) was the main judicial body that had jurisdiction over Castile. Created in the fourteenth century in a general reform of justice in the kingdom, it lasted until its suppression in the nineteenth century. Its main function was to receive and resolve all the open court cases in the kingdom of Castile, and to validate official documents with the royal seal, without making them pass through the hands of the king. It lost prominence in the sixteenth century, when the Chancillería de Granada was created. in Valladolid, which was located in front of the convent. Many of the ministers of justice wanted their daughters to enter the convent making it, again a center of spirituality, but also of power.