Ceremonial and Protocol

Topic 2: the protocol and

symbolism of the Spanish Royal
Household
 Ceremonial and Protocol

Topic 2: Historical background of

the protocol and symbolism of the
Spanish Royal Household: the case
of don Juan José de Austria (1629-
1679)
 Origins
 The function or finality of the protocol
 As old as human beings
 Hammurabi Code (protocols for coronations;
precedences; for the “funcionarios” or workers of
the State
 Diplomatic protocol: protection of the person who
is delivered; respect where it is sent
 Etiquette at court: the Spanish case
Protocol of the Spanish Royal Household

 The Crowns of Aragon and Castille

 The marriage of Juana “La Loca” and Felipe “El
Hermoso” (1504)
 The royal household of Burgundy: the strange case
of the Hispanic Monarchy
 Philip II and the creation of the etiquettes during
the 1560s and 1570s
 Philip IV (1621-1665): a practical case-study
 PROTOCOL, CEREMONIAL AND MEDIATION
IN THE SPANISH MONARCHY DURING AN AGE OF
DECLINE:
THE ROLE OF DON JUAN JOSÉ DE AUSTRIA (1642-1679)
THE NECESSITY OF PURSUING THE PROTOCOL
“Diosse orden al Audiencier Luys Francisco Verreyken
para que se buscasse el estilo con que el señor Don Juan
de Austria escribía a Vuestra Majestad y demás príncipes
de Europa y el tratamiento que daba a los ministros y
personas particulares que sirve a Vuestra Majestad en
estos estados (Bélgica)”

“An order was given to the Audiencier Luys Francisco Verreyken

to search the style in which Don Juan de Austria had written to His
Royal Highness and the other princes of Europe; and how he
addressed to the other ministers and private individuals that served
(worked) for your Royal Highness in this territories (Belgium))”
INTRODUCTION: THE CASE OF THE SPANISH
MONARCHY
THE IDEA OF ‘FATHER’

 At this time the King was perceived as “pater

familiae” who ruled over his sons

 The role of the father: he had to lead, but also being

able to forgive

 The King was a mediator between all the power

structures
THE REVOLTS OF THE SPANISH MONARCHY

 1640: Portugal and

Catalonia

 1647: Naples and Sicily

 There were other revolts

THE ROLE OF THE KING

 Spanish King: Philip IV ruled

from 1621 to 1665

 He moved to Aragon to placate

the revolt of Catalonia: the
presence of the King

 His step-son: don Juan José de

Austria
TO ACT AS THE KING HIMSELF

 Don Juan José de Austria a

step-son: the only male son
alive

 Mediator between the

vassals and the father

 When circumstances oblige

ISSUES

 The Queens opposed to him

 He is a step-son: necessity of
establishing a etiquettes for him
to have a protocol/ceremonial

 What did the tradition say?

 1642, Madrid
Juan José de Austria, Descalzas
Reales de Madrid
PROCESS OF CREATION

 The search of references

(Belgium, Spain)

 Don Juan de Austria (16th

century)

 Archduke Alberto (16-17th

century)  German
Don John of Austria
ASPECTS TO REGULATE

 Encounters in ceremonies

 Letters (writing)

 Space

 With who: at home, and abroad (interconnected

reality)
ASPECTS TO REGULATE

 Writing: “Al Príncipe Nuestro Señor” (heir of the

throne of the Spanish Monarchy):
“En lo alto en medio = Muy alto y muy poderoso señor = y en la
cortesia = de Vuestra Alteza humilde servidor que sus serenissimas
manos besa”

 To the head of the most important institution of that time:

“En lo alto en medio muy ilustrísimo y Realísimp Señor y Vuestra
Magestad; y en la cortesía: al servicio de Vuestra Majestad”
ASPECTS TO REGULATE

 Writing, to the king of France

“En lo alto en medio (Cristianísimo) muy alto y muy
poderoso señor y Vuestra Majestad; y en la cortesía:
beso la mano a Vuestra Majestad”

Similar measures were adopted to write ambassadors,

kings, dukes and other political representatives within
and without the Monarchy
ISSUES

 In 1643, the “master” (ayo), the etiquette (protocol) of

how to write others was not very clear

 February 27, 1647, royal order of Philip IV how his

step-son must write, receive, address and the space
with ministers, political representatives, authorities,
etc.
ISSUES

 In 1643, the “master” (ayo), the etiquette (protocol) of

how to write others was not very clear

 January 10, 1647, order of Philip IV regulating the

“tratamientos” that Don Juan must have with the
princes of Italy, Germany and everywhere; also how to
write with the aristocracy, church men and ministers of
the Spanish Monarchy
ETIQUETTES OR PROTOCOLS OF DON JUAN DE
AUSTRIA
PROBLEMS IN NAPLES
(1647-1648)
WITH THE SPANISH CARDINALS ESTABLISHED
IN ROME
PROBLEMS IN NAPLES
(1647-1648)
WITH THE ARISTOCRACY IN NAPLES
QUEEN
 In 1665 Philip IV died:
government in hands of
Queen Mother Marianne

 Don Juan was put aside of

the Spanish Monarchy

 In 1667 Don Juan obtained,

eventually, being accepted in
Madrid (he had tried in 1652,
1663, 1664, 1665)

 Issues with the Ambassador

of the Emperor: non-official
agents
POWER
 From 1677 to 1679 he became
prime minister

 Issues on the royal chapel, just

one step behind the King

 Protocol struggles with the

ambassador of King of France
REPRESENTATIVES

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC3unxe3DR0

 Can we establish any comparison?

THE AFTERMATH
 https://
www.independe
nt.co.uk/news/
uk/home-news/
queen-trump-
meeting-uk-
visit-royal-
walking-bow-
curtsy-protocol-
a8446376.html
THE AFTERMATH
 https://
www.express.co
.uk/news/royal/
988504/Queen-
Donald-Trump-
UK-visit-video-
royal-protocol-
Windsor-Castle-
royal-news-
protest
OFFICIAL CEREMONY

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5ldAdSDEkM
AFTERMATH
 https://elpais.co
m/politica/2018
/10/12/actualid
ad/1539346513
_151984.html

 http://
www.elmundo.
es/espana/
2018/10/12/5bc
0976f468aeb03
618b457b.html
 Protocol and Ceremonial

Topic 2.2:
Vexillology and Symbology: the
Spanish Royal House
Official Protocol
 Vexillology
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl12Sp
1KiEkC
 Vexillology
 It is the discipline in charge of studying the origins
(history) and uses of the flags

 It studies the colours and the symbols (symbolism)

of the flags

 It was created during 1950s and 1960s to

distinguish the chief commander and his location in
the battlefield
 Flags
 They transmit messages in a simple way
(symbols)
 They are tools of communications
 They have a communicative / evocative
(feelings) and ceremonial purposes
 They are a identity of nations and communities;
therefore they are living realities
 Uses of flags
 They have a multiple usages
 Political ties
 They can being used, among others, for
 Revolts or social unrests
 Peace
 Pirates
 Which other uses? For multiple kind of
institutions and events: sports, companies,
advertisements purposes, personal reasons,
militaries, the State, sports, academics and
cultural, religions, etc.
Vexillological
fussion
 Spanish state symbols
 The Spanish National Flag

 The Coat of Arms

 The National Anthem

 Spanish National Flag
 The national flag is described in the Spanish Constitution
(Article 4.1. of Constitution of 1978):
“La Bandera de España está formada por tres franjas horizontales, roja, amarilla y
roja, siendo la amarilla de doble anchura que cada una de las rojas”
“The Spanish flags is composed of three horizontal strips, red, yellow and red,
being the yellow of double width than each red strep”
 It is also regulated by
 Royal Decree 44/1981, February 27, which specified its colour details
(BOE, number 64, March 16)
 1. Law 39/1981, October 28, which regulated the use of the National
Spanish flag and other flags (BOE, number 271, November 12)
 Background and origins
 Charles III (1759-
1788), when there
were 3 flags
 Maritime warfare and
current flag
 It has evolved during
the last centuries with
several changes (for
instance during the
Second Republic,
1931-1936)
 Coat of arms (Armas del Rey)
 The Spanish Coat of
Arms reflected the
Spanish history
 It is regulated by the
 Law 33/1981, October 5,
1981
 Royal Decree 2964/1981,
18 December
 Royal Decree 2267/1982,
September 3
 Crest, Blazon
(quarterly), Supporters;
Motto
 National Athen

 The Spanish National Athen does not

have letter
 “La Marcha Granadera” (March of the
Grenadiers) o “Marcha Real” (Royal
March)
 Spanish state symbols
 Highly related to the
Spanish Crown

 The Spanish National Flag

 The Coat of Arms

 The National Anthem

 Administrative structure
 Parlamentary Monarchy
 The king is the head of the State. The role is determined
in the Constitution
 The highest authority in international relations: he
acknowledge the ambassadors and other diplomats
 Proclamation
 State-funeral
 Elements of protocol
 How to address to them and titles (tratamiento y títulos)
 Proclamations (no coronations any longer)
 State-funerals
 Abdications
 These aspects there are regulated by laws
 Elements of protocol
 Real Decreto 2099/83 “Ordenación General de
Precedencias”
 The King or His Representative is the highest Authority,
always
 As well the members of the royal family
 Elements of protocol
 Honors to the Royal Family (not regulated except military)
 Greetings: usually men bowing the head to the King, women
inclination on left leg and head-up
 Oral treatment

 The King: Rey, Majestad

 The Queen: Reina, Majestad
 The Heir: Príncipe o Princesa de Asturias (alteza real)
 The rest of offsprings: Infantes de España (alteza real) (their
husband & wives do not have official treatment, given by the king)
 The son of the Infantes: Grandes de España (excelencia)
 Elements of protocol
 Precedence (Real Decreto 2099/83 of August 4th 1983):
 Rey
 Reina consorte
 Príncipe de Asturias
 Princesa de Asturias
 Infantes and Infantas (age)
 Military honors
 Flags
In general

In general
 Flags
 Spanish Flag has precedence over the rest of the flags
 Place of honour, always
 All public buildings
 The Comunidades Autónomas
 Precedence: Antiquity (Estatuto de Autonomía)
 Bibliography

 If you want to know more:

 FUENTE LAFUENTE, Protocolo Oficinal. Las
Carlos:
instituciones del Estado y su ceremonial, Oviedo,
Ediciones Protocolo, 2010.
 SÁNCHEZ GONZÁLEZ, Dolores del Mar: Fundamentos del
ceremonial y protocol, Síntesis.
 VILARRUBIAS, Felio A.: Tratado de Protocolo. Reino de
España, organismos internacionales, corporaciones e
instituciones públicas y privadas, Nobel, Oviedo, 2004.