PHILIP III, King of Spain.

Carta Executoria of King Philip III of Spain for Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda.

Rare 17th century elaborately illuminated nobility patent of King Philip III of Spain for Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda

Valladolid, Spain:, 1612.

$12,500.00

In Stock Item Number: RRB-148287

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Rare 17th century elaborately illuminated nobility patent of King Philip III of Spain for the brothers Juan and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda. Quarto, bound in full leather with gilt detailing, the patent is comprised of 100 leaves numbered 1-99 in contemporary Arabic numerals, written in round Spanish script within a frame ruled in brown ink with decorated seven-line cadel initials and some in text illuminations. Decorated with two full-pages of illumination depicting the Virgin and Child in heaven with the brothers Juan de Rivera de la Cerda and Alonso de Rivera de la Cerda kneeling below and an achievement of arms on pages 1 and 2 with red silk curtains between, and a smaller illuminated miniature of the king on page 97. In very good condition with the illuminated pages exceptionally bright, with some wear and losses to the leather including to the crown and foot of the spine.

King Philip III of Spain (1578–1621) is often regarded as a monarch who shifted the balance of power between the Spanish crown and the nobility in a more collaborative direction. Ascending to the throne at a young age, Philip III relied heavily on his favorites, particularly the Duke of Lerma, to manage the kingdom’s affairs. This reliance on the nobility allowed them to gain significant political influence, especially within the royal court. While Philip III did not possess the same autocratic control as his father, Philip II, his reign marked an era where the Spanish nobility enjoyed a degree of increased prominence, albeit through the lens of court politics and patronage. However, the resulting factionalism and the concentration of power in the hands of a few noble families eventually led to instability, weakening the monarchy's control and contributing to the broader challenges faced by Spain in the early 17th century.