Gowns and Tiaras: The Representation of Royal Power in Spain

The online course 'Gowns and Tiaras: The Representation of Royal Power in Spain' examines how the Spanish monarchy has been visually and symbolically represented from the medieval period to the present day. Across six sessions, we will explore the evolving imagery, rituals and iconography associated with royal authority in various historical contexts. Beginning with the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula, we will trace the impact of Renaissance ideals under the Catholic Monarchs and Philip II, the ceremonial magnificence of the Baroque court, the political and cultural transformations of the 18th and 19th centuries, and the modernisation of the monarchy in the late 19th and 20th centuries. The course concludes with an analysis of King Juan Carlos I, considering the role and image of the contemporary monarchy and its place in modern Spain. Through art, ceremony and public representation, we will investigate how royal power has been communicated, reinforced and adapted over time. 1) Forging Empires: The Kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula in the Middle Ages 2) Renaissance Spain: An Empire Where the Sun Never Sets 3) Baroque Drama: Austerity and Excess in the Seventeenth Century 4) The Bourbon Consolidation: Enlightenment, Prosperity and Global Balance 5) 1813–1931: A Tumultuous yet Splendid Century 6) Spain: A Successful Experiment in Monarchical Restoration