Las maestranzas de caballería en el siglo XVIII. Balance historiográfico

Abstract

The Equestrian Societies of Spanish Noblemen went largely unnoticed by historians until recently. In reviewing the existing studies of these societies the author’s objective is two-fold: first of all, certain ancient works containing some bits of valuable information are recovered from oblivion; and secondly, their social significance is examined in light of the most recent studies. Not only do the Maestranza societies represent the response of Spanish nobility to the rise of the bourgeoisie, but they also reflect the internal hierarchy of the nobility and reveal the mechanisms of social mobility characteristic of the 18th century.