Dueñas, a “lugar muy pasaxero” in the middle of the Burgos royal road: visits and royal festivals throughout the Old Regime (1470–1860)

Abstract

This article analyses some of the most outstanding royal events taking place in the villa of Dueñas through a historical overview throughout the Old Regime. Considering its privileged location on the Burgos Royal Road, we will explore the royal presence in this town as reflected by the visits made by Spanish kings and members of the royal family. In addition, we will examine the celebratory models performed in this Castilian town, conceiving them as mechanisms of legitimation and exaltation of the monarchy, in order to delve into aspects related to the protocol and development of the ceremonies, their staging and meaning, as well as the typology of festivities since all these issues play a key role in the construction of the image of power and the institutions that wielded it.