{"product_id":"spain","title":"[SPAIN].","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn attractive ms  probanza  (proof) certifying the legitimate  limpieza de sangre  (blood purity) and Christian descent of Francisco de Colmenares from the Spanish city of Caceres, in Estremadura. A fine example of early C17 Spanish Procesal-Encadenada calligraphy, it was written by the scribe Francisco de Medrano, recorded in Caceres until 1632 (Hurtado, p.511), in the presence of Licenciado Bernabe Vaca de Avila, alcalde mayor of Caceres. A final leaf includes a declaration, signed by three Caceres notaries, possibly Inquisitors, that Bernabe de Avila was indeed alcalde mayor, hence allowed to certify the  probanza  on behalf of the king.  \u003cbr\u003e\n The  probanza  may have been produced because of a  pedimento  (petition) issued in respect of Francisco de Colmenares, concerning his lineage and Christian descent. This was a very practical matter as all sorts of service under the crown, civil or military, advancement in the ranks of the nobility and local administration and many professions, had become dependent on being of proven, pure Spanish ancestry. Francisco declares himself  the legitimate son  of Rodrigo de Colmenares   probably the same recorded as a dyer c.1590 (Iglesias, p.14) - and Ana Garcia, legally married; they are defined, in turn, as legitimate children of Francisco s grandparents, also mentioned. Witnesses were heard, such as neighbours who also knew his parents, as this kind of hearing entailed examination. The recurring formula, repeated by all witnesses, is  linpios de toda mala raza y macula de moros, moriscos y judios ni delos nuevamente convertidos  ( clean of every bad race or stain of Moors, Moriscos, Jews and of those newly converted ), as well as of anyone previously condemned by the Inquisition. Hearings might take years to reach completion, the present document dated 1622, and the final appendix certifying the identity of the signatory officer dated 1624.  \u003cbr\u003e\n From the second half the C16, the concept of  limpieza de sangre  became a staple of Spanish society, as an alternative form of nobility aside from  hidalguia . It caused  the proliferation of  encuestas , with witnesses, and  probanzas , which aimed to establish an ascertained genealogy , thus making the lineage of those who had inhabited the land for generations socially valuable (Caillavet, par.11). This blended with Catholic orthodoxy, inseparable from the early modern idea of race, i.e., a pure  Spanish  race implied steadfast Christian roots (Caillavet, par.12). The year after this document was produced brought about changes to the procedure for this type of  probanza , forgoing the requirement for such documents in case of change of employment or if any random rumour simply suggested that a person was not purely Christian, from both a religious and  racial  point of view.  \u003cbr\u003e\n A most interesting, remarkably well-preserved manuscript.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"[SPAIN].","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57868704252239,"sku":"L4463","price":3750.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1016\/2425\/0703\/files\/IMG_6265.webp?v=1781793437","url":"https:\/\/www.sokol.co.uk\/products\/spain","provider":"Sokol Books Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}