Discurso de algunos linages de España del Cardenal de Burgos D. Francisco de Mendoza y Bobadilla (Discourse on Various Lineages of Spain) [WITH] Libro de los Linages de Aragon, que llaman el Berde (Book of the Lineages of Aragon, called "The Green [Book]")

[Spain], [17th century]. Hardcover. Very good. Two parts, quarto (25.5 by 18.7 cm). Manuscript in brown ink; text in Spanish. [1, title], 28; [1, half-title], 24ff. (final two leaves first part, final leaf second part blank). Separate half-title for second part. Manuscript titles within (two different) engraved frames. Contemporary speckled calf (lightly rubbed at extremities); spine with five raised bands (damaged at tail), gilt compartments, morocco lettering piece. Gilt dentelles; edges speckled in red, gilt turn-ins. Thick laid paper clean and crisp thoroughout with only occasionaly light stains, ghosting of ink; first title page with a small hole burnt by the ink. Very good.

Rare 17th-century manuscript copies of these two important 16th-century genealogical texts cataloging the Semitic heritage of the Spanish nobility. As early as the fifteenth century, the infiltration of conversos (or New-Christians, Jews who converted to Christianity under the pressure of the Spanish Inquisition) into the Spanish aristocracy was widely recognized. In response to the anti-converso disturbances in Toledo in 1449, various measures were taken by Old-Christian society against this phenomenon, culminating in the Alhambra Decree of 1492, which expelled practicing Jews from the Crowns of Castile and Aragon. However, the issue of limpieza de sangre (purity of blood) persisted. Continuing into the sixteenth century, an assessor of the Inquisition in Saragossa compiled what became known as El Libro verde de Aragon (The Green Book of Aragon). The Libro Verde, a genealogical record anonymously authored in 1507, meticulously outlined the genealogy of Aragonese nobility, emphasizing their Semitic heritage and exposing the infiltration of conversos into prominent families in the Kingdom. Circulated covertly in manuscript form throughout the sixteenth century, the book caused significant scandals as it was often altered, added to, and distorted, prompting the government to intervene. In 1623, all existing copies of the Green Book were ordered to be destroyed. Simultaneously, another damaging accusation circulated secretly. In 1560, Cardinal Francisco Mendoza y Bobadilla, displeased by the rejection of two family members from a military order, presented Philip II with a memorandum, later known as Tizón de la nobleza de España (Blot on the Nobility of Spain). In it, he purported to demonstrate that the majority of the nobility, including King Philip II of Spain, had Jewish lineage. Neither of these texts appeared in print until the second half of the 19th century. Despite the significance of these manuscripts, comprehensive analyses are scarce due to widespread destruction and variations among copies. Remarkably, the present manuscript previously belonged to Antonio Cánovas del Castillo (1828-1897), who served six terms as Spanish Prime Minister and supported the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy to the Spanish throne. Apart from this copy, we were unable to trace any sales records on the market.

Provenance: Biblioteca de Don A. Canovas del Castillo (bookplate on inner front panel). Shelfmark vignette on inner rear panel. Full collective title: Discurso de algunos linages de España del Cardenal de Burgos D. Francisco de Mendoza y Bobadilla que dicen diò al Rey nuestro Señor intitulado el Tizon con el Libro Berde de de los Linages de Aragon.

References: Beusterien, J. The libro verde: blood fictions from early modern spain (dissertation). University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1997; Lunel, Armand, et al. "The Jews of the South of France." Hebrew Union College Annual, vol. 89, 2018, pp. 1-157 (via JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.15650/hebruniocollannu.89.2018.0025. Accessed 20 Mar. 2024. p. 64.); Combescure, Monique. "Cataluña en el Libro Verde de Aragon," III Congrés per a l'Estudi dels Jueus en Territoris de llengua Catalana, Oct 2007, Barcelone-Perpignan, España. hal-00940458. (Inventory #: 53890)