The month of October brings a new edition of the 'Document of the Month' to the Municipal Historical Archive. This time, it features a Royal Provision from the Catholic Monarchs addressed to the councils of the bishopric of Jaén. The document communicates the decision to wage war against the Kingdom of Granada and reminds hidalgos and knights made by John II, Henry IV, and the monarchs themselves, that they must present themselves in Córdoba ready for battle.
Written in courtly gothic script, this document, dated in Seville on November 23, 1484, is set within the context of the Granada War (1482-1492). The order called for the hidalgos and knights of the bishopric of Jaén to arm themselves and appear for the campaign. The rendezvous was in the "city of Córdoba where, God willing, we shall be fifteen days after the first of March next", that is, March 15, 1485.
To ensure the provision's content was widely known and no one could "claim ignorance", it was ordered to be read and publicly notified by proclamation in the squares and markets of the city of Jaén and its towns and villages. Failure to comply with the order would result in sanctions, including the loss of all exemptions, privileges, and freedoms. Furthermore, it stipulated that those unable to attend the call for justified reasons must send a substitute at their own expense.
Hidalgos, part of the lower nobility, enjoyed social prestige and dedication to ideals such as service to the crown and defense of the Christian faith. Their status as horsemen allowed them to be named hidalgos, often passed down through lineage. This document is therefore a general recruitment order within the campaign to conquer the Kingdom of Granada, ensuring the mandatory participation of hidalgos and knights from the bishopric of Jaén under threat of losing privileges. It illustrates the organization of the war and the importance of Jaén as a border territory.
This historical document will be on public display in the hall of the former Banco de España in Jaén, from Monday to Friday between 9 AM and 8 PM.
