Unsacred Monarchy: The Kings of Castile in the Late Middle Ages

A significant ritual innovation emerged during the coronation of Alfonso XI (1312–50), King of Castile, León, and other territories, in 1332. Unlike traditional anointing ceremonies, Alfonso was knighted by a mechanical arm of St. James' statue in Santiago de Compostela's cathedral before returning to Burgos for the royal unction. This deviation from sacred norms—combining pilgrimage symbolism with secular monarchy—challenges conventional narratives about late medieval kingship and religious authority. The study reconstructs this event through historical documentation, highlighting how Alfonso XI strategically integrated chivalric and religious elements to legitimize his rule, thereby reshaping the ceremonial landscape of Castile's monarchy.

Ruiz, T. F. (2024). Unsacred Monarchy: The Kings of Castile in the Late Middle Ages. The City and the Realm: Burgos and Castile, 1080-1492, XIII–X109. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003555018-13