Codex Escurialensis

Codex Escurialensis

Although simply titled Heráldica y origen de la nobleza de los Austrias or “The Heraldry and Origins of the Nobility of Austria”, the purpose of this manuscript is in fact far grander. It describes the history of humanity beginning with Noah and his sons, who go on to populate parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The text regarding each territory takes into account their geographical, historical, und cultural details while always highlighting their relationship with the House of Augsburg. This chronological order is introduced each time by a praefatio heraldi in which the specific approaches of the chapter in question are elaborated.

A Gift for a King

This magnificent manuscript is the result of a collaboration of two men from Augsburg: it was written by Hans Tirol (ca. 1505 – ca. 1575/76) contains 207 miniatures, the work of Jörg Breu the Younger (ca. 1510–47), who did a magnificent job of illuminating the manuscript. They worked at the behest of the Prince-Bishop of Augsburg, Otto Truchsess von Waldburg (1514–73), who gifted the work to King Philip II of Spain (1527–98). The delivery of the codex is recorded in a handwritten note from the Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek (Bavarian State Library): “Anno 1549 The Bishop of Augsburg honored the Prince of Austria with a precious book, which he commissioned from the Augsburg resident Tirol, at great expense and with exquisite drawings and texts”. Furthermore, it states in the beginning of the text that it was a gift from Otto on behalf of his Austrian family “to the most serene Prince of Spain, the son of Philip Charles V Augustus the Great and the most invincible Emperor”.