A gift for the Catholic Monarchs: a historiographical poem on the Reconquista by Pedro Marcuello
Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
Spain — Between 1482 and 1502

Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
Spain — Between 1482 and 1502
The Aragonese poet Pedro Marcuello composed a historiographical poem about the Reconquista
The historic events, the Catholic Monarchs, and the author himself are recorded in this gift to the Spanish royals
Finished in 1502, the elegant manuscript was presented to Queen Isabella I (1451–1504) in 1503, shortly before her death

Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
Yoke and Bundle of Arrows
This page presents the emblem of the Catholic Monarchs and their co-monarchy uniting Spain into a single kingdom, serving as the heraldic device for the descendants of Ferdinand and Isabella for centuries. It referenced the legend of the Gordian knot as well as the classical metaphor for unity: a single arrow can be easily broken, but they are unbreakable if tied together. Its Spanish name El yugo y las flechas is also an allusion to their names: “Y” for Ysabel and “F” for Fernando.
Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
- Rimado de la Conquista de Granada
- Devocionario de la Reyna Doña Juana a quien llamaron la Loca
- Gedicht von der Eroberung Granadas
Short Description
Beginning in 1482, the Aragonese poet Pedro Marcuello composed a historiographical poem about the re-conquest of the Iberian Peninsula under the Catholic Monarch Ferdinand and Isabella. The literary work was recorded in a gorgeous manuscript as a gift to the selfsame royal couple. Here, the historic events as well as the Catholic Monarchs and the author himself are wonderfully illustrated and recorded. An impressive testimony to Spanish history, literature, and art!
Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
At the beginning of the year 1482 in the Emirate of Granada, riots and small battles broke out between Moors and Christians. The Iberian Peninsula had been conquered by the Muslims in the 8th century. Moorish rule, which also strongly influence Spanish culture, had to accept an increasing loss of power leading up to the 15th century. The struggles of the year 1482 was finally widened into a war by the intervention of King Ferdinand, who would seal the famous Reconquista – the re-conquest of the Iberian peninsula from the Moors – and therewith the end of Muslim hegemony in Spain. As an endpoint to this significant chapter in Spanish history, the Treaty of Granada was signed on November 25th, 1491.
The Historic Events in Verse
These events belong among the highpoints of the rule of the Catholic Monarchs: Ferdinand of Aragon (1452–1516) and Isabella of Castile (1451–1504). This splendid manuscript arose during the years 1482–1502 in their honor with a poem about the conquest of Granada. After the death of the royal couple, this precious literary-cultural work of art presumably came into the possession of their daughter Johanna the Mad and finally made its way to the Palace Library of Chantilly, France.
The Author and his Work
The author of the poem concerning the historical events occurring during the rule of the Catholic Monarchs was Pedro Marcuello, an Aragonese poet. With this work, he created an accolade of historiographical significance to the rulers and their accomplishments. It was probably even intended as a precious gift and was presented to them in the year 1503 – shortly before the death of Isabella. Aside from the Catholic Monarchs with baby Johanna in-between them, the author himself is continuously depicted, sometimes even with his daughter. 58 full-page miniatures in the Gothic style with the first echoes of the Renaissance decorate and illustrate the Spanish story. This pictorial adornment is completed with splendid gold leaf and numerous historiated initials.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Rimado de la Conquista de Granada
Devocionario de la Reyna Doña Juana a quien llamaron la Loca
Gedicht von der Eroberung Granadas - Size / Format
- 148 pages / 21.5 x 14.5 cm
- Origin
- Spain
- Date
- Between 1482 and 1502
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Illustrations
- 58 full-page miniatures and numerous decorated initial letters
- Artist / School
- Author: Pedro Marcuello

Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada
Spanish Royal Family Portrait
This elegant family portrait depicts the union that gave birth to the Kingdom of Spain: the 1469 marriage of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. The Catholic Monarchs are depicted here flanking their daughter, the Infanta Dona Juana, who would succeed her mother as Queen Joanna of Castile. The author, Pedro Marcuello, looks on from the margins.
The beholder observes the royal family as though through a window and they stand in a room with finely patterned walls and a tiled floor. All are dressed in rich brocade and are accompanied by a small dog. It is a historically-accurate portrait: Ferdinand had dark shoulder length hair while Princess Joana strongly resembled Isabella, who was fair skinned with strawberry blonde hair.
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Rhyme of the Conquest of Granada“
Rimado de la Conquista de Granada
- Publisher
- Edilan – Madrid, 1995
- Limited Edition
- 1500 copies
- Binding
- Full leather
- Commentary
-
1 volume (453 pages) by Estrella Ruiz-Gálvez y Priego
Language: Spanish - More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Matching Works
Divine Comedy of Alfonso of Aragon
Commissioned by the King of Naples: the only consistently rich and magnificently illuminated codex of Dante's Divine Comedy
Experience MoreDivine Comedy - Dante Gradenighiano
A masterpiece of the Italian Trecento: the Dante manuscript illuminated by Cristoforo Cortese, the most important Venetian illuminator of the late Gothic period
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Literature
Much like today, medieval readers were looking for stories full of excitement and adventure that would take them out of...Experience moreRenaissance
What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and...Experience more15th Century
Come and explore an age of stark contrasts as Europe comes back from the brink: calamities like the Fall of...Experience moreChronicles
Take a deep dive into history with a medieval chronicler, trace the history of the world or focus on the history of a...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo