El príncipe Juan de Trastámara, un exemplum vitae para Felipe II en su infancia y juventud

Abstract

The origin of Philip II´s Castilian character may be linked with an intense process of socialization which aimed at the identification of Charles V´s son with Castile. The birth of Prince Philip was received in Spain as an event of singular historical, political and social importance. After thirty years without a prince who was a natural heir, Philip was compared with his ancestor Prince John, the son of the Catholic Monarchs, who had died in 1497. Thus, between 1527 and 1548, the Castilianization of the future Philip II occurred through models, archetypes and social images linked with the historical figure of Prince John. In Valencia, the new prince was baptized by the clergmen as «Prince Philip John», and in 1535 his court was organized according to Castilian etiquette; all the activities of young Prince Philip took place within this frame work of custom until 1548, when court etiquette was changed for that of Burgundy.