January 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, January 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2017
The Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand II and Isabella I signed Royal decree as King and Queen of the Spanish Empire, dated 14 May 1491. Signed in large bold writing, ''Yo el Rey'' (I the King) and ''Yo la Reyna'' (I the Queen). Document instructs Juan Alfonso Serrano, a highly ranked ''pesquisidor'' for the Crown, to allow a soldier, Juan Garcia Guerrero, to keep his land. At this time, Spain was driving out the Moors from southern Spain which necessitated someone to allocate these re-conquered lands. Serrano was the powerful individual responsible for this land allocation, in addition to his role of uniformly applying Spanish law. Document translates in full, ''From the King and the Queen / Bachelor Juan Alonso Serrano, Distributor of land in the city of Seville. By Juan Garcia Guerrero, a squire in our guards, it was made known to us of the continued good services of his father and grandfather, under the command of the city, and that they were sent out to the war against Portugal, where were stolen their horses and armor, and they made use of the spring and some land. He says they took it out of necessity to sustain themselves acquiring the farm that we had ordered given to some of their friends and later, settling there with their family, they gave to them. Now he says you wish to take from his possession the farm he has there that we had granted from what had belonged to the Moor Sufuz, and you say he should not enjoy use of that property. / He entreats and asks us because of our association with this to send you proof. For that end we order you to allow him to have and possess that farm in the manner he now has it and not to take it from him due to our volition in this matter, and so make an exception in consideration of the services he and his ascendants have done for us. Done in Barcelona the fourteenth of the month of May of One Thousand and Four Hundred and Ninety and One Years. / [signed] I the King I the Queen / By order of the King and Queen / Juan de la Parra / Copy so that Juan Alonso Serrano, Distributor of land in Seville, does not take from Juan Garcia Guerrero the possession of the farm that he was granted.'' Additionally signed by three nobleman as witnesses. Single page document measures 8'' x 9.75'' Folds, small areas of worming and irregularly trimmed edges. Overall very good to near fine given age. Accompanied by a COA from University Archives.
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Rare Signed Royal Decree From 1491 During Their Reign as King & Queen of Spain -- Regarding Land Dispute for a Soldier -- With COA From University Archives
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