Sixteen Corpses: The First Reburials in the Escorial in 1586 and the Dynastic Dynamics that Made Them Happen (Chapter 5)

The study reveals that the Spanish Habsburg crypt at the Monastery of El Escorial became increasingly inclusive due to two key dynamics: family heads asserting greater authority over burial arrangements, even overriding individual wishes, and peripheral relatives actively seeking burial in the dynastic crypt through testamentary stipulations. This 'pull' and 'push' dynamic expanded the family head's control over post-mortem destinies, shaping a broader Habsburg community of the dead. The research analyzes the first reburials in 1586, highlighting how these dynamics influenced dynastic practices during the early modern period.

Geevers, L. (2023). 5. Sixteen Corpses : The First Reburials in the Escorial in 1586 and the Dynastic Dynamics that Made Them Happen. Dynasties and State Formation in Early Modern Europe, 85–108. https://doi.org/10.1515/9789048554034-005