Coins, a key, a pliable lock, notes in the diary - even though the deadlines are out, so that you can read these lines again, cane, cards, chess, dry flower, hidden in the pages of an old book
in memory of some dear, but nevertheless a forgotten moment, and a mirror where by death fire
the dawn trembles in the setting scarlet circle.
A nail, a glass, a door - by the dictates of fate
obedient slaves have been given to you, blind and uncomplaining servants.
If you leave, they will not keep your mark.
They don't care if you are alive or not.
Jorge Luis Borges. Translation by Vladimir Reznichenko
Military museums in Europe. Today our story about the military museums of Europe will be devoted to the collection of weapons and armor of the Royal Armory in Madrid, which arose thanks to the will of King Philip II. According to this document, the armor and weapons collected in it were forbidden to be sold after his death to pay the earthly and spiritual debts of the deceased, as it was at that time. The chamber became the legacy of the future Philip III and his successors and became an integral part of the treasures of the Spanish crown, and today it is one of the pearls of the Spanish historical heritage.
Philip II decided to keep it for two reasons. First, he was well aware that she was the best demonstration of the strength and power of the Austrian imperial house, and in addition, perpetuates the memory of the Emperor Charles V, whom he admired. Secondly, this luxurious weapon was of great material value, so it should have been preserved at least as capital. Well, his successors only enriched her with their personal acquisitions and battle trophies.
The main core of the current collection is the arsenal of Emperor Charles V, which contained the weapons of his father, King of Castile Philip I, and his ancestors: Ferdinand the Catholic and Emperor Maximilian I of Austria. To these Philip II added his personal arsenal and collection of medieval weapons from the royal treasures of the Trastamara del Alcazar de Segovia. The collection covers the entire 16th century and is international in character. This is due to the fact that the Spanish kings placed orders for armor and weapons mainly in southern Germany and northern Italy - in areas that were under the control of the Spanish crown and where the famous families of gunsmiths Helmschmids, Groschedel and Negroli worked. War trophies also fell into the royal arsenal. For example, received at the battle of Pavia (1525), Mulberg (1547) or Lepanto (1571), ambassadorial gifts from the Italian dukes of Mantua and Urbino, as well as gifts from Japan sent to Philip II as king of Portugal.
Although the arsenals of Charles V and Philip II brought fame to the collection, the reigns of Philip III and Philip IV (1605-1621-1665) also enriched it with products of the 17th century - diplomatic or family gifts. These include, for example, gifts that were sent in 1604 and 1614 by King Charles I of England of England and Duke Charles Emanuel I of Savoy in 1603.
During the reign of Philip IV, the armor had already lost all meaning, but they continued to be given as souvenirs, in particular, plate sets presented to him by his aunt, the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia, the governor of the Netherlands, as well as his brother, Cardinal Infante Don Fernando, the governor are known. Milan. The reigns of Philip III and Philip IV increased the collection of firearms and edged weapons, and among the latter there were many samples that were forged in the city of Toledo.
In 1884, a fire destroyed the arsenal building, built in 1560 by Philip II. Alfonso XII (1857-1874-1885) ordered the construction of his current building, which was completed after his death by the will of his wife, Queen Regent Maria Cristina de Habsburg.
So the collection of the Royal Armory in Madrid is a real treasury of weapons, which contains many absolutely stunning examples of armor and weapons. Well, now let's get to know at least some of them better …
As a lover of exclusive weapons, the emperor also wanted a similar helmet. According to the treaty, Filippo Negroli was obliged to improve the helmet of the Duke of Urbino, adding a chin to the cheek pads, and gilding "the hair on the head and beard." In addition, the order of the Golden Fleece had to be depicted on the necklace of the helmet. On the helmet there is an inscription: • IAC • PHILIPPVS • NEGROLVS • MEDIOLAN • FACIEBAT • M • D • XXX • III (Milan Jacopo Filippo Negroli did this in 1533). As a result, Charles V appeared before his subjects as a classic antique hero, and we can conclude that the knightly armor of this time for noble persons became something like a very expensive and prestigious clothing, the fashion for which was constantly changing.
Author's note: Photos from the website of the Royal Armory in Madrid are freely available.
