The Ritual of the Golden Fleece in Prague 1657

Abstract

The Order of the Golden Fleece represented one of the many connections between the Spanish main branch of the Habsburg dynasty and its younger branches in Central Europe. Since Charles V, the kings of Spain had held the position of Grand Master of the Order. The Spanish kings could admit anyone based on their preferences, thanks to Philip II and his reform of the Order in 1577. The Order of the Golden Fleece became a sign of superiority in contrast to their Central European relatives. The Austrian Habsburgs also enjoyed its benefits, and rewarded their closest and most faithful servants with the membership of the Order. However, they could only support a certain number of their servants and anticipate a positive response from Madrid. The ceremony of the Order of the Golden Fleece, which took place in Prague in 1657, is analyzed in the context of the relationship between the Spanish and Austrian lines of the Habsburg dynasty. Similarly, the ceremony in Prague reflected the situation at the imperial court after the death of Ferdinand III and the transition of power to his son Leopold, connected with a change in the official staff. Thirdly, the ceremony in Prague is compared with a similar ceremony held in Brussels in 1650 to point out potential differences based on the Central European environment.