A King Travels

"In this engaging book, Teofilo Ruiz shows himself to be a supreme master of ceremonies. Taking as his point of departure the travels of Philip II of Spain, he places the ceremonies and festivities with which the king was everywhere greeted into the general context of Iberian festive practices and traditions. While describing numerous festive occasions with a wealth of colorful detail, the book makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of continuity and change in Spanish political, social, and cultural life between the High Middle Ages and the seventeenth century."--Sir John Elliott, University of Oxford"This book opens a new chapter in our current understanding of Spanish ceremonial life. And except for books published in Spanish, it virtually stands alone. It spans two broad periods of time, contrasting and comparing the Middle Ages with the early modern era, and does so in an engagingly, very appealing manner. Ruiz's study is both original and important."--Richard L. Kagan, Johns Hopkins University