The Truth about the Golden Age under the Habsburgs: Cervantes, Lope de Vega, and Cultural Splendor
The Spanish Golden Age, which spanned the 16th and 17th centuries, is a golden era where literature, art, and culture flourished immensely under the influence of the House of Habsburg. In a context of imperial grandeur and social decay, figures like Miguel de Cervantes and Lope de Vega emerged as titans of literature, creating works that would resonate for centuries to come. But what secrets lie behind this cultural splendor? What conflicts and tensions marked this period of great brilliance and somber ruin?
The Rise of the Habsburgs: An Empire Without End?
The history of the Habsburgs in Spain begins in 1516, when Philip I inherited the crown after the death of his father, Ferdinand II of Aragon. This period saw the rise of an empire that stretched from the New World to the lands of Central Europe. With the conquest of vast territories and the accumulation of wealth, the Habsburgs became the true titans of Europe.
However, beneath this facade of greatness, the empire faced internal tensions and external conflicts. Religion became a battleground, with Protestants in the north and Catholics in the south clashing in wars that drained the empire's resources. Chroniclers of the time, such as Francisco de Quevedo, reflected in their writings this struggle between splendor and decay, often portraying nobles as ridiculous and corrupt figures amid a crisis of national identity.
Cervantes: The Genius in the Shadow of the Empire
One of the most emblematic figures of the Golden Age is undoubtedly... ```