In Honour of the Polish Prince: The Festivities of the Duke of Alba
in Naples and Ladislas Sigismund’s Stay at the Medici Court (1625)
In Honour of the Polish Prince: The Festivities of the Duke of Alba
in Naples and Ladislas Sigismund’s Stay at the Medici Court (1625)
Author(s): Elisa SpataroSubject(s): Fine Arts / Performing Arts, Cultural history, Social history
Published by: Arx Regia® Wydawnictwo Zamku Królewskiego w Warszawie – Muzeum
Keywords: Ladislas Vasa; Maria Magdalena of Austria; Don Antonio Álvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alba; Jan Hagenaw; Stefan Pac; Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł; Vincenzo Vettori; Dimurgo Lambardi; Naples; Florence; tou
Summary/Abstract: Through an in-depth analysis of known sources and newly discovered documents, this article reconstructs the Polish Prince Ladislas Sigismund’s visit to Naples at the beginning of 1625, before his arrival at the Medici court in Florence. This article presents detailed descriptions of the events and equestrian spectacles given in honour of Ladislas by the Duke of Alba in Naples. A series of letters and two reports, redacted for the ducal secretaries of the Medici court, informed Archduchess Maria Magdalena about the quality and costs of the festive events prepared in Naples. The documents demonstrate the importance of the Tuscan agent Vincenzo Vettori to ensure the success of the Medici court festivals. Once Ladislas left Naples, he moved to Florence, where the famous spectacles given in his honour did indeed surpass the magnificence of the Neapolitan celebrations.
Journal: Kronika Zamkowa. Roczniki
- Issue Year: 8/2021
- Issue No: 8
- Page Range: 97-118
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English