Royal Seals in the Courts

Noble privileges and letters patent

By Andalusian Archives

Real Chancillería de Granada

Facade of the Royal Courts and Chancery of Granada by Javier Algarra. Real Audiencia y Chancillería de Granada.Andalusian Archives

The Royal Audience and Chancery Court of Granada is a high court of justice, originally established by the Catholic Monarchs in Ciudad Real, in 1494.

Its jurisdiction encompassed all the territories in the Crown of Castile region to the south of the River Tajo.

It was moved to Granada in 1505, where it remained until 1834 when the legal system defined by the Constitution of Cádiz was introduced.

The 3 judges comprising the courtroom (1537-05-31)Andalusian Archives

The Royal Audience and Chancery Court of Granada consisted of various courtrooms for civil and criminal jurisdiction, along with a special court for nobility claims.

At the helm of the institution and responsible for its management were the president and the "Real Acuerdo" privy council.

The judges, known as "oidores" (literally "hearers") would oversee the appellate cases and as a court of first instance, cases involving the withholding of papal bulls and "fuerza en conocer" (ruling on clashes between civil jurisdiction and the Church).

Tax privilege enjoyed by Juan de Sandier, a resident of Seville (1642-08-09)Andalusian Archives

The fact that the lead or great seal was kept at the Granada Chancery elevated the new Castilian city to court status. Valladolid also held this status for the same reason, as did Madrid by dint of being the permanent residence of the king.

The seal symbolized the presence of the king himself in both cities where it was kept. Having custody of the great seal represented the greatest authority of the Castile Chancery, legally validating the most solemn provisions and privileges on parchment.

As a representation of the king himself, the seal embodied royal authority.

In this context, extraordinary importance was bestowed on the Audiences and Chanceries of Castile.

Decree of the Chancery of Granada (1666-03-11)Andalusian Archives

When a new monarch took the throne, the seals of the previous incumbent would be destroyed.

New seals were brought to Granada with great pomp and circumstance.

Once received, they were carefully placed within the "casa del sello," a safe room within the Chancery Palace.

The Marquis de Aguilar appoints Don Joaquín Gutiérrez de Celis as chancellor lieutenant in Granada (1769) The Marquis de Aguilar appoints Don Joaquín Gutiérrez de Celis as chancellor lieutenant in Granada (1769) (1769-07-31) by Marquis of Aguilar.Andalusian Archives

The chancellor was responsible for sealing documents issued by chanceries and offices who had the right to do so: councils and the Treasury.

The Marquis de Aguilar appoints Don Joaquín Gutiérrez de Celis as chancellor lieutenant in Granada (1769) - Page 2 (1769-07-31)Andalusian Archives

The role of Chancellor of the Great Seal was linked to the Manrique family from the time of García Fernández Manrique, the first Marqués de Aguilar, during the reign of John II of Castile.

Silver stamps were used to make the dry seals that all the paper documents issued by the Chancery had to carry. A steel or turquoise stamp would be used to melt the lead seal that was placed on parchment documents.

The Marquis de Aguilar appoints Don Joaquín Gutiérrez de Celis as chancellor lieutenant in Granada (1769) - Page 3 (1769-07-31)Andalusian Archives

There was one Chancellor of the Great Seal in Castile and he positioned his deputies within the chanceries of Granada and Valladolid.

Applied Paper Seal of the Catholic Monarchs (1498-12-03)Andalusian Archives

The Dry Seal of the Catholic Monarchs

Provisions issued on paper by audiences, chanceries, and councils were validated with a dry seal.

The secret seal was used to validate confidential provisions issued by the "Acuerdo del Crimen" at the chanceries.

Both stamps had their own register with copies of the documents issued.

Applied Paper Seal of Charles I (1551-03-03)Andalusian Archives

Dry Seals Used During the Reign of Carlos I

At the Audience and Chancery Court of Granada three figures were involved in issuing royal documents from the "tabla del sello." The chancellor's deputy, the registrar, and, from 1640, an accountant.

Secret Royal Provision of the Chancery of Granada (1783-05-05)Andalusian Archives

The secret seal was used to validate confidential royal provisions sent by the "Real Acuerdo" to assist the criminal courts in special cases. They served as a catalyst in certain affairs that demanded discretion. The secret seal was recorded in its own special register.

Inventory of Items Found in the Chamber of the Seal List of Equipment and Tools in the Chamber of the Seal (1787-10)Andalusian Archives

There is a catalogue of the fixtures and fittings of the seal room at the Royal Chancery of Granada. It details the requirements to be met by the officials of the "tabla del sello" to fulfill their duties.

Royal Provision of the Catholic Monarchs to the Chancery of Ciudad Real (1498-12-03)Andalusian Archives

The role of the document register was essential at the Royal Chancery. It ensured that no letter could be sent for sealing without having been previously entered in the ledger. This condition meant that a document could only be entered if the secretary or scribe endorsing it detailed the issuance fees, registration, and seal on the back of the document.

Silver Mold of the Royal Seal (1808)Andalusian Archives

Although seals were meant to be destroyed when a king died, the last two have survived.

The seal matrix used in the wax seal during the reign of Fernando VII (1808/1814–23) is kept at the High Court of Justice of Andalusia in Granada.

Silver Mold of the Royal Seal (1833)Andalusian Archives

During the reign of Isabel II, royal provisions ceased to be issued and wax seals were no longer used. The new methods of the Department of Justice and, crucially, changes in legal procedure rendered the use of these official documents redundant as new high court procedures were implemented.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1598-12-22)Andalusian Archives

Used since the 12th century, the term "hidalgo" came to be understood as a synonym for a low ranking noble or someone of noble descent. Although these ideas are clearly different from one another, they became intertwined into a general notion of a nobleman of second-rate lineage.

A privileged legal status meant that a 500-sueldos fine would be charged if a noble family member was murdered. This was a much greater amount compared to the same crime if committed against a commoner.

During the Middle Ages, many free men from the towns and cities gained access to this open social class by dint of their property, military merits, and royal pardons. In 14th-century Castile these were the distinguishing factors between the grandees who were subject to the direct authority of the monarch and the noblemen of the city councils who were subject to local municipal law and who formed local government through the "la mitad de los oficios" (half of trades) system.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1433-05-18)Andalusian Archives

The appropriate courts within the chanceries heard cases put forward noblemen for their elevated status to be recognized by the councils where they had taken up residence. Once granted, this condition also allowed them access to government council bodies.

It was in the chanceries, in front of just a small number of representatives of the Crown of Castile that these pleas for nobility were heard. Courts were specially allocated to administer this type of jurisdiction.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1499-03-19)Andalusian Archives

The only legal way to gain noble status, was to make a nobility claim via a possessory or ownership claim in a provisional proceeding, presenting proof ad perpetuam rei, and providing further provisions.

Nobility claims were heard up to three times depending on the rank of the appeal. Firstly, in the court for nobility claims, the "Sala de Hijosdalgo," then in front of the "oidores," and finally in front of the same "oidores" as a retrial. Either way, the process would begin and end within the confines of the Chancery.

The plea put before the court for nobility claims would end with a royal letters patent of nobility as a final, irreversible judgment.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1501-07-31)Andalusian Archives

The letters patent is the legal document through which a final ruling is issued. Issued by royal provision with diplomatic status they are a summary of the case whose rulings, whether interlocutory or final, are included and issued.

Depending on the economic power of the person in receipt of the letters patent, these documents could be embellished with miniature portraits and written with a varying degree of care. They could be richly bound in leather stretched over wood, or in sumptuous fabrics with embossed irons, metal decorations, and clasps made from an abundance of fine materials. And always with a handsome lead seal hanging from colored silk threads.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1506-09-08)Andalusian Archives

In the event of a successful nobility claim, a royal letters patent would be issued. From that moment on, the council would receive the claimant as a nobleman and consider him and his descendants as such.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1514-05-05)Andalusian Archives

The process of preparing and issuing the letters patent of nobility began with the proclamation of the judgment by the judge of the court for nobility claims and notary of the kingdoms of Toledo, Andalusia, and Granada (in the first instance), or by the "oidores" (in the case of a second hearing), or by the same "oidores" (in the case of a third retrial). The nobleman requested that the judgment be executed at the court that heard the case in the first instance, as a prerequisite so that the court that passed it can proceed with its execution.

The judges and corresponding notary would instruct the scribe for nobility claims to report the matter. He would then prepare the royal letters patent in accordance with its official form.

The document was written on paper, with the date left blank and without the signatures of the "oidores" nor the details of its issue or seal, so it had no legal worth.

Definitive Royal Provision of Nobility (1515-03-17)Andalusian Archives

Using the draft nobility letters patent, the appropriate scribe would prepare two identical drafts containing sections for the minutes.

The scribe for nobility claims retains one and the other is given to the nobleman so that, as a consignor, he is able to arrange the preparation of a verbatim copy of the document in a workshop outside the

Chancery, but this time in parchment with all the richness and abundance his means will allow. With the letters patent drafted in parchment as a codex, the document is presented at the "tabla del sello" for it to be checked against the version retained in the scribe's office.

Once it has been checked and any errors or omissions corrected under the scribe's authority, the date is entered on the parchment and paper versions. It is then passed onto the "oidores" for their signature and mark and countersigned by the scribe.

The officials of the "tabla del sello" sign the parchment version and add details of the fees paid to seal and issue the document. They complete the process by adding a lead seal hanging from colored silk as proof of its authenticity.

They finally sign and mark the paper copy that is kept in the "Registro del Sello." This only carries the signatures of the registrar and the president.

Privilege from Philip IV (1642-08-09)Andalusian Archives

The financial privileges include exemption from paying tax and tolls to the crown.

Credits: Story

Royal Seals in the Courts

Organized by:
Ministry of Culture of the Regional Government of Andalusia.

Commissioned by: David Torres Ibáñez.
Text by: David Torres Ibáñez.
Archive of the Royal Chancellery of Granada.
Photography: Archive of the Royal Chancellery of Granada.
Digital design: Charo Andreu Abrio. Directorate General of Cultural Innovation and Museums.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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