De Olite a Barcelona. El viaje de Menaut de Santa María (1461) [From Olite to Barcelona. Menaut de Santa María´s journey (1461)]

Abstract

My focus is on a singular person, Menaut de Santa María, butler of Charles, Prince of Viana. Menaut served the heir of Navarre for more than 30 years: more than any other Prince’s servant. In this paper we follow his path from his native household, in Basse Navarre; his move to the court, and his tasks as a royal messenger. His life in Olite took place just before the civil war (1451), in which he took part for Charles, Prince of Viana, against his father, King Juan II. This conflict affected all local nobility, as long as they received an important part of the kingdom’s incomes. Menaut history appeals among others because of the loyalty he showed to the prince until the end of his life.