Executoria de Hidalguía from the time of Felipe II, c.1560.

Executoria de Hidalguía from the time of Felipe II, c.1560.
In favor of Juan Alvarez de Beamud. Accountancy of Granada.
Illuminated parchment.
16th century binding and illuminated parchment. With documents from 1551-1560.
It presents small damages caused by xylophages.
Measurements: 31 x 22 x 3 cm.
The piece has a leather binding with engraved decoration, interior in paper with illuminated scenes of religious themes. It has a later title page belonging to Pedro José Alvarez de la Barrera, descendant of Juan Álvarez de Beamud.
It is decisive in documents like these that the signature of the monarch himself or of some personage of relevance in the court appears.
The "ejecutoria de hidalguía" is the judicial document that contains the information about the lawsuit and the sentence by virtue of which the condition of nobleman is recognized to a person. To be hidalgo means to be recognized as noble and to be part of the non-titled nobility. In addition to social prestige, the recognition of hidalguía brought fiscal advantages and economic benefits, as they were exempt from the payment of certain taxes and tributes.