Pulgar was secretary to Isabella and chronicler of the Catholic Kings. This 1486 work is a series of biographical sketches of some 24 famous Spaniards of that era. Among them are Fadrique Enríquez, Admiral of Castilla; Iñigo López de Mendoza, Marqués de Santillana; Juan Pacheco, Marqués de Villena; Rodrigo Manrique, Conde de Paredes; Garcilaso de la Vega; Alfonso Carrillo, Archbishop of Toledo; and Alfonso de Fonseca, Archbishop of Sevilla.
Tate’s excellent historical introduction shows that Pulgar’s tendency to write somewhat flattering biographies reflects the Catholic Kings’ desire to be tactful toward the nobility in the 1480s in order to promote unity.
Copyright 1972 by Duke University Press
1972
