Juan Rena and the Frontiers of Spanish Empire, 1500-1540

This book explores the political construction of imperial frontiers during the reigns of Ferdinand the Catholic and Charles V in the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean, focusing on the activities of Juan Rena, a Venetian clergyman who served the king for 40 years. It offers an account of the Spanish Empires frontiers as a vibrant political space where a multiplicity of figures interacted to shape power relations, creating practices and norms in cross-cultural diplomacy, the making of the social fabric, the definition of new jurisdictions, and the mobilization of resources for war.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into the intricate political construction of imperial frontiers during the reigns of Ferdinand the Catholic and Charles V in the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean. Rather than offering a broad overview of all imperial frontiers, it centers its attention on a singular individual: Juan Rena (1480–1539). This Venetian clergyman served the king for 40 years, traversing diverse regions from the Maghreb to northern Spain, from the Pyrenees to the western reaches of the Ottoman Empire. By examining Rena's activities, the book provides a vivid portrayal of the Spanish Empires frontiers as a dynamic political realm where a multitude of figures engaged in complex power dynamics. Moreover, it explores how merchants, military officers, nobles, local elites, and royal agents forged a distinct political culture within the empires transitional spaces. Through their negotiations, cooperation, and occasional conflicts, they established practices and norms in areas such as cross-cultural diplomacy, the formation of social structures, the delineation of new jurisdictions, and the mobilization of resources for warfare. This insightful exploration sheds light on the intricate web of relationships and interactions that shaped the empires and contributed to the development of a complex and multifaceted political landscape.

Weight: 370g
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367503116