Royal Celebration and Propaganda. Celebrations and Rejoicings in Palencia (1700-1834)

Throughout the Ancien Régime, public ceremonies played a significant role as mechanisms for constructing the image of power, hence their conception as propaganda instruments. Similarly, festivities and spectacles constituted one of the most characteristic mass manifestations of urban life in the Modern Age. Within the framework of studies on culture and mentalities, this paper analyzes royal ceremonies in the city of Palencia (1700-1834) through the various events related to the king and the royal family and the military and political actions of the monarchy's government, whether through prayers, liturgical and civil celebrations, or festivals, since all are manifestations that pursue the same objective: the exaltation of the Crown and political power.