Entre castellanos y portugueses. De nuevo sobre el "Romance de la muerte de la duquesa de Braganza"

Abstract

In this work we turn to the Romance de la muerte de la Duquesa de Braganza (Ballad of the Duchess of Braganza’s death) to re-examine Pedro Ferré’s pioneering analysis in the lightof a new testimony printed on one of the chapbooks found in Perugia. In the first place, we present the findings of the researchers who have previously approached this historical romance that narrates the murder of the daughter of the Duke of Medina-Sidonia at the hands of her husband in 1512, in principle for committing adultery with a page. Secondly,we describe the different testimonies (all printed in the 16th century) preserved from theballad, which present two versions with notable differences in terms of scenes and numerous variants. Thirdly, we recall the historical events and the vicissitudes of the protagonists of the ballad, as well as what is known about the murder by the inquisition that took place at the time. Finally, we analyze the appearance in the romance of two antagonistic characters, the page and the duke, in order to contrast how they are represented within literature and within historical sources and thus perceive the political intentionality and the attitude towards one and the other that hides the poem.