The book “The Catholic Monarchs in the Alhambra” wins the International “Duquesa de Medina Sidonia” Award for Historical Essays

The book “Los Reyes Católicos en la Alhambra” (The Catholic Monarchs in the Alhambra), written by the historian Juan Antonio Vilar, has been recently granted with the first Premio Internacional de Ensayo Histórico “Duquesa de Medina Sidonia” (International “Duquesa de Medina Sidonia” Award for Historical Essays), organized by the Molina de Segura City Council in the Region of Murcia. This work has been published by the Patronato de la Alhambra y el Generalife and the publishing house Comares, and opened in 2008 the collection Fuentes de Investigación (Research Sources) belonging to the Library of the Alhambra.
Vilar makes a comprehensive study in his book on the conservation works and the transformations undertaken in the Monumental Complex between the Reconquest of Granada (on January 2, 1492) and the death of Isabella the Catholic and her funeral in the Alhambra at the end of 1504.
The Collection is made up by documents forgotten for centuries and which contribute with basic information to understand what occurred in the Alhambra during the first years right after the Reconquest. Furthermore, a CD comes enclosed containing around 1,800 pages including copies of the original documents from the General Archive of Simancas.
Both the presentation and the format of the work, as well as the historical value and content of the essay contributed to the award. The grant is particularly meaningful, since it is the first one conceded after the death of the Duchess of Medina Sidonia, who was a historian, an expert of the Archives and owner of one of the most valuable Spanish archives. In addition, she was an active advocate for social rights in Spain, what brought her to the Carabanchel prison during the dictatorship.
The official prize-giving will be hold on February 4, 2010 in the Molina del Segura City Hall in the Region of Murcia.
Juan Antonio Vilar Sánchez (1954) studied Medieval History at the University of Cologne (Germany) and Modern History at the University of Granada. He earned his doctorate in History from the University of Nijmegen (Netherlands) and he is the author of several monographs focused on the stays and works accomplished by the Catholic Monarchs and Charles V in Granada and the Alhambra.