The promoters of the Citizens’ Initiative to request a worthy burial of the kings of Spain, Recesvinto and Wamba, Joaquín Sánchez Garrido and Jorge Miranda, were surprised that the Brotherhood of Holy Charity sent a statement to the publishable opinion, based on the arguments provided by an internal book, of unknown author, without official character and doubtful objectivitywhere it is indicated that said The Brotherhood attended royal and state funerals in the 19th century“giving your writing absolute, exclusive and exclusive value.”
“The sources from which History draws are generally multiple and varied, and if they are contrasted, the possibilities of success multiply for the historian. May God save us from the one-dimensional man and the one who only reads one book, claiming with this modest background to qualify as “guardian of the historical memory of Toledo and Spain”This is how the Royal and Ancient Brotherhood of Holy Charity is presented to us, traditionalists usually describe it as too much ship for too little pirate, says the statement from the promoters of the worthy burial of these Gothic kings.
They add, in an ironic tone, regarding the said brotherhood, that “they would surely be the only ones to attend these eventssince the Provincial Commission of Monuments, chaired by the Civil Governor in office, invites them only and only, – like the rest of the personalities present: brotherhoods, religious orders, municipal council, judicial and military class…etc -, to the ‘ transfer of remains…’. No to any funeral and even less to a funeral. Exclusively, It was a transfer of skeletal remainsmembers of the royal family and deposit in a sacred place. A worthy and massive event, but never an act of state.
They argue that the Brotherhood could have asked the current dean of the cathedral where these Gothic kings were buried. They would surely have obtained a rigorous, documented and truthful answer.“avoid public shame for a minimal lack of research of one or a few people who hide behind acronyms and send a document that sows institutional confusion, clarifies nothing and contributes less, solely to facilitate the interests of third parties.
In the Madrid Gazette (current BOE) of 02/21/1845, it is confirmed that “the political leader proposed to the Chapter of the Primate to receive with dignity the royal remains in deposit and custody”. It leaves no doubt as to the ownership of these remains.
Years later, the civil governor of the province was forceful in 1906 when he wrote to the nation’s government that “…since 1845, when the remains of these egregious monarchs were transferred into storage at the cathedral, they are there. in an unburied warehouse and awaiting the resolution of Her Majesty’s Government, to provide them with a dignified and honorable burial. The letter could not be more clarifying. Fifty years after its solemn transfer, everyone was still waiting for instructions on how to bury the royal remains.
Without going beyond the sources of the time, the Chapter Acts of the Cathedral Chapter also leave no room for doubt by accepting that “these remains remain in storage”. This institution has never acknowledged ownership.
We regret that a simple booklet, without official value and without recognized pen, attempts to discredit the cream of a large part of our most eminent historians, such as J.Osé Amador de los Riosbearer of the stretchers which carried the royal remains in procession through the streets of Toledo, in the company of Sixto Ramón Parro, Manuel María Herreros and Miguel San Románwhen he wrote to us in the same year of the royal deposition in 1845 that “it became necessary to deposit the ashes of the above-mentioned monarchs (in a tomb) by ordering the model of this monument from the architect Aníbal Álvarez.
The same way they do with Juan Garcia Criadocorrespondent of the Royal Academy of History who told us in 1896 that “after half a century, we found the mortal remains of two Spanish sovereigns I’m still waiting in a cupboard in the main hall of the sacristy to the resolution of Her Majesty’s Government. Until that time, only the nation’s government had the power to decide what to do and where the royal bone was located.
They despise the wise academic authority of the canon archivist of the Cathedral and the recognized international prestige, Juan Francisco Rivera Recio which in 1951 leaves us writing that “the said box with the ashes of Recesvinto and Wamba is located in a room on the first floor, above the room that connects the chapel of the Tabernacle to the Reliquary”.
Finally, let us mention the excellent work carried out by our admired academic Ventura Leblic in 2013 that in studying these events, he concluded by saying that “after the funerals celebrated in the Cathedral (the relics) remained in the custody of the Cabildo“. On these dates, transfers of artistic and historical heritage take place and the Autonomous Community acquires skills in this area.
We are convinced that it is not the Brotherhood as a whole that supports such a document, and we regret that we cannot address anyone in particular because the document published by the Association lacks a signature. ancient and prestigious Brotherhood of the “bread and egg” round. At the same time, we want to clarify that the sole intention of the Citizens’ Initiative is respect for civil heritage, the dignity of people and respect for our History, including its actors. Without stating anything, the undersigned have deviated from the scenario of respect for each of the institutions, by providing the most exhaustive historical and legal documentation that they would have requested from us. “We know, because I had the chance to manage it personally, that making Toledo a world heritage site should not be an end point, it is simply an end point that we must pursue together,” says Sánchez Garrido.
What does the Brotherhood of Holy Charity say?
This is the statement issued by the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad, “guardian of the historical memory of Toledo and Spain”, which says it is grateful for the popular initiative that has recently emerged in the city to remember these gothic kings, but highlights the importance of recognizing documented history
“The Brotherhood of Santa Caridad, the oldest brotherhood in the world, founded in 1085, has historically confirmed that the The funerals of the Gothic kings Recesvinto and Wamba, celebrated in the 19th century in Toledo, took place with the greatest dignity and honor in the Cathedral of Toledo.. The Catholic Church and the Chapter of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Primate acted with diligence, respect and following the most careful liturgy to pay homage to these historic monarchs.
“From the Brotherhood of Santa Caridad we confirm that the funerals of Recesvinto and Wamba took place with the solemnity and honor which correspond to a royal and national funeral“Declared representatives of the brotherhood. “The ceremony conformed to all established rites, reflecting the majestic liturgical tradition of Toledo.”
La Santa Caridad, guardian of the historical memory of Toledo and Spain, appreciates the popular initiative that has recently emerged in the city to remember these Gothic kings, but highlights the importance of recognizing the documented history and l fulfillment of the dignity and honor maintained at the funeral. celebrated in the 19th century. “It is necessary to recognize the historical achievement and dignity that was preserved in funerals held in the 19th century,” they said.
“The Brotherhood of Santa Caridad has been witness and protagonist of some of the most significant events in the history of Spain. His intervention in the royal and national funerals of the Gothic kings Recesvinto and Wamba February 23, 1845 This is a landmark event that reaffirms its crucial role in the history of Toledo and the country.
The transfer of the remains of these monarchs from the parish of San Juan Bautista to the Cathedral of Toledo It was a ceremony full of meaning and solemnity. The remains were carried in an urn lined with purple velvet with gold stripes, accompanied by canons and civil authorities in a formal procession. “The Brotherhood participated with honor in this eventcontributing to the majesty and respect that the Catholic liturgy demands,” the brotherhood said.
The book Copies of the Ancient, Illustrious and Royal Brotherhood of Santa Caridad de Toledo, with a great work of transcription and rescue by Mario Arellano and Antonio Canosaincludes in detail the Brotherhood’s participation in the transfer and royal and national funerals of Kings Recesvinto and Wamba. This historical document provides irrefutable proof of the solemn ceremony held on February 23, 1845.emphasizing that the Brotherhood occupied its place of honor, as is tradition in the major liturgical events of Toledo.
As the book describes: “The Cabildo was formed in procession between the choirs He went to the Puerta del Perdón, where kings are received. […] and carried on stretchers with the greatest pomp during a solemn funeral procession» (Fol. 60). This same text records the key elements which confirm the character of royal and national funerals: the installation of the royal catafalque, the entry through the emblematic Puerta de Reyes and the honors due to the monarchs, unmistakable elements of such a ceremony. .
“It ended on the catafalque of the Kings, a very solemn response was sung and sung, according to the rites of the Church” (Fol. 60v), the book reaffirms. Thus, Holy Charity not only participated in the transfer of the remains, but contributed by her presence to the majesty and respect required by the Catholic liturgy, giving the ceremony the splendor of a royal funeral. The book concludes that the Brotherhood fulfilled its duty to honor the kings and protectors of the faith, once again consolidating its fundamental role in the history of Toledo and Spain.
In February 1845, the Provincial Monuments Commission expressly requested the presence of the Brotherhood at the solemn funeral ceremony of Recesvinto and Wamba. This fact was documented in a letter that today, almost two centuries later, continues to resonate with historical force:
“This Commission awaits the notorious zeal of this Brotherhood to assist in the transfer of the remains of Kings Recesvinto and Wamba, which must take place tomorrow at three o’clock in the afternoon, from the parish of San Juan Bautista to the Holy Cathedral Church” (Fol. 59v).
The Brotherhood of Holy Charity not only accepted the invitation, but occupied a place of honor in the procession, accompanying the royal remains clothed with the dignity that only a royal and national funeral could confer. On that day, the history of Toledo and that of Spain were linked again.recalling that the traditions and funeral ceremonies of the Catholic Church are more than rituals: they are acts of living memory, of continuity with a past which forged the character of our nation.
At a time when historical data and truth seem to be called into question, the example of the Brotherhood of Holy Charity is more necessary than ever. Its archives, its active presence and its unwavering fidelity to the values of faith and history remind us that memory must not only be preserved, but also valued.
“History cannot be denied. The events recorded, like those in the archives of Santa Caridad, are irrefutable testimony that, on February 23, 1845, Toledo witnessed a royal and national funeral in honor of the Gothic kings, with the Brotherhood occupying the place of honor, just like her for over 900 years,” concluded the representatives of Holy Charity.
