The history of Spanish literature is one of the oldest and richest in Europe. Over the centuries, it has reflected social, political, and cultural changes, leaving its mark on the entire Spanish-speaking world. From the first written works in the Middle Ages to contemporary authors, the history of Spanish literature is full of unforgettable works and authors who have built a universal legacy.

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The Middle Ages: the first steps

Spanish literature began to take shape in the Middle Ages, between the 11th and 15th centuries, as texts had previously been transamitted orally. Although earlier texts existed in Latin, the birth of literature in this Romance language came with the “Cantar de mío Cid”, an anonymous epic poem written around the 12th century. This work, or cantar de gesta, recounts the exploits of the knight Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar and stands out for its sober and realistic style, unlike the fantastical tone of other European epics.

The Middle Ages also saw the flourishing of jarchas (short poems in Mozarabic) and religious and didactic texts such as those by the Archpriest of Hita, author of the Libro de buen amor, a fundamental work due to its mixture of genres and its festive and provocative tone.

Another key name in the Middle Ages was Don Juan Manuel, who wrote El conde Lucanor. This text is a collection of moralizing tales that reveal the author's early awareness.

Renaissance: the flowering of humanism

With the arrival of the Renaissance in the 16th century, Spain experienced a cultural boom that was reflected in its literature. During this period, human beings, beauty, and nature were exalted, influenced by classical thought.

One of the great names of this period is Garcilaso de la Vega, a poet who introduced Italian forms into Spanish poetry, such as the sonnet, and renewed poetic language with an elegant and harmonious tone.

In prose, Fray Luis de León stands out with his mystical prose and essays, and in theater, Juan de la Cueva and Lope de Rueda, precursors of Baroque theater. This period laid the foundations for what was to come during the Golden Age.

The Golden Age: literary splendor

Let’s continue with the Golden Age, which spans from the end of the 16th century to the 17th century. This was one of the most brilliant moments in Spanish literature. Here we find some of the greatest and most renowned authors in the history of Spanish literature.

The most universal is undoubtedly Miguel de Cervantes, author of “Don Quixote”, considered the first modern novel and one of the most important works of world literature. With a mixture of humor, social criticism, and philosophical depth, Cervantes presents us with an unforgettable portrait of the human condition.

In poetry, Luis de Góngora shines with his culteranista style, full of metaphors and formal complexity, and Francisco de Quevedo, representative of conceptism, with his sharp and satirical poetry.

In theater, the great name is Lope de Vega, who renewed the rules of drama and wrote more than 1,500 plays. His most prominent rival was Calderón de la Barca, author of “La vida es sueño”, a philosophical piece on free will and illusion.

Illustration and Neoclassicism: reason and order

The 18th century brought with it Illustration, a movement that valued reason and education above all else. Spanish literature became more rational and didactic, moving away from Baroque excess.

Notable authors include Benito Jerónimo Feijoo, an essayist who promoted critical thinking, and Leandro Fernández de Moratín, a playwright whose works include “El sí de las niñas”, which criticizes arranged marriages.

Romanticism and Realism: emotions and truth

In the 19th century, Spanish literature experienced two major trends: Romanticism, which gave prominence to emotions, and Realism, which focused on faithfully representing social reality.

Among the Romantics, Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer stands out with his “Rimas y leyendas”, a short but influential work due to its lyricism and melancholic tone. José de Espronceda, author of “El estudiante de Salamanca” and “El diablo mundo”, also stood out for his rebelliousness and expressive power.

Realism brought authors such as Benito Pérez Galdós, who masterfully portrayed Madrid society in novels such as “Fortunata y Jacinta” and “Episodios nacionales”. Alongside him, Leopoldo Alas “Clarín” wrote “La Regenta”, one of the best novels of the 19th century.

The Generation of '98 and '27: crisis and innovation

After the loss of the last colonies in 1898, a generation of writers emerged marked by a crisis of national identity. The Generation of '98 reflected on Spain from a critical and existential perspective with authors such as Miguel de Unamuno, Pío Baroja, Azorín, and Antonio Machado.

Shortly afterwards, in the 1920s and 1930s, the Generation of '27 emerged, with figures such as Federico García Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Luis Cernuda, and Pedro Salinas. These authors combined tradition and avant-garde, taking poetry to new aesthetic heights.

One of the most renowned authors in the history of Spanish literature is Federico García Lorca. Remembered as much for his poetry as for his theater, Lorca portrayed pain, injustice, and beauty in his works. His best-known titles are “Bodas de sangre” and “La casa de Bernarda Alba”.

Exile and post-war literature

After the Spanish Civil War, many writers went into exile or suffered censorship under Franco. Among the exiles were Max Aub, Ramón J. Sender, and María Zambrano. Within Spain, literature became more introspective and symbolic, as in the work of Camilo José Cela, author of “La Colmena”, and Carmen Laforet with “Nada”.

Democracy and contemporary literature to the present day

With the transition to democracy in the 1970s, Spanish literature experienced a period of openness and diversification. Female voices such as Rosa Montero, Soledad Puértolas, Ana María Matute, and Almudena Grandes emerged, bringing new perspectives on history and society.

Novelists such as Javier Marías, Arturo Pérez-Reverte, and Antonio Muñoz Molina also emerged, whose works have achieved great international renown. Contemporary narrative is characterized by its variety of styles and themes, from historical novels to urban realism and autofiction.

The history of Spanish literature is a mirror of the country's evolution, its struggles, hopes, and dreams. From the cantares de gesta to contemporary novels, through the Golden Age and the Generation of '98, each era has contributed unique voices that have enriched the language and thought.

With a living and constantly changing tradition, the history of Spanish literature remains an inexhaustible source of discovery and excitement. If you want to learn more about the history of Spanish literature and improve your command of the language so you can read these titles in their original version, don't hesitate to sign up for an intensive Spanish course. don Quijote helps you reach your desired level while you venture out to learn Spanish in Spain. Visit our website and start your journey!

Have you ever wondered what the origin of Spanish language is? If you are a student and you are starting to learn Spanish in Spain, this question may have crossed your mind at some point. So, here at don Quijote, we are going to give you the keys you need to discover the history of the Spanish language.

A fascinating journey through the centuries that reflects linguistic, political and cultural influences, that is what the history of the Spanish language boils down to. All these factors have contributed to shaping Spanish as we know it today.

To be more precise, however, the origin of Spanish is to be found in Vulgar Latin, a spoken variant of Latin that spread with the domination of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula. However, the evolution of Spanish has not been linear, but rather a complex process of transformation and assimilation of various languages.

Origin of Spanish language

The origin of Spanish as a language dates to the 3rd century BC, when the Romans arrived in the Iberian Peninsula and imposed Latin as the official language. However, before Romanization, the peninsula was inhabited by various peoples with their own languages: the Iberians, the Celts, the Tartessians and the Vascones. These pre-Roman languages left traces in modern Spanish, especially in toponymy (the set of proper names of a country or region) and in some commonly used words, such as cerro (hill), which comes from Iberian, and camisa (T-shirt), of Celtic origin.

With the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, the peninsula was invaded by the Visigoths, who spoke a Germanic language. Although their lexical influence was limited, they contributed terms such as guerra (war) and espía (spy). However, Vulgar Latin remained the predominant language and continued to evolve, giving rise to the Romance languages, including modern Spanish.

On the other hand, several co-official languages currently coexist on the Iberian Peninsula, euskera (Basque) being one of the most unusual cases. Euskera is the only pre-Roman language that has survived to the present day without having been replaced by a Romance language. Its origin is still uncertain, and unlike Spanish, it does not derive from Latin. Although its influence on Spanish has not been as extensive as that of Latin or Arabic, it has contributed some words and place names, such as izquierda (left), bacalao (cod) or aquelarre (coven).

Formation of medieval Spanish

Around the 9th century, Spanish began to take shape in the Kingdom of Castile as a distinct language. The Castilian dialect emerged in the north of the peninsula, in a mountainous region where contact with other Romance languages was frequent. Thus, with the territorial expansion of Castile during the Reconquista, Castilian prevailed over other dialects, such as Leonese or Aragonese, and began to consolidate itself as the dominant language.

One of the most important milestones in the history of Spanish was the work of Alfonso X el Sabio in the 13th century. Under his reign, Castilian became the official language of administration and culture, which allowed for its standardization. During this period, numerous scientific, philosophical and legal texts were translated into Castilian, enriching its vocabulary and establishing its grammar.

Another key figure in the consolidation of Spanish as a language was Antonio de Nebrija, who in 1492 published the Gramática de la lengua castellana (Grammar of the Castilian Language), the first grammar guide for a Romance language. This event marked the beginning of Spanish as a codified language with defined linguistic norms.

Influence of Arabic and phonetic evolution

During the period of Muslim rule (711-1492), Arabic had a significant influence on Spanish. It is estimated that around 4,000 words in modern Spanish come from Arabic, especially in fields such as agriculture, science and administration. Some examples of these words include alcohol, azúcar (sugar), ojalá (I hope) and almohada (pillow).

In addition to lexical enrichment, Spanish underwent significant phonetic changes in the Middle Ages. For example, the evolution of the Latin initial “f” into “h”, as in farina, which evolved into harina (flour). The palatalization of the “ll” and the loss of the final “e” in some words, for example, the word lupus became lobo (wolf).

These changes contributed to differentiating Spanish from other Romance languages such as French or Italian.

Spanish in the modern era

In the 15th and 16th centuries, with the expansion of the Spanish Empire, Spanish spread throughout the Americas, the Philippines and some regions of Africa. During this period, Spanish adopted numerous terms from indigenous American languages, including chocolate, canoa (canoe) and mate. This influence contributed to the lexical diversity of Spanish and the creation of regional varieties.

In the 18th century, the Real Academia Española or RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) was founded with the aim of standardizing the language. The publication of the Diccionario de Autoridades in 1726 and the establishment of spelling rules helped to unify Spanish and reduce dialectal differences.

Currently, Spanish is a language spoken by more than 500 million people worldwide and is the second most spoken language in terms of the number of native speakers. Its evolution is still ongoing, influenced by factors such as migration, technology and contact with other languages.

Therefore, Spanish is a Romance language since it originated in Rome, but it was also influenced by pre-Roman and Germanic languages. The history of the Spanish language is the result of centuries of linguistic and cultural changes.

If you are thinking of improving your Spanish and joining the more than 500 million people who speak the language, intensive Spanish courses can help you achieve your goal. The lexical richness and dialectal diversity of Spanish make it a living language in constant transformation that will allow you to communicate with thousands of people around the world. Don't hesitate any longer and start your adventure in the language!

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken, influential and fastest-growing languages on earth

This member of the Romance family is the second most widely spoken language in the world, with approximately 400 million native speakers, as well as the third biggest language on the internet (after Mandarin Chinese and English). Click here to keep on reading in Spanish!

The Bank of Spain predicted that the country’s GDP will grow 2.4% this year. Meanwhile, according to research from BBVA, Latin America’s GDP is expected to grow 2.6% in 2020, and Statista projects that the United States’ Hispanic population will be of 99.8 million people in 2050.

These are just three of the many reputable sources that estimate a growth in the economic power, commercial and cultural relevance of Spanish-speaking countries and communities.

With enterprises from all regions working to expand to the Spanish-speaking world or targeting Spanish-speakers at home, quality Spanish translation services are becoming a primordial need across industries, and being bilingual in Spanish is, now more than ever, a competitive advantage.

As a widely spoken language with international influence and history in several continents, there’s a lot to learn about the past, present and future of Spanish.

For instance, did you know that, in 2013, the Pew Research Center estimated that 2.8 million non-Hispanic Americans speak Spanish at home?

How about the fact that 20% of Tagalog words have a very clear Spanish origin?

In the following infographic by language services provider Day Translations, we’ll look into 10 interesting facts about Spanish that you probably didn’t know, from its Arabic influences to its unique food-related words.

The University of Salamanca will soon celebrate its 800th year. Eight centuries go a long way and if we keep in mind that this institution has seen periods such as the Middle Ages, the Baroque, the Spanish Empire and Romanticism, it’s only natural that numerous legends are contained within its walls. Here are just a few.

Read the Spanish version

The first one, although it has to do with the university, takes place in the chapel of Santa Barbara, inside the Old Cathedral. Originally the students had their classes on the temple’s premises and this chapel served as a classroom in which to prepare and defend dissertations and doctoral theses. These days, a procedure like this would likely make your hair stand on end: the student would spend the night reviewing his books and notes in front of Bishop Lucero’s tomb in complete solitude, dimly lit by a few candles. The next morning, still in front of the bishop’s tomb, he would defend his work before the examining board. To pass the examination after a sleepless night in the sole company of a deceased dignitary must have been, at the very least, challenging.

Another legendary component that has to do with the fleeting nature of life is the famous frog which, to pass all courses, must be found on one of the skulls that adorn the facade of the university. It is not known who started this legend, but it is one of many: some say that the frog is the stonemason’s signature, others that it warns students of the danger of leading a careless life, still others that it is an uneasy message telling us that the dead will rise “when frogs grow hair” (a common Spanish saying).

Let's move on from these dark and gloomy legends to a brighter, shinier one. Surely you have marveled at the beautiful architecture of the Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), a true artistic treasure that was once the home of Rodrigo Maldonado, Professor of Law back in the sixteenth century. Well, some people say that each of the shells that decorates the facade hides a gold coin. Could this be the real reason for its recent restoration?

Another artistic detail full of mystery is the sky that can be seen in the Escuelas Menores (High School). It is a map of the firmament created between the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries which then occupied the ceiling of the University’s old library. These paintings were covered over when the library was renovated as a chapel. In the mid-twentieth century they were rediscovered and brought to light again in the Escuelas Menores. Imagining a multitude of wise men, researching ancient and secret knowledge under a map of the sky has its charm.

Several streets below there is a corner of Salamanca that, although it has nothing to do with the University, was a classroom ... or so they say. According to the legend, the Cueva de Salamanca (Cave of Salamanca) was used as a classroom where the devil himself taught magicians and wizards. They say the classes ended because one of the students deceived the teacher by selling him his shadow instead of his soul. But it is also said that there is no trace of a school, and what we see today are the remains of a medieval church.

We have many more to tell and invite you to come and learn Spanish with us and discover more. We can tell you with certainty that if you walk through its streets you will not only feel the legends. You will also be tempted to create your own.

Nowadays there are many admirable, famous figures in the world who as well as leading successful careers have helped and are helping to make a real difference in our everyday society whether it be by campaigning for the protection of the environment orby fighting against poverty, homelessness or other social injustices. Perhaps when we think about great role models our thoughts turn to people such as the late Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa, or even Richard Branson,the founder of Virgin Group, for his charity Virgin Unite. However, what about in the Spanish-speaking world? Are there any Hispanic figures whose examples we should seek to emulate? This article will aim to look at just a handful of the Hispanics who are trying to change the world for the better, examining the initiatives they have carried out and are carrying out to help people less fortunate than themselves and to tackle some of the world’s biggest problems.

Shakira

Let’s start with the music industry. Shakira is an internationally recognized artist who has won countless awards. However, she is perhaps less well-known for her tireless charity work. As a United Nations Children´s Fund (UNICEF) Good Will Ambassador she set up “la Fundación Pies Descalzos” (the Barefoot Foundation) in 1997 which aims to help poverty-stricken children in her native Colombia and which is seeking to expand its efforts to other nations. As a result of this charity´s work several schools have opened throughout Colombia funded by the foundation and Shakira including one on her 32^nd Birthday.  Another organization which this singer played an instrumental part in founding is the “Fundacion América Latina en Acción Solidaria” (ALAS- The Wings Foundation Latin America in Solidary Action). This charity, launched in Panama, aims to provide educational and nutritional programs to malnourished and poverty-stricken children across Latin America and the Caribbean. To help fulfil this goal two, free concerts took place in 2008 to educate the public about child poverty in Latin America. Shakira has also been an important figure in promoting environmental initiatives. For example, in 2007 she participated in a Live Earth concert which helped raise awareness of climate change and in 2011 she donated money and contributed to the rebuilding of a school which was damaged by the earthquake in Haiti.

Antonio Banderas

We have looked at one Latin-American role model who has used her money and time to reach out to children in need but Spain also has its fair share of inspiring individuals.  In this article we will look at just one of them, Antonio Banderas. This world-renowned actor from Málaga is known for films such as the Shrek franchise and Desperado. However, he is also a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme.  As part of this role he acts as a voice for the poor trying to promote the fulfilment of the Millennium Developments Goals, a set of 8 goals proposed at the 2000 Millennium Summit of the United Nations, which aim to halve poverty in countries such as Africa and Latin America by the end of 2015.  In 2013 on International Women’s Day, Banderas also released a video appealing for an end to violence against women.

Furthermore, he has collaborated with an international conservation and advocacy association, called Oceana, which tries to protect and preserve the world’s oceans.  In 2005 he recorded several Public Service Announcements deploring the use of bottom trawling, a commercial fishing method where a net is dragged along the sea floor, and raising awareness of the damage it causes to marine life. 

More recently, while filming the Expendables 3 in 2014, Antonio lent his support to the Bulgarian “I Can Too” campaign which aims to support children with special needs, their families and the centreswhich look after them.

Pope Francis

To finish off this article let us return to Latin America.  The final individual that I want to discuss is the leader of a religion, Pope Francis. However, whatever our religious opinions whether we are atheist or devoutly catholic, I think we can all learn from his humility, simple attitude and efforts to deal with some of society´s toughest problems.  In 2014 the Argentinian pontiff met with fellowworld leaders from many different faithsto discussmodern-day slavery with human trafficking and prostitution being two issues on the agenda. This summit, organized by the Global Freedom Network, a multi-faith antislavery association,resulted in the signing of a declaration aiming to rid the world of slavery by 2020. The pope has also worked hard to defend, interact with and serve Rome´s outcasts. In 2013 news reports suggested that Francis had possibly been sneaking out of the Vatican at night to meet homeless people giving them food and money. Moreover, to celebrate his 77^th birthday he invited four homeless people to have breakfast with him.  A year later, again on his birthday, he instructed his chief alms giver and the head of his charity work to hand out 400 sleeping bags to people on the streets and he also greeted and embraced a group of homeless men and women. Finally, Francis again showed his concern for the poor by commissioning modern, state of the art shower blocks to be built which were opened in 2015. These facilities allow homeless people to get clean and shave while also providing them with basic toiletries.

In conclusion, in this article we have seen just three of the many Hispanic figures who are using their time, money, resources and positions to help downtrodden, impoverished and marginalized people in today’s world. And we can follow in their footsteps. We may not have the time or money to set up our own charities but we can make small donations to existing organizations such as Oxfam and those mentioned in this article.  We can also volunteer for charities and other non-governmental organizations. Just thinking about where and how we dispose of our waste can help to stop our oceans from becoming polluted. Not buying products such as corals and seashells will also go some way to preserving our marine habitats. Or if we want to help the homeless like Pope Francis just some of the things we can do include volunteering at soup kitchens and packing food to give them when we leave the house. These are all small steps but they will make a world of difference. We can be role models, just like the individuals in this article, doing our bit to create a more equal, environmentally friendly, harmonious and peaceful planet while encouraging our family and friends to do the same

Just talking about Spain’s capital city of Madrid conjures images of a rich variety of emblematic monuments and attractions. We also recognize it as a cosmopolitan city brimming with cultural, political, and economic energy.

Madrid however has not always been the wonderful city it is today. Urban development did not begin to thrive in the city until King Felipe II established it as the capital and placed the royal court here in 1561. Madrid’s inspired architectural heritage can be observed all around the city center, which is known as El Madrid de los Austrias since the Austrian Habsburg monarchs were responsible for transforming and modernizing the city.

As the home of the royal court the city’s demographics changed dramatically: when Madrid was first established as the capital it had just 10,000 residents, a figure that grew to 40,000 in just 15 years. By the end of the century the population was up to an impressive 100,000 people.

Let’s explore this downtown area, taking a special peek at some of the buildings and architectural ensembles that best capture its Habsburg period.

One of the city’s most symbolic and most visited attractions is the Plaza Mayor (main square). It has always been, and it still is, a meeting point for local residents. 237 balconies have overlooked the square for centuries, from which observers have witnessed bull fights, popular performances and acts of the inquisition. Noteworthy among the square’s establishments are the Casa de la Panadería (House of the bakery) and the Casa de la Carnicería (House of the Butcher Shop), both of which house different municipal institutions today. A statue of King Philip III on horseback occupies the center of the plaza. You can exit the square through any of its nine entryways, including the Arco de Cuchilleros, which leads us to the Cava de San Miguel, the location of some the area’s most traditional and popular taverns.

If we continue on this road we will reach the Palacio de Santa Cruz, the old city jail which currently houses the Department of Foreign Affairs (in the Plaza de de la Provincia). The 17^th century San Isidro Church is further along Calle Toledo, which has served as Madrid’s provisional cathedral since 1993.

Close by, in Cava Baja, we find ourselves near one of the city’s most worthy monuments: a restaurant called Botín, considered by the Guinness Book of World’s Records to be the oldest restaurant in the world. Botín has been pleasing picky palates since 1725.

After checking out San Miguel Market we arrive to Plaza de la Villa. This square is the location of historical buildings such as the Casa de la Villa, which was Madrid’s City Hall building until just a few years ago.

We make our way back to Calle Mayor then head along Calle Bailén toward the Plaza de Oriente, an enormous space that traditionally hosted grand celebrations during Franco’s dictatorship. The space is back dropped by the Palacio Real (royal palace), an impressive structure for its size and magnificence. Wandering around the gardens of Sabatini next to the palace we can see the Plaza de Isabel II and the hexagon shaped Teatro Real (Royal Theatre).  Following the crowded Calle Arenal, we end up at the Puerta del Sol for photo ops of a few of Madrid’s most recognizable spots: below the clock tower that Spaniards around the country tune in to watch on New Year’s Eve, in front of the kilometer zero mark (Spain’s road network was based on this point), or next to the statue that displays the symbol of the city, a bear and an Arbutus tree.

Chocolate, which is said to be 4,000 years old and dates back to the pre-historic "Theobroma" cacao tree from the tropical rainforests of South America, has not always been the globally beloved, sweet treat of modern times. Rather, it was a bitter, yet luxurious beverage consumed exclusively by wealthy members of the communities of the ancient Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs. The history of chocolate is unknown to many, such as the fact that thanks to the voyages of Spanish settlers in the 15th and 16th centuries, mass-valued cocoa beans were brought to Europe. This was initially developed as a hot Spanish drink with a sweet taste and gradually evolved into the delectable refreshment consumed by millions worldwide today.

• Cocoa beans used to be used as currency, people even paid their taxes with them.
• Golden cups from which the chocolate drink was consumed were discarded after only the first use to continue to honor the value of the drink.
• Thanks to the Spanish colonists, chocolate is now available worldwide and popular everywhere.

The History of Chocolate

Both the Maya and the Aztecs considered these cacao beans to be very valuable. Consequently, they were used as a form of currency among both communities, and the Aztecs even paid taxes to their emperors in the form of these seemingly incredibly valuable beans.

Although chocolate, or rather the cocoa beans used to make chocolate, are usually considered a consumer good, it took on a significantly larger role among the Maya and Aztecs. Not only were the beans used as currency, they had been given divine powers by the gods of the first inhabitants of Latin America, who used them in religious rituals. As a sign of love for the divine creation of the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl, the beans were exchanged between bride and groom during Mayan wedding ceremonies. In fact, the Aztec god supposedly came from heaven to recover the stolen cacao tree from paradise. The beans were sincerely treasured by the two pre-Colombian civilizations.

In addition to their financial and religious functions, however, the beans were also used in the more commonly known ways. The beans were the main ingredient in a thick, cold, unsweetened drink and produced a chocolate drink that was considered so valuable that the ancient elite, who were privileged enough to drink it, threw away the golden cups from which it was drunk after only the first use.

The many, and sometimes bizarre, ways of using chocolate also continued in Spain in the 16th century. According to Spanish colonist Hernán Cortes, chocolate was primarily intended as medicine. Chocolate was a highly valued remedy for curing the sick; it was prescribed for patients suffering from fever, indigestion and general, physical pain. The Spanish clergy recognized the nutritional value of chocolate, as it was recommended as a supplement during fasting. However, the Spanish aristocracy was not pleased that the sick could enjoy the rich chocolate drinks and, like the Aztec emperors before them, took great pleasure in their privilege of being able to consume newly-sweetened, sugarcane-based, rich beverages.

Chocolate in Spain

When it was finally seen as a food item in the 19th century, courtesy of the culinary expertise of Englishman Joseph Fry, pieces of chocolate gradually began to spread. Chocolate in Spain, however, is still best known in the liquid forms churros y chocolate and chocolate caliente. Tasting the taste of Spanish chocolate remains a popular tourist activity. Had the Spanish colonists not accidentally discovered chocolate more than 5 centuries ago, this delectable product might have remained a Latin American secret forever.

Spain has just enthroned her sixth King Felipe. The following is a quick peek at the kingly lives of these six Felipes.

Felipe I of Habsburg: Born in Bruges, Belgium (1487), this Felipe received the Spanish crown and introduced the house of Austria to Spain through his marriage to Juana I de Castilla, daughter of the Catholic monarchs. Juana became heir to the throne of Aragón and Castile when her older siblings Juan and Isabel died. After the death of Isabel the Catholic, King Ferdinand hoped to continue ruling. The flatteringly nicknamed “Felipe the handsome” however was not willing to renounce his own power. They reached an agreement known as the Concordia de Salamanca (1505) which granted joint rule to Ferdinand of Aragon, Juana, and Mr. Handsome himself. Felipe and Juana had six kids, the second would inherit the throne for being born the first boy. He would go on to rule under the name Carlos I.

The son of Carlos I, Felipe II, represents the height of opulence during the Spanish empire. He was the king of Spain, Naples, Sicily, and Portugal, and for four years he was even the king of England. His reign saw the construction of the San Lorenzo del Escorial Monastary, where he died in 1598. He’s something of a controversial figure: some consider him a paragon of virtue while others (including protestant historians) think he was a more of a fanatical tyrant. The Spanish empire would extend around the world under Felipe II’s rule, a time when the famous phrase “the sun never sets on Spain” emerged. He married not twice nor thrice but four times, and had a total of eight kids. The penultimate of these heirs would carry on the Habsburg’s dynasty under the name Felipe III.

Felipe III reached the height of Spanish expression. He showed much more interest in theatre and painting than politics, which he delegated to his favorite, the Duke of Lerma. In many history books, this Felipe’s reign remains in the quiet shadows of ambitious dad Felipe Sr.’s incredibly prosperous rule, along with that of his gramps, Carlos I. Felipe III, known as Felipe the pious, did however achieve a high level of culture in Spain and an unprecedented 23 year period of peace known as the Pax Hispanica. He had eight children with his wife Margarita de Austria. The first-born boy, would be would reign as Felipe IV.

Known as the Planet King, Felipe IV occupied the throne for nearly 45 years, the longest lasting reign of the Habsburg dynasty. The Count-Duke of Olivares Gaspar de Guzmán would prove fundamental to his reign, a politician who maintained a firm foreign policy to preserve Spanish power in Europe. Spain’s constant wars with France and European Protestants drove Spain to a crisis. France’s Louis XIV took advantage of the state of his weakened neighbors and promptly went about becoming Europe’s most powerful king. Felipe IV had seven kids with his first wife Isabel of France, five of whom died before reaching adulthood. He later married Mariana of Austria and had five kids. After the first two boys died, Carlos II inherited the crown. Felipe IV had at least eight children out of wedlock.

Felipe V had to wait 35 years before becoming king, but then he went on to rule for 45 years, the longest lasting reign in Spain’s history. He was also the first Spanish king of the house of Bourbon. His connection to the throne recalls a soap opera-like storyline; this Felipe was the grandson of Luis XIV of France, the great grandson of Felipe IV of the house of Habsburg. He couldn’t take the French throne because he wasn’t the first-born son and because his grandmother had renounced her dynastic rights to marry Luis XIV of France. King Carlos II of Spain had no heirs, so in 1698 the European monarchs put together the First Partition Treaty of Spain, which named José Fernando de Baviera as successor to the Spanish crown. José died a year later however, which obliged Europe’s monarchs to create the Second Partition Treaty of Spain in 1700, granting the crown to Archduke of Habsburg. King Carlos II surprisingly designated his grand-nephew Felipe as heir, hoping that this Felipe, supported by the French crown, would prevent the empire from falling apart. Felipe V was crowned in November of 1700. All European monarchs recognized the new king except the House of Austria. A conflict erupted between the two dynasties, the Habsburgs and the Bourbons, resulting in a war of succession that pitted Felipe supporters and Archduke Carlos supporters against one another in and outside of Spain. In 1713, Carlos ended up taking the throne of the German empire. The rest of the European powers signed the Treaty of Utrecht to control the growing dominion of the Habsburgs. The treaty removed Spain from the Habsburgs’ control, but allowed them to keep their overseas land and their metropolitan areas (except Gibraltar, which was given to Britain). All European monarchs recognized Felipe V, except Emperor Carlos, who continued claiming the Spanish crown.

The latest in this long series of Felipes was proclaimed king on June 19, 2014, with the name Felipe VI. He took the throne after the abdication of his father, who had remained the King of Spain since 1975, after the death of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Upon Franco’s death, Felipe became the Prince of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne. A young Felipe VI studied for one year in Canada before starting at university. He earned a degree in law from the University of Madrid and later a masters degree in international relations from the University of Georgetown. In 2004 he married Leticia Ortíz, a well-known TV reporter. The couple has two children: Leonor (2005) and Sofia (2007).