The Tribute for Mantillas: a privilege of the Principality of Asturias in the framework of royal births

Abstract

The “tribute for mantillas” was, within the framework of royal births, a special servisse from the Principality of Asturias to the Crown, which consisted of the delivery of a tribute when the person being born was male and was called to be the heir. The servisse is documented from 1707, so a French origin can be attributed to it. It consisted of the payment of na amount of money that was obtained from the province’s own funds and that, in some cases, was converted into dowries for marriageable maidens.

The tribute was, therefore, a privilegie of the Principality of Asturias and its delivery would be celebrated according to a specific cerimonial. The last episode was symbolic and occurred in 1977.

Keywords: births, mantillas, prince of Asturias, princess of Asturias.