Royal Armoury of Madrid

The Royal Armoury of Madrid or Real Armería de Madrid, between many other things, the collection contains the personal arms of the Kings of Spain, and also houses present military weapons and diplomatic works of art like mixed tapestries, paintings and other works of art and trophies. Among the most notable parts of the collection features armor and full tools that Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II used.

The fact be a certain continuity of representation, more or less accurately of the different reigns, has conferred a dynastic character derived from its formation over time.

The decision to grant preferential treatment to the Armory dates back at least to the death of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, which occurred on 21 September 1558. At the end of 1559 had already been made known to the testamentaries of the Emperor the decision of the new King of take to him the Armory.

The armory of the Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, had come, mostly, from Brussels to Spain via the port of Laredo, in September 1556, from where it went to Valladolid. At his death his weapons are scattered between Valladolid and to a lesser extent, in the Monastery of Yuste, and possibly in the Alcázar of Madrid.

The establishment of the Court in Madrid said that in July 1562, Philip II had already decided that was done in Madrid, determination that could have been, earlier though.

This building that is currently known as "Antigüa Real Armería de Felipe II" was decided, apparently, in 1553, to provide the Alcázar of a new Stables. The conception of it is probably due to Philip II himself judging by a sketch of his fist preserved in the Archivo General de Simancas.

This former armoury was located in the complex of the Royal Stables of the Alcázar of the Habsburgs, who it built was the master builder Gaspar de Vega between 1556 and 1564 at the behest of King Philip II. When works were completed, the king commanded to move the Armoury to the wing of the Stables that was in front of the main facade of the Alcázar.

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Wikipedia