Don Juan

Duke of Lerme- Painting by Rubens -
The Prado Museum

At the time of this plot there exist three different ranks in the Spanish nobility. The highest comprises the
“ Grandees of Spain ” grouped in a very closed circle. Composed of about thirty families at the beginning of the 15th century, it grows close to three hundred families at the end of the 17th century, thanks to the policies of successive kings who distribute titles and posts in recognition of contributions to the royal treasury.
Then comes the rank of the “ Cavaliers ”. These are either members of the military orders (Alcantara, Calatrava, Santiago), or descended from the city rulers, or mere purchasers of domains that confer on them their title.
Finally, on the lowest rung, are the hidalgos or “ sons of someone ”, who are by far the most numerous. In fact, they represent 90 % of the nobility and carry the “ point of honour ” to its highest degree. Often without fortune or prestige, they sometimes have only an old letter or renown to claim the appellation of hidalgo. But they value this title more than life and sacrifice everything for it. These three echelons are found in the Burlador de Sevilla and the exchanges between the characters permit the understanding of the subtlety of the relations that regulate these ranks in a strict hierarchy.

First of all, it is quite possible that Gaseno, Aminta and Batricio represent the hidalgos. Indeed, as a landowner, Gaseno possesses a certain wealth, as he is proud to mention :
they will see in Gaseno, courage and valour! In my house there are mountains of bread, rivers of wine, Babylons of bacon and among the nervous armies of poultry, young pigeons and chicken for you to devour.

He is equally proud of his pure blood, and affirms it to Duke Octavio in these terms : doña Aminta is very honourable, and whoever marries her will wed old Christian blood to the marrow of the bone.
(End of second day)

Finally, when Don Juan speaks to Batricio, he is very aware that the honour of the hidalgo is his greatest weakness and therefore his best weapon, and consequently mocks it :
I defeated him through his honour, because scoundrels always carry it with them, and only swear by it.
(Beginning of the third day)

This shortcoming of the hidalgo is often denounced in the literature of the time and is very noticeable in the two masterpieces Don Quixote and El Lazarillo de Tormes.
Above the Hidalgos, in the play by Tirso by Molina, Commander Ulloa occupies the rank of “ Cavalier ”. Indeed, he is presented as the Grand Commander of the Order of Calatrava by the King of Castille in these terms :
Grand Commander of Calatrava is Don Gonzalo of Ulloa, a knight that the Moors glorify by their fear.
(Beginning of the second day)

Death and the young lover
by Pedro de Almagro - 1678

The dream of the knight
by Antonio de Pereda (1608-1678)

Then come the relatives of the King who form the closed circle of the “ Grandees of Spain ”. Thus Octavio is a Duke, one of the highest titles in the hierarchy of the Grandees of Spain. He is presumably issued from one of the first families of the kingdom since the King allows him to cover his head :
Rise, Duke Octavio, and cover your head.

This distinguished honour is the privilege of only a handful of people.
Don Juan also belongs to a great family, but does not hold such an important rank and it is the reason why the King must make him a Count if he wants to marry him to Duchess Isabella :
Don Juan will be today Count of Lebrija. That he may rule this fief and possess it, and Isabella may win at least a Count, if she loses the Duke that her rank deserved.
(Third day)

Beyond titles, the Spanish nobility must possess the three characteristics of fortune, prestige and privileges.
Thus, when in order to seduce Aminta, Don Juan declares :
I am of noble stock, the eldest of the family of Tenorios, former conquerors of Seville.
(Third day), he clearly states in only one sentence that he possesses these three assets.

Indeed, in Andalusia, the fact of belonging to the family of those who led the Reconquest against the Moors brings immense prestige. To be the eldest guarantees his inheritance as well as all the advantages automatically bestowed on the aristocracy such as the dispensation from taxation, and judicial privileges.
In addition, in Andalusia, the social ladder is pyramidal and completely unequal. This explains as much the fear of Batricio, betrothed to Aminta, as the pride of her father Gaseno, when Don Juan invites himself to their wedding.
The former is well aware of Don Juan's power over him and that he can do as he pleases in all impunity :
Yet, a gentleman to my wedding…a bad omen.
(End of the second day)

Even though not all nobles exercise their rights, some abuse them; thus some Lords have the right of life and death over their subjects.
On the other hand, the father, who belongs to the older generation, remains faithful to the feudal system that renders the Lord sacred and unassailable. Therefore he considers the arrival of Don Juan as a blessing :
That such a great Lord should come to Dos Hermanas so that today he honours my old grey head !
(End of the second day)

As in most European countries, the nobility, from the 16th century, leaves its military assignments to dedicate itself to politics. However, the union of the various provinces under the crown of Castille and Aragon, and the creation of a central state progressively decrease their real influence. This loss of influence must also be equated, as for the French nobility, to the moral and social obligation to refrain from practising any profession.
This has the effect of excluding the nobility from economic life, even though the administration of their estates is incumbent upon them. In this way, the stance of Don Juan and the Marquis of La Mota is a critique of an idle aristocracy, which lives solely from its rents and that can thus pass its time in amusements with burlas. Besides, this system of rents creates a confiscation of money by the great Lords who do not introduce it into the productive economy.
In a sense, the nobility is in part responsible for the economic downfall of Spain in the 17th century.