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Journal of the History of Collections Advance Access first published online on August 19, 2009
This version published online on September 18, 2009
Journal of the History of Collections, doi:10.1093/jhc/fhp036
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

Treasures fit for a king

King Charles III of Spain's Indian elephants

Carlos Gómez-Centurión


  Abstract

The practice of collecting exotic animals saw an unprecedented rise at the Spanish court in the eighteenth century, particularly during the reign of Charles III. His most prized specimens were three Indian elephants, regarded as genuine crown jewels and symbolizing the power, wealth and prestige of a great sovereign more eloquently than any other animal. They gave a clear sign of the breadth and strength of his diplomacy, the influence of which extended as far away as India. The interest aroused by their acquisition and the diplomatic procedures involved are examined here, together with the problems encountered in bringing these animals to the Iberian Peninsula and maintaining them in the unusual conditions of the Aranjuez Palace.

Correspondence: Address for correspondence Dr Carlos Gómez-Centurión, Modern History Department, Faculty of Geography and History in the Complutense University, Profesor Aranguren, s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ccenturion{at}ghis.ucm.es

The original version was incorrect. On page 9, second paragraph, the author of the satiric poem about the arrival of the elephant to Madrid in 1773 is not José de Cadalso -to whom the poem was dedicated-, but should be Tomás de Iriarte.


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