The Archivo General de Simancas [General Archives in Simancas] are one of the most important archives in Europe, with holdings that date from the Catholic Kings of the 15th century to 1800.

Located in a castle built in the middle of the sixteenth century, the archive is notable for its architectural significance as well as its documentary value. Around 1465, the Almirantes of Castile captured the villa of Simancas and constructed a castle, but the Catholic Kings requisitioned the castle for the crown. During the period of the Catholic Kings and Charles V, the castle continued as a fortress for storing arms and money and also as a prison. In 1540 Carlos V decided to store the most important documents in one of the towers of the castle, and this was the beginning of the Archivo General de Simancas.

The historical evolution of the General Archives in Simancas explains the organization of its documentary holdings. Simancas Archives were created in the 16th century to keep all the documentation from the central administration and institutions of the Hispanic monarchy and their holdings reflect the administrative structure of the Spanish Kingdom from a wide period that includes from the Catholic Kings to the fall of the Ancienne Regime (first third of the 19th century). During this long period, there are two significant times: the Austrias Period and the Borbonic Period. Consequently, the holdings have two great documentary blocks: those pertaining to the dynasty of the Austrías (15th to 17th centuries) and those of the dynasty of the Borbones (18th century).

Every existing Consejo was represented and there were as many sections as Consejos in the High Modern Age. Only four exceptions have to be considered: the Consejo de las Ordenes Militares [Council of the Military Orders] was never in Simancas and its documentation is kept in the Archivo Histórico Nacional (Madrid) [National Historical Files]. The Consejo de Indias was also transferred to Seville in 1785 and the Consejo de Aragón and the documentation of the Inquisición were incorporated to the Archivo de la Corona de Aragón and the Archivo Histórico Nacional, respectively. All the other documentacion generated by the Spanish Crown is kept in the Archivo de Simancas.

Leprosy Records in the Simancas Archive

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.830//RGS, 149907,90; Period: 1499- 07-12; Registration: RGS, 149907,90

Para que los enfermos de lepra de Córdoba se alojen en el Hospital de San Lázaro actuando con sus bienes como la justicia marque [Instructions for the leprosy patients from Córdoba to be lodged in San Lázaro Hospital, with their belongings as established by the law]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.595//RGS, 149404,55; Period: 1494-04-15; Registration: RGS, 149404,55

Merced del oficio de alcalde examinador mayor de físicos, cirujanos, boticarios, ensalmadores, herbolarios, especieros y de los enfermos de lepra de San Lázaro, a favor del doctor D. Gabriel Álvarez Abarca, físico, catedrático de prima en el Estudio de Salamanca, en lugar del doctor maestre Juan de Guadalupe, físico, examinador mayor, ya fallecido. [Instruction by the Major responsible for the examination of physicians, surgeons and other healers, and San Lázaro patients, in favour of D. Gabriel Álvarez Abarca, physician, chairman in the Study of Salamanca, replacing Doctor Juan de Guadalupe, physician, major examinator, desceased]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.637//RGS, 149008.376; Period: 149.08.04; Registration: RGS, 149008.376

Ejecutoria de una sentencia declarando limpios de lepra a Diego Núñez Pinto y a su hermano, vecinos de Huelva [Execution of a legal sentence declaring Diego Núñez Pinto and his brother, both living in Huelva to be clear of leprosy]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.821// RGS.149007,80; Period: 1490-07-24; Registration: RGS. 149007,80

Comisión a Juan de Ribasaltas y Juan Rodríguez de Toledo, físicos y examinadores mayores, para que dictaminen si Diego Núñez Pinto y Fernando Pinto tienen lepra, y en ese caso los entreguen al hospital de San Lázaro de Sevilla, con sus bienes y hacienda. [Commission to Juan de Ribasaltas and Juan Rodríguez de Toledo, physicians and major examinators for a decision about whether or not Diego Pinto and Fernando Pinto suffer from leprosy, and if they should be sent to the Hospital de San Lázaro in Seville, with their belongings]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.821// RGS,149007,415; Period: 1490-07- 02; Registration: RGS,149007,415

Carta para que los que se citan se dejen examinar para ver si son enfermos del mal de lepra, a petición del mayoral de la Casa de San Lázaro de Sevilla [Letter addressed to those cited requesting them to be checked in order to determine if they suffer from leprosy, at the request of the mayor de la Casa de San Lázaro de Sevilla]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.959// RGS, 149005,36; Period: 1490-05-28; Registration: RGS, 149005,36

Al licenciado Diego Flores y al Doctor Diego Chacón, a petición del mayoral de la Casa de San Lázaro de Sevilla, y de los enfermos de la misma para que hagan comparecer para ser examinados y curados de lepra a Diego Martínez Pinto y Fernán Pinto, vecinos de Gibraleón y Huelva. [Letter to the licensed doctors Diego Flores and Doctor Diego Chacón, at the request of the mayor de la Casa de San Lázaro de Sevilla, to inspect and treat Diego Martínez Pinto and Fernán Pinto, living in Gibraleón y Huelva, for leprosy]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.959// RGS.149005,245; Period: 1490-05-28; Registration: RGS.149005,245

Sobrecarta al Concejo de Sevilla, a los lugares de su tierra y obispado de Cádiz y a los alcaldes mayores de los físicos de lepra, a petición del mayoral y enfermeros de la Casa de San Lázaro de dicha ciudad, sobre los privilegios de éstos, concedidos y firmados por Juan II [Letter to the Sevilla City Council, to all places connected to it, to the Bishop of Cadiz and majors and physicians of leprosy, containing a notice from the mayor and sanitary staff of la Casa de San Lázaro in the city of Sevilla, concerning privileges given and signed by King Juan II]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.1052// RGS,149110,18; Period: 149-10-25; Registration: RGS,149110,18

Nombramiento de protofísico al doctor Nicolás de Soto, físico del príncipe. [Appointment as of Nicolás de Soto, physician of the Prince]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 31.1.1060// RGS,149910,414; Period: 1499-10-26; Registration: RGS, 149910,414

Que el gobernador de la orden de Santiago de la provincia de León, envíe al Consejo una información sobre el estado de las casas de San Lázaro en Mérida, Fuente del Maestre y Badajoz. [An instruction to the Governor of the Order de Santiago, requesting him to send a report to the Consejo about the situation in the houses of San Lázaro in Mérida, Fuente del Maestre and Badajoz]

Section: ES.47161.AGS/ 10.1.1// CCA-CED,4,206,1; Period: 1500-10- 20; Registration: CCA-CED,4,206,1

Construcción de la Casa de San Lázaro en Murcia [Construction of the Casa de San Lázaro en Murcia]

Section: ES.28079.AHN/9.1.2// CODICES.L.739; Period: s.XVI, s.XVIII; Registration: CODICES.L.739

Diccionario de gobierno y legislación de Indias.L. (LAB-LLA) [Dictionary of government and legislation of Indias, containing instructions about leprosy]

Entry made April 22, 2006