The splendor and extravagance of the Spanish nobility during the Osuna era.

The Dukes of Osuna represent the extravagance of the Spanish nobility in the 18th century, renowned for their colossal wealth and ostentation. Their lineage, linked to the Bourbon royalty, lived in luxurious palaces, indulging in banquets and hunts. However, their splendor was ephemeral, and artists like Goya captured their decline. Despite their sophisticated lifestyle, excesses eventually led to ruin, leaving a legacy of ambivalence.

June 1, 2025

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The Wastefulness of the Spanish Nobility: The Splendor and Decline of the Dukes of Osuna

The history of the Spanish nobility is filled with excess, and at the heart of this narrative are the Dukes of Osuna. Their legacy is a brilliant reflection of the extravagance of the Spanish nobility and their colossal wealth, which attracts both admiration and criticism. How could a family, at the height of their power, have accumulated such fortune, only to see their splendor turn to ruin?

During the 18th century, the Dukes of Osuna, with their title created in 1707, were one of the most prominent families in Spain. Their lineage intertwined with the most powerful in the kingdom, including the Bourbons. The wealth of the Osuna was not just a symbol of status; it was a spectacle of ostentation. In the Spain of the Habsburgs, life was an opulent dance of banquets, hunts, and lavish balls in their magnificent palaces.

Contemporaneous chroniclers, such as the famous Francisco de Goya, captured not only the grandeur but also the deterioration of these nobles. Through his works, one can appreciate the duality of their existence, where the light of splendor is overshadowed by the darkness of decline. Goya's famous series of portraits created for the family reflects this contrast: an aristocracy that appeared brilliant, yet whose luster gradually faded.

Extravagance was commonplace. It is said that the Duke of Osuna spent astronomical sums on his art collection, which included works by masters such as Murillo and Zurbarán, in addition to maintaining a botanical garden that rivaled the most prestigious in Europe. Historical sources, like the National Historical Archive, document these excesses, becoming a silent witness to a lifestyle that overflowed the bounds of sensibility.

However, the story is not solely one of greatness. Rumors indicate that within their close circle, there have been...