The Bourbon Dynasty: Royal Life, Reform, and the Palace as Stage

The Bourbon dynasty shaped Madrid through planning and protocol. The palace was both home and institution, where reform met ritual.

Contents

• Court Life in Practice
• Urban Reforms and Symbolism
• Daily Schedules and Ceremony

Court Life in Practice

• Housing, etiquette, and staff hierarchies supported royal routine.
• Rooms flexed between private life and staged appearances.

Urban Reforms and Symbolism

• Street cleaning, lighting, and public works modernized the city.
• The palace frontage modeled order for surrounding districts.

Daily Schedules and Ceremony

• Fixed hours reinforced rank and predictability.
• Ceremonies doubled as civic education.

A palace teaches order to a city — by habit and example.