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Throne Room
The main room in the Palace of Navarre
Throne Room
The Throne Room is the main room in the Palace of Navarre. It contains examples of the main episodes and characters of the history of the Kingdom of Navarre throughout the centuries and has also been called the Salón Regio (Regal Hall), Salón Real (Royal Hall) and Salón de Actos Públicos (Assembly Hall). It was decorated in the style of the French salons of the era between 1861 and 1865. Its decorative profusion extends to the ceiling and the floor as well as the walls.
The decoration of the ceiling of the Throne Room contains an allegory of Navarre as its main motif. The region is represented as a sitting and crowned matron who holds palms and laurel leaves in her right hand, gazing at the 'temple of wisdom'. At her feet, some flags symbolise the glorious past, and a collection of fruit, cereals and vines represent the abundance of the earth. In the natural landscape in the background emblematic elements of progress stand out: a factory and a railway line, crossing the aqueduct at Noáin. This allegory of Navarre is surrounded by the four cardinal virtues -Prudence, Justice, Temperance and Fortitude- also represented allegorically. The five paintings are the work of the Navarrese artist Miguel Ángel Azparren and were created in 1862.
- Gallery of the Kings of Navarre
The highest part of the four walls of the Throne Room houses the gallery of the Kings of Navarre. It consists of 32 full-body portraits of the monarchs who reigned in Navarre between the 8th and 15th centuries, shown dressed in the typical costume of their time (see list of Kings in the Gallery).
Despite its historic nature, it is the most comprehensive gallery of the Kings of Navarre, and only the portraits of the last six monarchs are missing: Blanca de Navarra, Juan I, Leonor, Francisco Febo, Catherine de Foix and Juan de Labrit. The paintings were made in 1864 by Joaquín Espalter, Francisco Aznar, Constancio Corona, Alfredo Ferrán and Francisco Mendoza.
- Details of the Throne Room
- Historical scenes: A collection of ten canvases, located at different levels in the Throne Room, depict other historic scenes from the Kingdom of Navarre. Two stand out thanks to their size and importance: the proclamation of the first King of Navarre and the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa. Another eight episodes from history are shown over the doors and balconies of the room: the discovery of the relics of San Fermín, the battle of Roncesvalles (Roncesvaux), the battle of Olast, the payment of a tribute by the Muslim kings to Sancho III 'el Mayor', the testament of Sancho III 'el Mayor', the liberation of Carlos II 'el Malo' from the prison at Ailleux, the granting of the 'Privilege of Union' to the Boroughs of Pamplona by Carlos III 'el Noble', and a session of the Cortes (Parliament) of Navarre in the Middle Ages. The authors of these paintings are Francisco Aznar, Constancio Corona and Alejandro Ferrant.
- Proclamation of the first King of Navarre: The first monarch of Pamplona (Sancho Garcés) is shown lifted up on his shield by three of his warriors, while he receives the blessing of the bishop and the acclamation of the people. The scene is set in a natural landscape among mountains and crags. It was painted by Joaquín Espalter in 1864.
- Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa: the central figure is the Navarrese monarch Sancho VII 'el Fuerte', on horseback and with his lance at the ready, advancing at the head of his troops towards the Almohad positions in the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which took place on 16th July 1212 in northern Andalusia. The painting is from 1864 and is the work of Francisco Aznar.
- Throne: The main part of the Throne Room consists of a raised platform with three steps on which two identical places of honour that constitute the throne stand under a velvet baldachin; its use is exclusively reserved to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain. The two gilded armchairs in the Rococo style are crowned by the effigy of an eagle and have red velvet upholstery. In the centre of the seat backs there are embroidered coats of arms of Navarre.
- Chains of Navarre: from the baldachin that covers the Throne twelve links of the iron chains that King Sancho VII 'el Fuerte' brought back in 1212 hang as a war trophy and symbol of his victory against the Almohad troops. The chains are shaped to make up the coat of arms of Navarre. This section of the chains was kept in the Monastery of Irache until the 14th century.
- Tapestry of Las Navas: Behind the throne there is a reproduction of the 'Pendón (Standard) de las Navas' dating from 1954; it is a singular example of Almohad art consisting of geometrical drawings and phrases from the Koran. King Alfonso VIII of Castile, who fought alongside the monarchs of Navarre and León, brought it back as a trophy after the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (1212). The original standard is conserved in the Monastery of Las Huelgas (in the province of Burgos). This reproduction was made by Messrs. Cuervo of National Heritage.
- Marquetry parqué flooring: The entire surface of the Throne Room is covered with an excellent example of marquetry parqué flooring by the Parisian firm M. Laurent; it was laid in 1862 by the carpenter Lázaro Peruchena. It consists of more than 500 rhomboids, with different plant and artistic motifs and an artistic pattern around the edges of the room. In the centre is a large rhomboid with the coat of arms of Navarre adorned with oak and laurel leaves, symbols of strength and glory.
- Busts of illustrious figures: a total of ten illustrious figures from Navarrese culture are represented in the uppermost part of the Throne Room in the form of busts. In the two lateral headers are figures of San Fermín and St Francis Xavier, the co-patron saints of the Kingdom of Navarre since 1657. The other busts are of the cardinal and bishop of Pamplona Martín de Zalba, bishop Joaquín Javier Uriz (1747-1829), the historian José Moret, Dr. Martín de Azpilcueta, Charles de Evreux (the first Prince of Viana), the sculptor Miguel de Ancheta, the architect Martín Pérez de Estella and Marshal Pedro de Navarra.
- Furniture and ornamentation: The Throne Room was décorated in the style of the French salons of the mid-19th century. As a result, a large part of the furniture was brought from Paris. Eight large mirrors -four of them crowned with large coats of arms of Navarre- are located in the corners to gave a visual perspective of a larger room. The furniture is completed by four gilded consoles, and rock crystal chandeliers and wall lights. The general decor is achieved by using golden elements and paint, together with red velvet. A number of ornamental elements -angels/heralds, garlands and friezes- frame the paintings, busts, coats of arms and mirrors.
- Antechamber of the Throne Room
Access to the Throne Room is through an anteroom in which the twin staircases that ascend from the lower hallway merge. It is decorated with valuable art items such as a portrait of the first Prince of Viana, a Flemish tapestry from the 17th century, a table garnish consisting of a clock and golden candelabras in the Rococco style, and a number of Chippendale chairs.
- Detalils of the anteroom
- Portrait of the first Prince of Viana: a large oil painting (2.50 m wide by 3.10 m high) represents the first Prince of Viana, Charles de Evreux (1421 -1461). It is a copy by Verdugo Landi of an original by Moreno Carbonero, showing Prince Charles in his study, together with a number of old books and his faithful hound asleep at his feet. This painting presided over the Salón de Remates until 1933.
- Flemish tapestry of Elijah and the Angel: a large Flemish tapestry, drawn by Peter Paul Rubens and woven by Franz Van der Heke in the 17th century, represents the Biblical scene of the prophet Elijah on his way to Mount Horeb, helped in the desert by an angel that gives him bread and water.
- Showcase: In the gallery leading to the Anteroom there is a display case that contains a number of pieces of great historical interest, such as the three silver urns from the 17th century that were used by the Parliament of Navarre for voting by its three 'arms' (the Nobility, the Church, and the Chartered Towns) and the silver maces granted to the Parliament of Navarre in 1602, which are still used in formal ceremonies.
- Detalils of the anteroom