Cofradas y devotas: el papel de la mujer en las cofradías penitenciales en la Sevilla de los Austrias (1538-1701)

Abstract

In this paper we aim to show the role that women had in the penitential confraternities in Seville during the reign of the Habsburgs. In order to achieve our purpose we have used two fundamental sources: the archive of the Archbishopric of Seville and the archives of the different current confraternities. These associations were generally composed of laypersons, which means that their documents show how these people felt and lived. We have studied four different aspects: their qualities, reception and entrance fees, the cofradas (maidens, widows, religious, foreigners and nobility), the professions and women in the government of the fraternities.

Keywords

• religiosidad
• cofradías
• trento
• historia de la mujer
• piedad popular