Other European rulers followed the Habsburgs' lead in forging ties through dynastic marriages. Toward the end of the fifteenth century, the Habsburg family began to rely on dynastic marriage to unite an array of territories, eventually creating an empire as had not been seen in Europe since the Romans.

The author identities for the first time a Sánchez Coello replica of Infante Carlos hanging today in the former royal palace in Sintra, which until 1998 had remained unattributed and the sitter unknown. 5 replicas of this portrait showing the prince wearing a lynx jacket (known as a bohemia) were made by Alonso Sánchez Coello and his workshop as gifts presented by Carlos to favourite courtiers. Equally taken into consideration in this paper, is an unknown portrait of the Infante Carlos executed before his untimely death in 1568 by Sofonsiba Anguissola.

Also taken into account are important Flemish tapestry cycles and art works, tapestries, paintings and portraits Philip II brought back to Spain, taken from the Lisbon royal palace after his residency there between 15. This essay analyses and reconstructs the decoration of the Alcazar palace during the reign of Philip II of Spain, by concentrating on his portrait collection deployed to hang in principal reception rooms and the queen's quarters of this palace.

Cartographica purses