The Tubal Figure in Early Modern Iberian Historiography, 16th and 17th century

Abstract

This study is dedicated to the use of the biblical figure Tubal in early modern Iberian chronicles. The focus will be centered on how it is used in different ways in the different kingdoms (Castile, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Portugal and the Basque Provinces and Navarre) and what the authors are trying to achieve through this. Results show that while Castilian authors try to prove Spanish antiquity with the Tubal settlement, in other kingdom, especially in Catalonia, Portugal and Navarre there is a more regional use of the myth. Most of these authors try to prove that their own kingdom is the territory where Tubal settled, which would give a pre-eminence of antiquity to it in comparison to the other Iberian territories.