Real Cédula

The ''real cédula'' (;Vda. de Don Joaquin Ibarra ), also called a ''real despacho'' (), was, in Spanish law during the ''ancien régime'', a dispatch from the king of Spain, issued by some council or superior court at the request of the king or on his behalf (that is, that is, by decision of the court), in which a favour was granted or some measure was taken. More specifically, the content of the order resolved some conflict of legal relevance, established some guideline of legal conduct, created some institution, appointed some royal position, granted a personal or collective right or ordered some specific action.

Currently, the concept of "royal certificate" still exists in the case of appointments, being a ratification published in the ''Boletín Oficial del Estado'' (BOE) of a position historically created by a ''real cédula'', by which a person is appointed. to occupy that position. ''Reales cédulas'' that were issued in the past for the founding of certain institutes continue to form part of their statutes, and can be consulted, ratified or transformed to the current constitutional model.

Description

There are two fundamental variants: The ''reales cédulas de oficio'' that derive from the administrative function itself, which begin with the name—if it is personalized—or with the positions or titles of the people to whom it is addressed. The other ''reales cédulas'' are also granted by the King, but at the request of a party and begin by mentioning the subject of the request and the applicant.

This type of document was used both in Peninsular Spain and in the Spanish overseas dominions—America and the Philippines—in this case with advice in most cases from the Council of the Indies.

The order was headed by the words: ''El Rey'' ("The King"), addressed to the recipient of the mandate and ended with the signature: ''Yo, el Rey'' ("I, the King"). Since Charles I became emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, his orders usually bore the title of emperor, and, depending on the occasion, they could be issued in the name of the queen consort.

1782 ''Real Cédula'' on office title confirmations

In 1782, a significant ''Real Cédula'' by the King of Spain addressed administrative procedures surrounding the confirmation of vendible and renunciable offices (''oficios vendibles y renunciables'') in the Spanish colonies. The case originated from a petition by Benito de León y Medrano, who sought royal confirmation of his office as ''Escribano de'' ''Minas y Bienes de Difuntos'' (Notary of Mines and Deceased Estates) in the Province of Paria, ''Audiencia'' of Charcas.

Previous irregularities in testimonies presented for such confirmations prompted the Crown to issue a comprehensive clarification. The ''Real Cédula'' ordered that future requests must include two separate documents:

* (1) the original title (''Título'') highlighting its substantive clauses

* (2) a complete testimony of the prior judicial and administrative proceedings (''autos y diligencias'') leading to the issuance of the title

This 1782 ruling became a juridical precedent for subsequent confirmations across the Indies and the Philippines, reinforcing the Bourbon monarchy's push for standardized, transparent bureaucratic practices in colonial governance. The case exemplified the increasing reliance on codified legal process and increased documentary rigor in the final decades of imperial rule.

See also

* Royal Decree of Graces of 1815
* Royal Decree (Spain)
*Letters patent

References

Early modern history of Spain
Sources of law
Legal history of Spain
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