Wardrobe: the anatomy of a polysemic term (15th and 16th centuries)

Abstract

The term guarda-roupa has raised some confusion when dealing with the functioning of the noble house in Early Modern Portugal. In fact, it is a polysemic term designating several realities that are interrelated but not entirely coincidental. Such variety made it that the term could be used in its masculine and feminine form, referring to different things. In order to clarify the different meanings, this article addresses the four meanings the word could take, starting by clarifying the above-mentioned gender issue. I shall use the well-documented case of the 5^th Duke of Bragança, D. Teodósio I, in order to analyze the contents of two guarda-roupas (his and his wife’s) thus better understanding their nature. Finally, I shall look into the palatine, daily ceremonial of the duke’s awakening, which also involves the guarda-roupa. The full complexity of the term will be this explained.