The court of Philip III of Spain as seen by a contemporary

The article analyses a valuable historical source describing the court of the Spanish Habsburgs at the end of the 16 th - early 17 th centuries - Relaciones de las cosas sucedidas en la Corte de España desde 1599 hasta 1614 by Luis Cabrera de Cordoba. Based on the data of this source, the article reveals mechanisms of functioning of the royal court. Deterioration of the economic situation of the court aristocracy and their efforts to find a way out are examined as well as ways used by the Duke of Lerma to strengthen his power.