Felipe V - the beginning of the Bourbon kings' era in Spain

 Salvete Omnes,

king Felipe V as Santiago

let us 'canter' to Spain during the early to mid XVIII century - when Spain was still a mighty empire where sun never set across the imperial land holdings. 

The early XVIII century brought a change of dynasty in the Spanish realm, the old Hapsburg dynasty male line died out, and a quest for the imperial throne ensued,  finally the French Bourbons won the Spanish throne in the Pan-European  armed conflict known as the War of Spanish Succession. (fought during the same time period as the Great Northern War in the central, eastern and northern Europe).

  But my post is not about the warfare and military exploits of the Bourbon king Felipe (Philip ) V, but rather about his equestrian imagery, of which we have a few examples via Wiki Commons. Perhaps one day we are going to revisit some of the canvasses of  the battles fought in Spain and other theaters of this conflict, like Almansa etc. A view on this war from Andalucia. 

Spanish style stirrup ? on this period print

So here  comes Felipe V, grandson of Louis XIV of Bourbon dynasty, apparently a lover of good singing and music - the famous period 'castrato' singer Farinelli comes to mind.

a period stirrup with  rowel spur attached to the riding boot heel, and the cavalry combat in the background 

a period curb-bit and bridle en face, a great view of pistol holster

breastcollar and part of the pistol holster 

curb-bit with a clearly visible curb-chain

portrait by Jean Ranc at the museo nacional Del Prado

portrait by Michel-Louis van Loo at the Palace of La Granja

Felipe V was a hunter and there is a surviving rifle attributed to this king

Equestrian portraits on Felipe V

nota bene a scholarly study of the economic and social reforms introduced during the reign of the first Spanish Bourbon king. 
Valete