Abstract

The present work gives a possible explanation for the disappearance of El primer blasón católico de España, a sacramental play of Calderón that was performed in 1662 and of which not a single trace is left. Parting from the title, and supposedly in contrast to similar works,we propose the story of Hermenegildo y Recaredo as the main theme, and we are making out the conflict provoked by the uncertain death of Felipe IV as related to the supposed political and dynastic conflict of the play. It is the author’s opinion that the struggle between queen Mariana and the bastard don Juan José de Austria and especially the untimely death of Prince Felipe Próspero have provoked the proscription of a text that, in a veiled way, referred to these persons.