Don Quixote and Sancho travel many Spanish country roads in the novel. The highway police are often mentioned and Sancho and Don Quixote are referencing the “Santa Hermandad.” This organization kept civil order in the countryside of Spain and prevented crime. It was reestablished by Queen Isabella during her reign, in the past it had been in opposition to the crown, but Queen Isabella reestablished the organization in support of the crown. She reestablished it in order to decrease crime in the countryside and promote fear of being a criminal. The “Santa Hermandad” was responsible for all highway and country theft or violence and for any violence or theft that occurred in the city involving offenders that sought refuge in the country. There were “quadrilleros,” officers, based in towns all across Spain. When there was a crime, they were notified and those who were in close proximity pursed the offender and arrested them. Once they were arrested, the offender had to attend a local court that was established in the towns and was tried for their crimes. A jury consisting of town members assigned the criminals a punishment. The punishments given by the “Santa Hermandad” ranged from small physical punishments to capital punishments. The “Santa Hermandad” was also involved in enforcing the Inquisition. The effort of the “Santa Hermandad” restored peace and justice within the citizens of Spain and made the Spanish countryside a safe place (Prescott 286-288). The roads that Sancho and Don Quixote travel were patrolled by the “Santa Hermandad” and Sancho often fears that the actions of Don Quixote will attract their attention.
Prescott, William H. History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella The Catholic. Ed. Wilfred Harold Munro. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1937. 4 Vols.
Prescott, William H. History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella The Catholic. Ed. Wilfred Harold Munro. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1937. 4 Vols.