Spain

It was a festive event on 10 November 2023 when the winners of the 16th Iberian History Competition received their prizes. Taking place in the Historical Library of the Real Maestranza de Caballeriá de Ronda (Royal Riding School of Ronda), 18 works were awarded. This year the students researched the history and origins of institutions. The theme was chosen because one of the organisers of the competition, the Royal Riding School of Ronda, was celebrating the 450th anniversary of its foundation. Students from Spain, Portugal, and Latin America were asked to investigate the role, development, and purpose of institutions around them, such as professional associations, government organisations or even sports clubs.

The winning entries dealt with a wide range of institutions, from museums and parishes to a silk factory. Blanca González Escabia received a first prize for her outstanding work on the Spanish Navy, entitled "Illustrating the seas since 1797: Hydrography of the Spanish Navy. Validity and function of 226 years of historical, patrimonial, and institutional heritage". The second prize went to Lorea Jiménez Larroca and Paula Oroz Ibero. The two students researched the history of the "House of Mercy" in Pamplona, focusing on the fate of impoverished female asylum seekers in the late 1910s. Two second prizes, six third prizes and eight fourth prizes were also awarded.

As well as the students, the tutors of the winning entries also received cash prizes. Ana Isabel Aranguren Aramburu was the tutor of one of the first two EUSTORY prizes. She gave a short speech on behalf of the winning tutors, pointing out that they all "share common goals, such as the transformative power of research and the confidence in these generations of young people who are taking up the baton". She urged her fellow history teachers not to lose their enthusiasm and to continue "in their efforts to work with students who have questions and who need extra training".

The Iberian EUSTORY History Competition is organised by the Real Maestranza de Caballería of Ronda and the Associação de Professores de História de Portugal (APH). The award ceremony was part of the 16th Scholarships and Awards Ceremony of the Real Maestranza de Callaberiá, where 100 students were honoured in different categories for their academic achievements. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida Navasqüés, attended the ceremony and presented the awards.

The full list of winners is available online: List of prize winners (in Spanish)