The processional liturgy of the dead and its chant at the Cathedral of Zaragoza before 1600

Processions for the dead in medieval and early modern Iberian cities developed into prominent sacred and civic events, encouraged by the growing doctrinal emphasis on Purgatory and by the Church's assertion that postmortem liturgical rites could assist the souls of the deceased. In Spain, these ceremonies also became integral to royal and noble funerary practices, forming part of extended commemorative cycles that included processions and offices celebrated both at the moment of death and during exequies held weeks after burial. Endowments established by wealthy patrons for anniversary commemorations ensured the year-round presence of the liturgy of the dead. The institution of the feast of All Souls' Day on 2 November further consolidated these practices, fostering particularly elaborate processional rituals.This article presents the city of Zaragoza, in the kingdom of Aragon, as a case study, examining evidence from its reconquest in 1118 until approximately 1600. The study draws on a broad range of sources, including historical documentation and diverse liturgical books, notably music manuscripts and early printed editions, to survey the typology and contexts of funerary processions. The prominence of death rituals in Zaragoza reveals a dynamic interplay between local traditions and broader processes of liturgical transformation. An analysis of the chant Domine Deus suggests early connections between Aragon, Catalonia, and Aquitaine, later counterbalanced by increasing influence from Toledo. A Zaragoza Processionale of 1502 encapsulates this convergence of traditions within a competitive and evolving ecclesiastical landscape.