What subjects did Spanish epic poems celebrate during the Golden Age?

During the Spanish Golden Age, epic poetry moved beyond the medieval focus on local feudal history to embrace broader imperial and religious themes. While writers drew inspiration from Italian models like Ludovico Ariosto and Torquato Tasso, the subjects of Spanish epics primarily celebrated the defense of the faith and the expansion of the empire through overseas conquest.1

Notable examples of this genre include:

• La Araucana by Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga: This work chronicled the native resistance encountered during Spain’s conquest of Chile.1
• La Dragontea by Lope de Vega: This poem recounted the final voyage and death of the English privateer Sir Francis Drake.1

These works reflected the era's patriotic fervor, shifting the focus of heroic narrative from the internal conflicts of the Middle Ages to the global reach and religious mission of the Spanish state.21