Castile and Aragon: Medieval Political Structures & Crisis
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Castile: Medieval Political Structure
Castile's political structure centered on three institutions. The monarchy was authoritarian, with farmers dependent on it. Castile and Leon unified administration, focusing on establishing a general law, the Code of the Party, and centralizing power. Alfonso X strengthened the royal case against former privileges. The monarchy could legislate without the Cortes, which arose from the bourgeoisie's desire to participate in government. The Cortes, an assembly of nobles, clergy, and bourgeoisie, had a consultative role and approved subsidies. Municipalities enjoyed autonomy and their own jurisdiction, subject to open meetings. The figure of the mayor, the royal representative in municipalities, emerged.
Aragon: Medieval Political Structure
Aragon's political structure, comprising the kingdoms of Valencia, Catalonia, and Aragon, was based on three institutions. The monarchy stemmed from pacts, with the monarch subject to the Cortes, one for each realm, which voted on taxes. Pedro III's Cortes provided the legislative function, with laws made by agreement. Law and custom established codes (Ustages), and traditional norms were reflected in medieval charters (in Valencia) or furs (Aragon). Municipalities had autonomy and their own jurisdiction, governed by open meetings. The Council of One Hundred in Barcelona exemplified institutionalization.
Medieval Crisis: Demographic, Economic, and Political
The first half of the 14th century saw bad harvests due to rudimentary farming methods and poor weather, causing famine. This, combined with the Black Death, led to a rapid decline in the population of the Christian kingdoms, especially in Catalonia, leaving homes and land unpopulated. This created social unrest, leading to peasant revolts. In Catalonia, there was a general mobilization (Conflict Remensa), and small uprisings occurred in Castile (Irmandiños). Unrest spread to cities, where minorities or municipal oligarchies (including Jews) were blamed for the crises.