Political and Social Organization of the Christian Kingdoms: Monarchy, Cortes and Feudal Estates

Summary

This document describes how the Christian kingdoms of medieval Iberia organized their politics and society. It explains the roles of the monarchy, the Cortes and the main royal institutions, and how these differed between Castile and Portugal on one side and Aragon and Navarre on the other. It also outlines the feudal estate system, from the high and low nobility and the clergy to the bourgeoisie and peasants.

Key points

The monarchy had feudal ties with its subjects and was stronger in Castile and Portugal than in Aragon and Navarre.
The Cortes began as an advisory body and later included representatives of the nobility, clergy and town residents.
The Cortes made laws and approved new taxes, and in Aragon and Navarre they limited royal power.
Other institutions included the Chancery, the royal court for justice and the Treasury, which collected taxes; in Aragon the Chief Justice was especially important.
Society was divided into privileged estates (nobles and clergy) and non-privileged groups (peasants and bourgeoisie) in a pyramid with the king at the top.
The bourgeoisie of towns, devoted to crafts and trade, developed greatly in Aragon; peasants included landowners and settlers bound to lords by obligations.

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Political Organization Over Time in Christian Kingdoms

Over time, the Christian kingdoms developed their own political institutions:

The Monarchy: It had feudal allegiance, which established relations with their subjects. The king surrounded himself with officials who helped in the tasks of government. In Castile and Portugal, the monarchy was stronger than in Aragon and Navarre.
The Cortes: They had their origin in an advisory body formed by people close to the king. Subsequently, they were constituted by representatives of the three estates: nobility, clergy, and residents of the cities and towns. Their role was to make laws and approve new taxes. In Aragon and Navarre, they had more decision-making power than in Castile and Portugal, and acted as a barrier to the power of kings.

Other institutions were the Chancery, the court administering justice, and the Treasury, responsible for collecting taxes. In Aragon, the Chief Justice was very important, resolving lawsuits, interpreting the laws, and defending their rights.

Society in the Christian Kingdoms

The Christian kingdoms gradually acquired a feudal structure that prevailed in most parts of Europe. Society was divided into estates: the privileged group (nobles, clergy) and the non-privileged group (peasants). This latter group included the bourgeoisie. A pyramidal social structure was established, with the king at the top.

The Privileged Social Group Structure

High Nobility or Ricohombres (Counts, Marquises, Dukes): They lived off the income provided by their vast lands.
Low Nobility or Noblemen composed of Hidalgos: They were minor nobles. To survive the loss of their category, they were put at the service of a man of high nobility.
Bishops, Abbots, and Masters of Military Orders: They owned large tracts of land and received the proceeds of these possessions.

Underprivileged Groups

Residents of Cities: This was the bourgeoisie, which was devoted to crafts and trade. It acquired enormous development in Aragon.
Peasants: They could be landowners who worked the land, or settlers who entered the service of a lord to protect them in exchange for a series of obligations and services. Among the settlers in Catalonia were the Payeses of Remensa.

FAQ

What was the role of the Cortes in the Christian kingdoms?

The Cortes began as an advisory body close to the king and later included representatives of the nobility, clergy and town residents. They made laws and approved new taxes, and in Aragon and Navarre they acted as a barrier to royal power.

Who were the Ricohombres?

The Ricohombres were the high nobility, including counts, marquises and dukes. They lived off the income from their vast lands.

Who were the Payeses de Remensa?

The Payeses de Remensa were settlers in Catalonia who entered the service of a lord in exchange for a series of obligations and services.