Government Systems of Castile and Aragon

Castile: Government Structure

Central Government

• The Royal Council

  An advisory and administrative body composed of legal experts and noble prelates.

• The Royal Court and Chancilleries

  Officials serving the king included the:

  • Butler
  • Chancellor
  • Constable (chief of the royal army)
  • Admiral (chief of the naval school)

  The Chancillerías served as high courts of justice.

• The Audiencia (Court of Justice)

  The primary judicial body.

• The Hacienda (Treasury)

  Responsible for collecting taxes, such as the alcabala (sales tax) and various tributes. Its operations were controlled by the Contaduría Mayor de Cuentas (Chief Accounting Office).

Territorial Administration

• Provincial Divisions

  Castile was divided into seven provinces, including the Adelantamientos (border regions) and Merindades (inland provinces).

• Municipal Councils

  Local governance was managed by regimientos (municipal councils) or through the appointment of a Corregidor, a royal official who oversaw the city's administration.

• The Castilian Cortes

  Originally convened in León, the Cortes became part of the Royal Council when representatives (procuradores) from cities joined. They served as a crucial check on royal power, particularly in financial matters.

  • Role: They protested the handling of currency and approved subsidies for the Crown in exchange for maintaining the value of the coinage.
  • Influence: Cities were a vital support for the Crown against the nobility.
  • Unification: The Cortes of Castile and León were unified in the 14th century.
  • Political Impact: They played an important role in political affairs during the 14th and 15th centuries.
  • Challenges: Many cities experienced a loss of representation as influence shifted towards the nobility and clergy. Nobles and clergy often had their own mechanisms of influence and did not always attend the Cortes.

Aragon: Government Structure

Central Administration

• The Royal Council

  The primary advisory body to the king.

• The Audiencia (Chancery)

  Headed by the Chancellor, this body handled judicial and administrative affairs.

• The Aragonese Cortes

  These assemblies held significant power, often controlling the Crown's actions. They were composed of representatives from the nobility, the Church, and the civic elite (known as síndicos).

  • Purpose: They defended feudal interests against attempts by the Crown to impose its authority.
  • The Generalitat: In the Catalan Cortes, under Peter IV, a permanent commission called the Generalitat was formed. This body was responsible for:
    • Protecting the privileged estates of the nobility against the king.
    • Ensuring compliance with agreements when the Cortes were not in session.
    • Raising taxes for the king.
  • Powers: The Cortes had important powers, including:
    • The presentation of grievances by each estate against royal decisions deemed "against the law."
    • Significant legislative power.

• The Justice of Aragon

  An office held by aristocratic privilege, responsible for defending the estates of the realms against the king's actions.

Territorial Administration

Territorial administration was managed through vegueries (councils) and bailies.