Political Institutions of Christian Spain: Monarchy and Cortes
Political Institutions of Christian Spain
A) Monarchy in Castile
The territorial organization of the Kingdom of Castile was highly complex. The King was assisted by various central government institutions: the Council, the Audience, and the Exchequer.
Local administration was based on the ayuntamientos (councils), which were controlled by urban oligarchies consisting of the nobility, clergy, and burghers. This period was characterized by a power struggle between the nobility and the royalty, leading to civil wars, notably between Pedro I and Enrique II.
Ultimately, the authoritarian monarchy triumphed under Isabella I. The model, initiated by Alfonso XI, focused on:
- Legislative and judicial uniformity
- Centralization of wealth
- Creation of a standing army
B) Monarchy in Aragon
The Kingdom of Aragon functioned as a confederation of kingdoms, including Aragon, Valencia, and Mallorca. The Aragonese monarchy was characterized by pactism. The King was represented by a lieutenant who acted as a delegate. Other institutions included the Royal Audience and the Justice of Aragon. Territorial administration was organized into verguerías, while city power was held by town councils dominated by local oligarchies.
C) Castilian Cortes (12th–14th Centuries)
The Castilian Cortes are considered the oldest parliament in Europe. These assemblies were organized by estates, reflecting the structure of society. Each of the three branches was represented by an assembly with mandatory instructions. The Cortes were not permanent and dissolved upon completing their tasks.
The origins of the Cortes are often traced to the Council of León in 1037, where Ferdinand I was crowned. Furthermore, the assembly convened by Alfonso IX in 1188 is widely regarded as the first European parliament.
Monarchs of Castile summoned the Cortes in the following cases:
- When the prince swore to be the legitimate heir to the throne
- Upon the death of a King
- To resolve governance issues of the kingdoms
- During civil wars
D) Aragonese Crown Cortes
Under Pedro IV the Ceremonious, the King was obliged to convene the Cortes periodically in Aragon, and at least once a year in Catalonia and Valencia. In Catalonia and Valencia, the Cortes consisted of three arms: military (seigniorial), ecclesiastical, and royal (popular).
In the assembly of Aragon, the arms were divided into four, with the first consisting of magnates and noblemen. The Cortes were overseen by the Chief Justice, and each arm met separately to discuss the agenda.
E) Cortes of Navarre
The first Cortes of Navarre were held in 1300.