Political Systems of Medieval Castile and Aragon

Political Organization in Medieval Spain

The Crown of Castile

In 1230, the definitive union of Castile and León occurred under Fernando III 'the Saint'. The late Middle Ages were marked by the king's constant attempts to control the nobility. The Henrician grants, awarded by Henry II (the first Trastámara king), weakened royal power. During the reigns of John II and Henry IV, there was significant internal conflict between the monarchy and the nobility.

Royal Power and Succession

The succession to the kingdom was determined by the male line and primogeniture. The king acted as a lawmaker, governor, and judge, but was obliged to do so fairly. Furthermore, the king relied on several key institutions:

• The Curia Regia: A consultative body and the royal court.
• The Royal Council: Another consultative body that evolved from the Curia.
• The Cortes: An assembly of the estates comprising representatives of the nobility, clergy, and some cities. It granted subsidies to the king and could present petitions to the monarch.
• The Audiencia: The primary legal and judicial institution.

Municipal Government

The concejo (council) was an assembly of neighbors that discussed issues of local interest. Gradually, the nobility began to control municipal life. The kings tried to limit these abuses by sending royal officials known as corregidores.

The Crown of Aragon

The Crown of Aragon emerged in 1137 with the marriage of Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronilla of Aragon. It consisted of the kingdoms of Aragon, Catalonia, and Valencia (each with its own Cortes), plus the kingdom of Majorca (which had none). All these territories shared a common king.

A Pactist Monarchy

The kings of this Crown were generally weak monarchs, as they were required to respect the laws of each kingdom. This period was marked by internal conflicts, such as the remensa peasant revolts and the confrontation between the Biga and the Busca factions. The introduction of the Trastámara dynasty after the Compromise of Caspe did not strengthen the monarchy.

Key Institutions

The Cortes were assemblies of the estates that granted subsidies to the king, but only after their petitions had been approved. They served as an instrument for the nobility to control the king. The Generalitat was a powerful institution that controlled the king's spending, ensuring it did not exceed what was granted by the Cortes. Municipal life was controlled by local oligarchies.

Mediterranean Expansion

In the late Middle Ages, the Crown of Aragon began its Mediterranean expansion, creating the Consulate of the Sea to regulate maritime commerce.