State Organization Under the Catholic Monarchs: Institutions

State Organization Under the Catholic Monarchs

Government Institutions

The Catholic Monarchs set forth a number of objectives, primarily aimed at strengthening the authority of the monarchy, imposing an authoritarian monarchy, and creating a modern state.

To meet these objectives, the Catholic Monarchs had to reorganize the state through a series of steps:

• The Holy Brotherhood was established in 1476. This was a general meeting of local guilds with political and judicial functions. It also served as a military complement to the royal army. This general meeting disappeared in 1498, although local guilds remained.
• The political power of the nobility was reduced, though their economic power increased.
• Control over military orders was achieved since the king was appointed Grand Master. As a result, the three maestrazgos became the king's.
• There were fewer calls for courts in Aragon, as they had to approve the King's decisions. The courts of Castile were used to give greater solemnity to laws made by the monarchs.

Religious Policy

The religious policy was also modified, mainly through three measures:

• The creation of the Spanish Inquisition, with the Crown appointing the inquisitors.
• The Pope's "right of presentation" or "royal patronage" was obtained. According to this, kings could appoint bishops and other high-ranking clergy members, although these appointments had to be confirmed by the Pope.
• Religious unification was pursued through the expulsion of the Jews in 1492 and the forced conversion of Muslims to Christianity in 1502.

Institutional Development

Finally, institutions were developed and modified, and bureaucracy increased:

• The Royal Council became composed only of jurists and lawyers. It eventually became known as the Council of Castile.
• Other specialized committees emerged, such as the Council of Military Orders and the Council of Aragon.
• Royal secretaries served as liaisons between the king and the councils.
• For the administration of justice in Castile, two supreme courts (chancillerias) and two lower courts (audiencias) were created.
• In Aragon, an audiencia was established for the kingdom.
• Magistrates assumed a permanent role in every city and were appointed by the king.