Charles I 1516 - 1556 Flashcards
Who ruled Castile Briefly after Ferdinand’s death in march 1516, waiting for the Arrival of Charles?
Archbishop Cisneros acted as regent in Castile While Charles was In the Netherlands
Who raised Charles?
After his father’s death in 1506, Charles was raised by his paternal aunt Margaret of Austria, regent of the Netherlands. His spiritual guide was the theologian Adrian of Utrecht
Who ruled Aragon Briefly after Ferdinand’s death in march 1516, waiting for the Arrival of Charles?
Ferdinand’s Illegitimate son
Why did the period in-between Ferdinand and Charles’ rules cause chaos?
- Many Spaniards journeyed from Spain to brussels to lobby for positions of power from Charles
- Many travelled to Charles Burgundian court to criticise the rule of Cisneros’s reign
- In castile local factions vied for power and control
- Cisneros tried to introduce a citizen Militia but later went back on this due to risings against this.
What was royal authority under Cisneros like?
Royal authority had all but collapsed, but Cisneros still managed to see the country safely through a time of disorder
Who was Adrian of Utrecht?
Charles’ chief tutor at a young age, who became later a regent and an important adviser through his early rule, he had a great deal of influence on Charles
When did Charles leave Netherlands for Spain?
In spetmeber 1517
Why could Charles not leave the Netherlands immediately?
He was fearful the French may invade if he was gone for too long, before he left, he therefore established better relations with France in the Treaty of Noyon in August 1516
Who did many Spaniards prefer to be king and why?
Charles’ brother Ferdinand was the preferred candidate for many, as he was born and raised in Castile - a contemporary historian wrote ‘among Spaniards no foreigner is of any importance’
What were reasons Charles was disliked by many initially?
- He could not speak Spanish
- Foreigners in Spain were not liked
- Many wanted a king who would focus on Spanish interests and not other lands
- he had never visited Spain (no knowledge of Spain or its interests)
- He had an outsized jaw and a large nose, which did not portray the image of a king
- of many in his household and advisers, very few were Spanish, the Burgundian lord of chievres William de croy was his chief adviser
- Favours and important Spanish offices were offered to Burgundian lords and supporters
What are some examples of Burgundian favouritism in Spain?
- William de Croy gained an important post in the government of Castile
- Adrian of Utrecht received the bishopric of Tortosa
- Most anger came from when the lord of Chievres nephew Jacques de croy (who was only 16) was given the main archbishopric in Castile, that of Toledo.
Why were some upset about Charles being elected as HRE?
Many feared it would draw even more attention away from Spain.
What did Charles have to do to become fully accepted as king?
He had to be acknowledged as king by all the Various Cortes.
Why did Charles’ attempts to be accepted by the Cortes of Castile begin badly (held in Valladolid in 1518)?
Charles had chosen a Burgundian councillor as to be president of the Cortes, Many towns expressed their resentment at the fact a foreigner was in their Cortes, and they requested Charles further respected the laws and privileges of Castile, administer justice, remove foreigners from his service, and learn to speak Castilian.
How did Charles gain the acceptance of the Cortes of Castile?
While the Cortes had little ability to force Charles to do anything, he agreed to respect the laws and traditions of Castile and in return he was granted a servicio of 600,000 Ducats without conditions.
What happened when Charles tried to gain acceptance from the Cortes of Aragon?
The Cortes had much more power in Aragon than Castile, and it took along time for the Cortes to reluctantly accept him in 1519
What happened when Charles tried to gain acceptance from the Cortes of Catalonia?
There were many objections to his Burgundian advisers, but they reluctantly accepted him, granting a servicio of 250,000
What happened when Charles tried to gain acceptance from the Cortes of Valencia?
Charles had been delayed so long in trying to gain the acceptance of Catalonia and Aragon that he had no time to visit Valencia, as Charles while in Barcelona received news he had been elected HRE.
What did Charles do right after he was elected HRE in order to help pay the expenses inferred in becoming HRE?
He called another Cortes in Santiago and later Corunna in 1520.
Why did Charles’s attempt to raise money at the Cortes of Santiago affirm Spanish fears about him as a ruler?
- The choice of meeting place was isolated and remote and only chosen because of its convivence of Charles’ route for leaving the country
- No Cortes had ever met in such a remote place before
- Santiago wasn’t even allowed to send a representative to the Cortes
- The previous serivicio had been granted less than three months before
- the representatives of many towns wanted to discuss issues before giving money, but Charles bribed officials so that there would be a majority approval to the grant
When did Charles break his promise of not appointing Foreigners?
Upon leaving Spain in May 1520, He appointed Adrian of Utrecht as regent in his absence.
What did the townspeople resent?
The appointment of non-native officials, such as Adrian of Untrecht
Over his reign how much time did Charles spend in Castile and Aragon?
6 years in Aragon, 11 in Castile
What were the main reasons for the revolt of the communeros?
The Junta of Tordesillas demanded that
- Charles lived in Castile
- Brings ‘No Flemings, Frenchmen nor natives of any other country’ to fill the positions in his household
- Follow the customs of his grandparents, Ferdinand and Isabella
- many were fearful that Spain would lose its identity as just another part of the empire
- Resentment towards Charles that he had asked for money twice in three years.
Where did most of the Communeros revolts take place?
In large urban settings.
How did the Rebellion start?
The Communeros revolt started when a noble in Toledo (Juan de Padilla) took command of the area and set up a government in the name of the king, queen and the comunidad (a league of Castilian towns that rebelled against Habsburg authority.
After Toledo revolted, what towns follwed suit?
Segovia, Salamanca, And Valladolid, the residence of the acting regent Adrian of Utrecht.
Who were the main supporters of the Communeros revolt?
Most supporters cam from the lower nobility and town dwellers, while more important nobles waited to see how things played out.
What event reduced the credibility and purpose of the revolt, it was the turning point of the revolt?
After taking Tordesillas, the Communeros attempted to gain the support of Queen Joanna, and while she seemed to support some of the Communeros when meeting with them, she did not want to commit to it on paper, as a result this left the Revolvers with nothing to claim their legality with, the y had no clear goal as they could now no longer attempt to restore a rightful monarch to spains throne.
Following/during the revolt of the Communeros, What concessions to Charles grant?
- The collection of the servicio granted by the Cortes of Santiago had been stopped
- No more foreigners were to be appointed in Castile
- And two Castilians (the two most important Grandees), joined Adrian as a regent.
What were the main factors that turned the revolt to the side of Charles?
Charles had made some concessions, so many became less willing to fight as he was listening
The character of the rebellion became more extreme and violent, causing many to withdraw support
Some demands were made for social reform, like reducing the power of the nobles and this caused many nobles to withdraw their support
What events marked the end of the Communeros revolts?
At the battle of Villalar in 1521, marked the official end to the revolt.
The two leaders, Juan de Padilla and Juan Bravo were both captured and executed
The Communeros lost control of most of northern Castile and only Toledo could hold on a little longer.
What were the impacts of the Communeros revolt?
- Many were arrested and punished in various ways, but Charles issued a general pardon
- The powers of Corregidores were increased
- Charles learned Castilian
- The unpopular William de Croy was replaced with Mercurino Gattinara, a respected counsellor of Charles mother
- Charles swore to not appoint anymore foreigners into his household
What was the Germania?
A Christian brotherhood of armed volunteers from poorer classes who had been set up to defend the Valencia coast from Muslim pirates.
What was a key difference in the character of the two revolts?
Communeros revolt = Mainly political in its aims (although turned social)
Germania revolt = Was a social revolt/uprising
Why were the Germania upset with the local Nobles?
They were upset at the local Muslims and the nobles had employed many of them, following the break out of plague, it was seen as a punishment for tolerating Muslims in their community. There was also anger towards the noble due to their privileges and the near starvation conditions many of the Germania lived in.
Why were the Germania upset with Charles?
The continuous delay of meeting the Cortes of Valencia made it seem to them like he hdid not want to remain in Spain
What class of People participated in the Germania revolt?
Support for the rebellion was found in mainly the middle and lower classes, but not among nobles and the wealthier clergy who were worried about social reform.
What started the Germania revolt?
Violence started when many Muslim peasants were murdered and forcibly baptised in the Christian faith in the Countryside around Valencia.
Why were the Germania able to capture Valencia relatively easily?
Many of the wealthy had moved out of the town following the outbursts of plague there, they also experienced Military success against the small number of soldiers the crown had sent to put down the revolt
How wide did the Germania revolt spread ?
It spread across most parts of the kingdom of Valencia, even taking control of the island of Majorca
Why was support for the Germania revolt lost?
The Revolt had a new leader take over, Vincent Peris, who incited violence and radicalism and demanded a wider distribution of land, this led to many members (particularly from the middle class) to withdraw their support and supporters of the Crown made gains.
Why was the revolt put down quickly once major support had been lost?
An army of troops Loyal to the crown and nobles defeated the ill disciplined army of the Germania by the end of 1521.
What were the consequences of the Germania revolt?
- Vincent Peris captured and executed
- Nobles strengthened their position
- Many rebels sentenced to death, suffered fines or had possessions confiscated
What were the Reasons for the defeat of the Germania revolt?
Nobility took firm action
Radicalisation of the revolt by Vincent Peris caused it to lose support
The Germania’s forces were un disciplined and ill prepared
What were the reasons for the defeat of the Communeros revolt?
Failure to gain support from Charles’s Mother Joanna
Radicalisation of the revolt caused it to lose support
Its turn to social reform caused it to lose support f the nobles
Charles made concessions
- Stopped collection of subsidy
- Two Castilians became co regent with Adrian of Utrecht
Nobility took firm action
What did the Germania revolt happen simultaneously to?
The Communeros revolt
What happened in August 1519 in the Germania revolt?
Armed mobs attacked the Inquisition in the city of Valenica for being too lenient.
What did the Germania revolt plan to do?
Remodel Valencia’s constitution; they sent a deputation in Charles to confirm their rights
To what extent was royal authority re-established after the Revolts?
Yes, corregidores returned to their positions, despite how hated they were
What was the failure of the Communeros revolt for towns?
A serious blow to their political autonomy
What was decreed in 1525 after the Germania revolt?
Muslims banned from practicing Islam in Spain
When did Charles return to Spain following his election as HRE?
1522
What did each separate part of Charles’ empire have?
Separate judicial, political and fiscal systems
What did Charles rule the empire as?
In keeping with his family, as head of a dynastic organisation
What did each individual kingdom expect Charles to do as a ruler?
Charles to remain there for a prolonged period of time, impossible, had to appoint family members as regents
What did Castilian nobles welcome?
The marriage of Charles and Isabella of Portugal in 1526
Describe the four new councils Charles made
- Council of War: 1522
- Council of finance: 1523
- Council of Indies: 1524
- Council of Italy: 1555
What became increasingly influential as Charles’ reign progressed?
His secretaries
Who were the most preeminent bureaucrats in Charles’s leadership?
Cobos and Granvelle
How can the Councils of Charles be divided in two?
Administrative councils and Advisory Councils
What were the Advisory councils of Charles?
Council of State 1526
Council of war 1522
What were the Administrative councils under Charles?
Royal council of Castile Council of Aragon Council of Indies Finance The supreme general inquisition
What were the two Regents of Charles’ Reign?
Isabella of Portugal 1529-1539
Phillip from 1543-1556
What did the Council of State do?
Purpose was to advise Charles on matters concerning the government of Spain, and to deal with the decisions made by the other councils, however it had little political influence and wasn’t very important as it s main purpose was to offer social distinction to members who attended.
Why were citizens more accepting of Charles as king when he returned in 1522?
- He looked and acted more like a self confident king
- Charles himself later admitted in a 1529 speech that there ‘was no surprise there was social disturbance’ with him spending so little time there (and without having an heir and unmarried)
What did the Advisory council of war do ?
It had mostly the same members as the council of state and its main purpose was to coordinate all the military matters concerning the crown.
What was the Royal council of Castile?
It was the most important council, It:
- Acted as a court off law, listening to the appeals of lower courts
- Advised the king on many matters, notably relations with Portugal
- Dealt with most of the internal affairs of Castile
How did Charles change the royal council of Castile?
He reduced the size of the council, making it so there were fewer nobles with ecclesiastical beliefs there and replacing them with Letrados.
What were the advantages and disadvantages of Charles having more Letrados?
They tended to be more reliable than the nobles, but showed less independence.
What was the Council of Aragon?
It dealt with the administration of Justice by acting as the highest court of law, but it was more limited than the royal council of Castile in the fact it on had some administrative functions
It helped Charles informed of the internal issues of Aragon.
What did the Council of Indies do?
Set up in 1524, It was given extensive control over all of Castile’s American possessions and what to do with them.
What was the Council of Finance?
Created in 1522, it originally was supposed to manage castile’s finances but it Gradually gained control over all of Spain’s finance (Important in the uniting of Spain)
What was the Council of the supreme and general inquisition?
The council of supreme and general inquisition helped link all the kingdoms of Spain together, dealing with matters of Heresy across all of Spain.
In what ways was Charles’s Conciliar system effective?
The System of councils became more efficient under Charles following the decision to bring in less nobles and more Letrados who were professional administrators.
What did Charles do with the Conciliar system that increased his support?
He only appointed Spaniards like he had promised, allowing People to be more sympathetic with him during the time he was away.
In what ways was the Conciliar system not effective?
They only advised Charles, they were not responsible for the implementation of decisions
Charles also seemed to make no major attempt to unite the kingdoms into a coordinated unit - as far as he was concerned he was the King of Aragon and the King of Castile
