Government

Question 1

Personal Presence

Answer 1

New Method:
-I visited every town in Castile at least once

• F appointed Viceroys to govern Aragon while he was away
• Advisors travelled with them and could deal with disputes in area e.g. Revolts or Lawsuits.

Question 2

Hermandades:

Religious Brotherhoods working as peace keeping forces

Answer 2

1476:
One set up in every area with 50+ inhabitants.
Remained until 1498; Provided soldiers and money to finance fighting.
-Acted as a police, tried cases e.g. Robbery, Murder, Arson.
-Punishments severe e.g. Mutilation or Death

Question 3

Corregidores:

Crown Governors appointed to Castilian towns

Answer 3

One in every major town, made royal presence felt.

• Collected Taxes, ensured Royal Jurisdiction wasn’t interfered with by Church or Nobility.
• Reported to Crown on local affairs.
• Resented by locals.

Question 4

Nobility

Answer 4

Previously caused disturbance in civil wars, where many took part.
-Troublesome nobles arrested: Castles burnt, much of property taken from them.

Crown tried to recover lost lands e.g. 1480 Cortes Of Toledo: almost all of the lands lost since 1464 returned to Crown.

Nobility forbidden to make private war or build new castles.
They were allowed to keep Alcabala- private sales tax.

Crown tried to work with nobility:

• Encouraged to spend time at Court
• Opportunities given to fight in foreign wars
• Promoted Mayorazgo (idea of giving one child the entire inheritance).
• Orders of Chivalry given out: Knights bound by religious vows, members owned large estates, F became Master of the Vows- Increased Royal Income.

Question 5

Administration

Answer 5

Royal Councils created, 5 chambers that dealt with separately with:

• Foreign Policy
• Justice
• Hermandades
• Finance
• Nobility & Letrados (Lawyers)

1483, Council of Supreme Inquisition formed.
1489, Council of Orders (dealt with Militia)

Question 6

Law and Order

Answer 6

1489: Ordinances issued establishing permanent court at Valladolid.
More Permanent courts established in: Granada, Santiago De Compostela, Seville.

-Appeals from courts went to Council of Castile, highest appeal court.

Aragon: had own appeal court, independent from king and protected Aragonese rights.

Question 7

Cortes

Answer 7

Castile and Aragon had own separate Cortes. They were usually called to grant money or confirm Royal Legislation.

Castile:
Met 16 times throughout reign. Didn’t meet between 1482-1498 because I was given money from Hermandades so didn’t need to call a Cortes.

Aragon:
3 separate Cortes for 3 individual kingdoms in Aragon. People’s grievances were discussed before granting money - gave Cortes power e.g. Dislike of Hermandad led to their suspension in 1488.