How Ferdinand and Isabella extended royal authority Flashcards
Although personal presence allowed them to have more authority than previous ruler Henry IV, what would have helped?
A static capital to show more established authority
How did not allowing a female to be able to rule in Aragon and not allowing an Aragonese to rule in Castile help royal authority?
- quelled concerns of the people
- established power of individual leaders
As they didn’t have a central court to dispense justice from, what did every Castilian town receive?
One or more royal visits
What did keeping close contact with the provinces do?
- demonstrated authority
- ensured Castilians didn’t feel neglected
In 1480, when the royal council of Castile was reorganised, what did this include the royal council doing?
- directing central and local administration
- overseeing specialised departments of state
- advising on royal affairs
Although the frequent sittings of the council gave the impression that the administration was centralised, who did they still have to answer to?
The monarch
Due to the fact that the monarch used the royal council to control and oversee matters, what happened?
Overlap of power leading to a not necessarily smooth running
Due to the fact that each department of state acquired a separate identity and administration, what could happen?
Close monitoring and administration of specific areas
Regarding the Castilian Cortes, what valuable services did it provide the monarchs with?
- to vote money to the Crown
- confirm royal legislation
- offer advice
- express grievances
Regarding the Castilian Cortes, why wasn’t it a regular part of government?
- meetings were intermittent and brief
- only met in crises when the peoples’ support was needed
Regarding the Aragonese Cortes, how did they differ from the Castilian Cortes?
They behaved more independently and met more regularly
Regarding the Aragonese Cortes, how did the Crown’s power over them differ?
Had less control. When Ferdinand tried to increase influence they had the power to express their belief that grievances should be discussed before money given
Due to the fact that the Castilian Cortes wasn’t always necessary and the Crown didn’t have complete power over the Aragonese Cortes, how did Isabella and Ferdinand regard them?
With frustration and anger
How did Ferdinand try to strengthen control of the town administration?
He suggested municipal officers be selected by lot to make it more democratic
Although Ferdinand attempted to strengthen his control of town administration, how didn’t it work very effectively?
- his suggestion of election by lot was the extent of government intervention
- all kingdoms rejected corregidores in their towns
In Castile, what was Isabella’s attitude to town administration?
She regularly consulted her townspeople and intervened when needed
How did Isabella influence local government?
By appointing regidores and jurados to sit on town councils
Why did Isabella continue the practice of corregidores in Castilian town administration?
To supervise the towns’ political, social and economic lives
Why were the corregidores in Castile not well received?
In some regional towns they assumed responsibility for governing the provinces and, in some, they worked with resident governors
Despite the fact that the correigdores weren’t well received in Castile, what kind of impact had they had and why was this?
Only had a limited impact, couldn’t interfere with the Hermandad, Inquisition, military orders or the Church
