How Ferdinand and Isabella extended royal authority

Question 1

Although personal presence allowed them to have more authority than previous ruler Henry IV, what would have helped?

Answer 1

A static capital to show more established authority

Question 2

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?

Answer 2

• quelled concerns of the people

- established power of individual leaders

Question 3

As they didn’t have a central court to dispense justice from, what did every Castilian town receive?

Answer 3

One or more royal visits

Question 4

What did keeping close contact with the provinces do?

Answer 4

• demonstrated authority

- ensured Castilians didn’t feel neglected

Question 5

In 1480, when the royal council of Castile was reorganised, what did this include the royal council doing?

Answer 5

• directing central and local administration
• overseeing specialised departments of state
• advising on royal affairs

Question 6

Although the frequent sittings of the council gave the impression that the administration was centralised, who did they still have to answer to?

Answer 6

The monarch

Question 7

Due to the fact that the monarch used the royal council to control and oversee matters, what happened?

Answer 7

Overlap of power leading to a not necessarily smooth running

Question 8

Due to the fact that each department of state acquired a separate identity and administration, what could happen?

Answer 8

Close monitoring and administration of specific areas

Question 9

Regarding the Castilian Cortes, what valuable services did it provide the monarchs with?

Answer 9

• to vote money to the Crown
• confirm royal legislation
• offer advice
• express grievances

Question 10

Regarding the Castilian Cortes, why wasn’t it a regular part of government?

Answer 10

• meetings were intermittent and brief

- only met in crises when the peoples’ support was needed

Question 11

Regarding the Aragonese Cortes, how did they differ from the Castilian Cortes?

Answer 11

They behaved more independently and met more regularly

Question 12

Regarding the Aragonese Cortes, how did the Crown’s power over them differ?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

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?

Answer 13

With frustration and anger

Question 14

How did Ferdinand try to strengthen control of the town administration?

Answer 14

He suggested municipal officers be selected by lot to make it more democratic

Question 15

Although Ferdinand attempted to strengthen his control of town administration, how didn’t it work very effectively?

Answer 15

• his suggestion of election by lot was the extent of government intervention
• all kingdoms rejected corregidores in their towns

Question 16

In Castile, what was Isabella’s attitude to town administration?

Answer 16

She regularly consulted her townspeople and intervened when needed

Question 17

How did Isabella influence local government?

Answer 17

By appointing regidores and jurados to sit on town councils

Question 18

Why did Isabella continue the practice of corregidores in Castilian town administration?

Answer 18

To supervise the towns’ political, social and economic lives

Question 19

Why were the corregidores in Castile not well received?

Answer 19

In some regional towns they assumed responsibility for governing the provinces and, in some, they worked with resident governors

Question 20

Despite the fact that the correigdores weren’t well received in Castile, what kind of impact had they had and why was this?

Answer 20

Only had a limited impact, couldn’t interfere with the Hermandad, Inquisition, military orders or the Church