Isabella and Ferdinand 1469 - 1516 Flashcards
What was the geography of Castile like in 1469?
other than the costal plains, much of castile and Aragon is hot and arid where it is difficult to grow food. this problem was exacerbated in the Meseta - a large plateau surrounded by mountains in central castile that has long hard winters followed by periods do extreme heat. The East and South coasts are also very hot, experiencing very little rain.
What was the geography of Aragon like?
Much of Aragon is bordered by the Pyrenees to the north, meaning that there is much less extreme heat, allowing more crops to be grown. Because of poor soil conditions, costal areas have become the most populated with its population relying on trade, particularly with Spain being a two ocean power.
Size comparison of Aragon and castile:
Castile was 4x the size of Aragon.
Briefly summarise the Cortes in Castile.
The Cortes was much weaker in Castile, the crown had the right to make laws as they pleased without the consent of the Cortes.
In what ways was Castile united?
One central government, one language, one coinage and one Cortes (Parliament)
How many kingdoms made up Aragon and what were their names?
Catalonia
Valencia
Aragon
(All 3 had their own separate Cortes)
How did monarchs have less power in Aragon than in Castile?
All laws in each Cortes of Aragon had to be approved by each individual Cortes.
Monarchs power for delivering justice, rising taxes and raising armies were all limited by the fueros (the laws and privileges in each kingdoms)
Who was responsible for defending the Fueros?
The Justicia, they were a law officer with wide powers that could not be removed by the king.
How was Aragon and castile different in their Cortes?
- Castile has one central gov, Aragon 3
- Castile one Cortes, Aragon 3
- Cortes has much more power over monarchs than in Castile.
What was the main trade in Castile?
Mainly raw materials (mainly wool)
Who controlled the wool trade?
The Mesta - the group of sheep farmers who controlled all of Castile’s wool.
Where did Castile send its wool to?
Northern Europe, places like Flanders in the Netherlands where Castilian merchants were prevalent. Its ports also cooperated with each other.
How united was Aragon economically?
Not very, towns competed against each other for trade, and ports were not working together
Why was Aragon struggling Economically?
Because of the Catalonian civil war from 1462-1472, there was economic damage that was still recovering
Aragon’s main port of Barcelona was hit by an economic crisis in 1350 after an outbreak of plague, leading to bankruptcies and unemployment - this was crucial as Spain imported most of its food.
What was the religious situation in the Iberian peninsula?
Christianity was the main religion, with groups of Jews often living in towns while settlements of Moors (Muslims) lived in the countryside. They wanted to co exist and often did.
What lifestyle did Jews normally live?
They often lived and worked in towns, with many operating as financers to the royals as well as being important in trade and medicine.
What did Moors usually do? They usually lived in the countryside working on the land of nobles.
IN what ways were there not peaceful religious co existence in 1469?
because of the Christian reconquest of Spain, it meant that there was often a general hostility towards minorities, particularly during times of epidemics and economic downturn.
Many Jews also suffered from pogroms (organised massacres) where they were also forcibly converted to Christianity.
What were the issues with Catholicism in 1469?
the Pope had complete power of the church from Rome
There were many complaints about levels of abuse
There was a poor standard of education and Clergy
What event marked the end of the war of succession?
The treaty of Alcacovos signed on the 4th of september 1479
How did Isabella win the war of Succession?
obtaining the support of towns and cities
Securing support from the nobles
Support from Ferdinand in political and military affairs.
How did Isabella gain support of the Grandees?
She offered them Amnesty after initially supporting Juana
Offered new grants of land
Reaffirmation of their right to collect financial grants awarded by the crown
How did Isabella win over the towns and cities?
She secured the backings of crucial towns like Toledo by affirming their privileges’
She also occasionally cities by force like when she took control of Cordoba
What happened in 1476 that damaged Juana’s claim to the throne?
Alfonso V of Portugal is defeated at the battle of Toro, admitting he lost and decides to no longer support Juana
What happens to Juana after the war of succession?
Travels to a convent in Portugal, where she remains for the rest of her life ‘unmarried and a nun’
When was the treaty of Alcacovos signed?
4th September 1479
What happens in Aragon 1479 that cements Ferdinand as ruler?
Ferdinand’s father John II dies and Ferdinand is proclaimed king
What were Ferdinand’s main qualities?
Skillful at solving political matters
Skillful military strategist
Displayed personal bravery in war
Less extreme than Isabella regarding religion
What were Isabella’s main qualities?
Extremely Pious (religious)
Determined and energetic
Inspired loyalty and respect
What positions did Ferdinand and Isabella hold when ruling Spain?
Ferdinand was King of Aragon and Isabella was the queen of Castile.
Ferdinand had very little power in Castile, and Isabella had little say in the matters of Aragon, nonetheless both heads appeared on seals and coins and both kingdoms appeared on royal decrees
In what ways were the kingdoms of Aragon and Castile governed separately?
Each had their own government
Separate languages
Own laws and customs
Economies were fully separate and it was different to trade between the two.
In what main aspects of life did Ferdinand and Isabella have to reclaim royal authority?
Justice
Peace and order
central administration
Nobility
Briefly outline how Justice was restored in Castile
- From 1489, ordinances were issued establishing the Audencia (the highest court in Castile) sat in Valladolid to deal with civil and criminal cases. Made up with a president and 8 judges appointed annually. Later more appeal courts were set up in Granada, Santiago and Seville.
- In some Castilian towns, they were allowed to appoint corregidores (town councilors who collected taxes and reported back to royals on the state of affairs)
How was justice restored/carried out in Aragon?
- Aragon had its own Audencia to to try cases.
- Aragon had a justiciar who was independent of the crown who was the protector of Aragonese Fueros and Liberties as well as ensuring Justice.
What methods were used in Both Castile and Aragon to promote Justice?
- The Santa Hermandad was established in 1476. It was a centrally organised group that intended to provide security and justice for local communities. It also increased royal control as it reported back to the monarchs through the conciliar system, quickly becoming the most significant institution in each locality.
How did the Santa Hermandad work?
Every settlement with over fifty inhabitants had to form a local brotherhood. The Hermandad was expected to send representatives to a central assembly that helped direct policy . They were very powerful, with the power to execute those who committed crimes - they were also used to raise finance and create militias. It was eventually became an integral part of the royal army, become a permanent civilian militia. They were meant to be a temporary measure, but remained in place until 1498.
When was the Santa Hermandad first established?
The hermandades initially began to form in Andalusia in 1265, in towns seeking to “defend their interests” from Islamic rebels. Ferdinand and Isabella then reintroduced them shortly after securing the throne in 1476 , to organise justice and cement royal power. Instead of Eliminating violence they organised their nation.
What were some drawbacks of the Santa hermandades?
- Their punishments were particularly harsh even for the time, involving mutilation and death
- their financial commitments to the crown were a heavy burden and as a result they could only deal with small disorders
- it was also hard to introduce them to each part of the country.
How did Castile promote peace and order?
- Ferdinand and Isabella used personal presence to promote their leadership and help maintain order.
- the Hermandes often contributed money and solders to the crown - particularly in the Granada war, they also mainly acted as a police force.
- F+I sent out Corregidor’s to every important Castilian town, who reported to the crown on the state of affairs and collected taxes. Their salaries were played by townsfolk and as a result they were hated. They were also checked on frequently by other royal officials.
What was personal presence?
When Ferdinand and Isabella were constantly on the move around Castile, visiting every part of castile at least once over thirty years, staying at the houses of nobles. Officials and advisors followed them around - allowing them to deal with any problems first hand, they arbitrated in disputes heard lawsuits an personally dealt with any revolts.
How did Aragon promote peace and order?
Because Ferdinand spent most of his time in Castile, Viceroys that were usually close family governed Aragon in his stead. There was no fixed court in Aragon.
How did the monarchs maintain peace and order through the nobility?
The nobles were very powerful through the civil war and needed to be reduced in power or favourable to the monarchy. They used a variety of carrot and stick methods to appease them.
- Troublesome nobles had their property burnt and destroyed or seized
- The crown wanted their lands back that the nobles had taken in the war of succession, at the Cortes of Toledo in 1480, the crown reclaimed all land lost since 1464 and they were all returned. But Nobles kept all land gained before then
- Once Granada was reconquered and important cities were put under royal control, the nobles who had owned them were compensated
- Nobles had been given the right to collect the 10% sales tax of the Alcbala.
What methods did F+I use to win over nobles?
Encouraged the titled nobility to spend their time at court
gave opportunities to nobles for servitude in foreign wars
- New titles were created and granted
- compensation was given for lands reclaimed in Granada
- Nobles were encouraged to use the mayoragzo Which meant that property could be descended between generations without being divided.
What were the Military orders and how did the royals control them?
They were religious chivalric orders that had great wealth and power. They consisted of the order of Santiago (the biggest of the orders) Calatrava and Alacantra. Over time each of the Grandmasters of the orders died and each of them were ‘persuaded’ to accept Ferdinand as their new grand master. In 1523 a Papal bull incorporated them into the crown.
How was the central administration managed?
Through the conciliar system, which began reformation at the Cortes of Toledo in 1480.
What was the conciliar system?
It was a series of linked institutions that all answered and reported to the crown - it was not a new system, rather reformed at the start of the Catholic monarchs reign.
What made up the conciliar system? `
The royal council of Castile was wthe most important and was divided into 5 different parts:
- Foreign policy
- Justice
- Hermandades
- Finance
- Nobles and Letrados
The system was later expanded upon, meaning that every member had to be a Letrados
Other councils like the council of Aragon was later introduced. The royal council met every day.
What three other councils were introduced to the council of Castile?
- 1483 Supreme inquisition (Judicial institution used to brutally fight heresy)
- 1483 Council of orders
- Council of Indies 1524
How did the Cortes of Castile work?
17 towns each sent 2 representatives, Nobility and Clergy did not usually attend, as taxation did not affect them.
How often did the Cortes of Castile meet and what does this suggest?
They did not meet at all between 1482 - 1498 and only met 12 times after 1498, suggesting that they mostly ruled without the use or help of the Cortes.
How did the Cortes of Aragon work?
Grievances were discussed before money was granted, this meant that they had considerable power and were key in the suppression of the hermandades from Aragon in 1495.
What were F+I’s key religious policies?
- The Reconquista (moors and how they were treated after)
- The inquisition and expulsion of the Jews (Conversos and Jews, how they were dealt with)
- The reform of the catholic church.
How many Jews were in Spain pre-expulsion?
Between 80,000 and 200,000 (but maybe up to 800,000) - nevertheless they were the smallest religious group in castile and Aragon.
Why were Jews hated in Spain?
They had the biggest Jewish population in all of Europe
there had been anti Jewish riots in 1391
They were used as a scape goat in the mid 14th century depression
They were natural geographically segregated from the rest of Spain and had survived a recent outbreak of plague better than other communities, creating anger
Many Jews were in successful and highly respected jobs.
What was evidence for the unfair treatment of Jews in Spain?
They lived in Ghettos in Castile and were forced to wear a yellow star so they could be easily identified
There were increased checks on Jews (particularly those in prominent positions)
Flimsy evidence would be used to convict Jews of Heresy
Jews were always taxed more heavily
They were banned from government, the army, forming trade guilds, or joining universities.
Where were moors often located?
Moors often worked as agricultural labourers in the countryside, the were more prominent further south, in parts of Andalusia and Grenada.
Where were Jewish populations highest?
Jews often lived in towns working as high ranking officials or financers, this made the royal control over them even more important.
What was the Convivencia?
The idea of a peaceful coexistence between the moors, Jews and Christians.
Why was the power of the Catholic church an issue for Ferdinand and Isabella?
Church income was over six million Ducats
The church was exempt from crown tax
The church had their own fortresses
They had their own private armies
Archbishop of Toledo was the 2nd most powerful man in Spain with a personal income of 80,000 ducats a year.
What council was held that greatly increased royal control of the church and what was agreed there?
The Ecclesiastical council of Seville in 1478 confirmed that all bishops and archbishops would be appointed by the royals the royal appointment of bishops was very successful and helped reduce anti - clericalism.
What were the main aims of F+I in regards to reforming the catholic church?
Wanted to increase royal control over the church
Wanted to increase the quality of pastoral supervision (wanted to improve the episcopacy - the bishops of a region or church collectively)
Wanted to make sure the church wouldn’t present a threat to royal authority
Wanted to reduce the churches military power.
How did F+I try improve the episcopacy and the quality of pastoral supervision?
At the council of trent, Made it so all bishops had to live in their diocese (a district under pastoral care) So they could effectively look after their diocese and oversee clerical reform personally
They also avoided appointing foreign bishops, which meant that existing bishops became strong advocated of reform.
In what ways were attempts to improve pastoral control over the church undermined?
There were a few exceptions to these rules, notably the fact that Ferdinand’s illegitimate son did not live in his diocese, despite being a bishop.
How didthe crown make sure the church wouldn’t be a threat to royal authority?
Theu wanted to make it so the churches power could not undermine the monarchy, so:
- in 1502 it was made that all church courts were expected to employ temporal punishments for temporal crimes and not spiritual ones
- F + I gained control of the chuches taxes through trhe use of a Cruzaada tax that continued even after the Grenada war.
What did The monarchs do to reduce the churches military power?
After the war of succession Isabella ordered the archbishop of Toledo to hand over all of the churches fortresses to the crown.
The monarchs were also granted a papal bull which allowed them to a monopoly over all missionary activity in the new world.
What were the failures in controlling the church?
In regards to improving pastoral supervision, they were a few exceptions to the rule of bishops living in their diocese like Ferdinand’s illegitimate son who was able to not live in his diocese
The churches were also still able to have their own armies which undermined royal control over them
Existing bishops were not appointed by F and I.
What was the Spanish inquisition?
An organisation established by F and I to eradicate heresy in Spain that mainly targeted converseos.
