Nobility (social) Flashcards
Why did I+F need to limit noble power?
-wealth and influence of 300 grandees meant they could not be ignored
-by 1470’s, 15 families dominated the castillian autocracy, owning more than 50% of the land in castile eg. duke of infantado controlled 90,000 vassals
-needed to ensure aristocracy did not accumulate too much political power
How did I+F limit noble power?
-strengthened their hold on nobles through the hermandades
-troublesome nobles arrested, their castles burned and property taken
-fortified castles destroyed and forbidden to build new castles
-frontier governors targeted and removed
-private wars declared illegal
-only few leading nobles were allowed to contribute to the formulation of policy
-royal lands lost since 1464 returned to crown
How did I+F maintain good relations with the nobility?
-secured alliances with key nobles
-encouraged the intermarriage of Catalan and castillian noble families to engineer greater political and social unity across the peninsula
-encouraged nobles to spend time at court
-opportunites to serve in foreign wars
-promoted mayorazgo which forbade division/sales of land which meant land could be passed through generations- helped them remain economically viable
-cartegena and Cadiz taken under control, owners granted other towns as compensation
-would grant rewards for supporting the crown
What were the reasons for opposition to Charles/causes of the Communeros Revolt 1520?
-Charles summoned Cortes in Santiago 1520 to ask for funding, Toledo and Salamanca refused to send representatives as the place of meeting was chosen for the convenience of Charles
-Corregidor expelled from Toledo and and Adrian of Utrecht unable to restore royal authority in Segovia
-previous subsidy had been granted less than 3 years before
-Charles broke promise to not appoint foreigners into gov. positions
-fears that country would lose its separate identity as part of the empire
-tows called for closer regulation of royal officials and the exclusion of foreigners from government
-requested reduction of alcabala to its 1499 levels insisting that town officials rather than tax farmers should collect to
Describe the events of the Communeros revolt 1520
-rebellion started in Toledo
-many of the participants in the revolt were from the middle ranks of society and lower nobility-they felt that Charles was neglecting them as he wasn’t treating them as well as I+F
-revolt gained momentum as Utrecht ordered to punish Segovia and accidentally led to a destructive fire in Medina del Campo where Adrien tried to seize the towns arsenal of weapons
-gov. disaster accelerated the process of towns uniting under one central organisation, Santa Junta De Comunidad. By Aug 1520, 13 towns became official members
-At peak of the revolt, rebels were no longer soliciting reforms but attempting to impose more rigorous restrictions on the king
-Bishop of Zamora joined the rebellion and seized Valladolid
-this also triggered peasant unrest as it move from urban to rural areas
-royal army formed
-Nov 1520, Burgos withdrew from the Junta and in December Charles’ supporters seized and sacked Tordesillas
-1521 Communeros defeated at the battle of Villalar, Juan de Padilla was executed which marked the end of the revolt
-Toledo held out for another 10 months but Surrendered in Oct 1521 and Bishop of Zamora was executed
What were the consequences of the Communeros revolt 1520
-unpopular Chievres was replaced by Gattinara
-Charles returned to spain 1922 with his advisors, Gattinara and los Cobos. They undertook a royal progress accompanied by 4000 soldiers and tried and executed 22 agitators- this was a defining moment for the crown as royal authority was reestablished and the corregidores returned to their positions with increased powers
-Charles was willing to show leninenncy and issued a general pardon
-social status and privileges of leading nobles remained secure but their political influence did not increase significantly
What were the causes of the Germania revolt 1519
-resentment against the privalleges of the nobles and nobles protecting moors
-Charles frequently postponed the meeting of the cortes of Valencia and did not seem interested in staying in spain
-many members of Germania lived in near starvation conditions
-grieviances with muslim pirates and nobles employing them
-an outbreak of plague had emptied the town of its nobles and governor
describe the events of the Germania revolt 1519
-armed mobs attacked inquisition in Valencia for being too lenient
-there was violence against muslim peasants, they were murdered or forcibly baptised
-supporters of Germania took over Valencia and other parts of the kingdom
-Support was lost when new leader, Peris, took over and incited to more violence and radicalism and demanded a wider distribution of land
-members of middle classes withdrew their support, supporters of crown made gains
-Valencai recaptured, troops loyal to nobles defeated army of Germania by 1521
what were the consequences of the Germania revolt 1519
-Peris captured and executed
-resistance continued with less support and remaining areas surrendered in 1524
-rebels were sentenced to death, fined and property confiscation
-this strengthened nobility
-1525 edict decreed that no muslim was allowed to practice the islamic faith in spain
What were the causes of the Morisco revolt?
-the position of Moriscos themselves
-government actions towards the moriscos
-the political situation in North Africa
Describe the position of Moriscos themselves
-hardly likely to be sincere believers: Philip continued policy of attempting to make Moriscos genuine converts through teaching and examples of missionaries
-some clergy put great effort, some didnt, as long as Moriscos attended mass and displayed the outwards signs of the christian religion, little more was expected of them
-many practised their old faith, some still spoke arabic, circumsicion was common, Moriscos maintained in their own community, followed their traditional way of life with its diet and dress
-regular visits made to public baths, reluctance by Moriscos to abandon their native culture
-In granada, Moriscos paid subsidies to avoid persecution, Mondejar family offered long time protection
Describe government action towards the Moriscos
-Moriscos experienced economic hardship as gov made silk trade main income for many
-heavy taxes imposed
-1560, a programme began to investigate the Moriscos landholding rights and if there was no proof, they lost land or had to pay a fine
-concern to many in spain was security threat posed by the Moriscos
Describe the political situation in North Africa
-Moriscos were described as possible enemies within as they were prepared to help turks in advances across the west mediteraean or support muslim corsairs from North Africa
-Advance of Turns in west mediteranean and 1565 Siege of Malta increased fears as there was evidence of contact between Moriscos and turks in North Africa and the Barbary corsairs
-major raid took place on orgiba in Granada, 1565 Corsairs attacked spanish troops and several hundreds Moriscos left Spain
-fears that Moriscos might join with protestants in south France in the event of any attack on spain
