Castilian Community Revolt, Conflicts, and Catalan Royal Institutions
Problems of Interest: The Castilian Community Revolt
The revolution of the Castilian community involved protest politics, the economy, and a lack of respect for the laws of Spain. Riots in the fields were defeated by royal troops, and their leaders were executed. The Crown of Aragon faced revolts of peasants and artisans who sought municipal office.
External Conflicts
King Francis I waged war against Castile, which won the Battle of Pavia. There was also war against the Turks, who threatened territories under Charles I, and religious war against the German princes. The Peace of Augsburg, under Charles I, accepted equality between Catholics and Protestants.
Government Under Philip II
Philip II’s government was characterized by centralization, bureaucracy, a system of boards, and the figure of the magistrate.
Orthodox Catholic Defense
Defense of Orthodox Catholicism involved combating Protestantism, prohibiting the import of books and studying abroad, boosting the Inquisition, and persecuting the Moors from Granada, leading to the Alpujarras uprising (1567).
Philip II’s Foreign Policy
Philip II’s foreign policy included war against France in the Battle of Saint-Quentin, war against the Turks (Battle of Lepanto), war against England (the Spanish Armada), and the Flanders rebellion against proposed tax increases and religious conflict. The annexation of Portugal occurred in 1581 through marriage.
Government Under Philip III
Philip III left government in the hands of private validos, such as the Duke of Lerma, who oversaw the expulsion of the Moors (1609).
Political and Religious Shifts
The Peace of Westphalia marked the end of an era and the recomposition of the European political map. In the 17th century, nation-states consolidated, and absolute monarchs gained religious freedom.
Characteristics of Absolute Monarchy
Power came directly from God, and the king had absolute power. He decreed laws, held maximum governmental authority, was responsible for justice, and directed domestic and foreign policy. To govern, the king had ministers, officials, and secretaries.
Catalonia’s Royal Institutions
Council of Aragon
Created in 1494 by Ferdinand the Catholic, the council was appointed by the king and had an advisory role.
Viceroy
The king’s representative in Catalonia led the royal administration. This office typically required Castilians. The Captain General also exerted authority, especially in military matters.
Corts (Parliament)
The Catalan Parliament was formed by representatives of each estate (nobility, clergy, bourgeoisie of the cities). They convened and decided on raising taxes and approving new laws.
Diputación General (Generalitat)
Originating in 1289, its purpose was to collect taxes and advance loans for the king’s defense. It also served as the government of Catalonia. From the fifteenth century, it was responsible for ensuring Spanish laws were followed and Catalan rights were respected.
Advisers
Cities were governed by counselors representing the estates (nobles, clergy, and burghers), who were selected through a system of insaculacio (drawing lots).
Causes of Conflict: The Catalan Revolt of 1640
The Catalan revolt of 1640 had a dual social and political component. It was a peasant revolt against the nobility and a revolt of wealthy Catalan classes against attempts by the Count-Duke of Olivares to spread the Union of Arms across all the kingdoms of the Spanish Monarchy. The situation worsened in 1635 with France’s involvement.
Reapers’ Revolt
The Reapers’ Revolt occurred on June 7, marked by the Corpus de Sang (Corpus of Blood) events. It was a protest by the poorest groups in society against both the gentlemen and tax collectors.
Confrontation with the Monarchy
The President of the Generalitat established contacts with France and proposed the integration of Catalonia into the French crown. The war between France and the Spanish Monarchy lasted until 1659, when the Peace of the Pyrenees was signed.