Key Events: Columbus, Carlos V, Plague, and Spanish Institutions
Key Historical Events and Institutions in Spain
Columbus was recognized with the title of Admiral, Viceroy, and Governor General, and granted a tenth of the wealth obtained from the lands he discovered. He departed from the Port of Palos on August 3rd and by December, he had discovered the Antilles, Cuba, and Hispaniola. By 1504, he had already made three more voyages. The discovery heightened the rivalry between Spain and Portugal, leading to papal intervention and the subsequent signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas.
Carlos V’s Conflicts
Carlos I of Spain reigned between 1516 and 1556, inheriting vast territories from his grandparents. His empire faced internal conflicts in both Castile and Aragon. In 1520, major Castilian cities rebelled, replacing local power structures. They demanded the king’s return to Spain, the exclusion of foreigners from high office, greater power for the courts, and control over wool exports. The revolt, initially supported by artisans, traders, and the lower clergy, radicalized as it drew in farmers, becoming an anti-seigneurial uprising. Consequently, the nobility joined the king, defeating the villagers and executing their leaders. Simultaneously, in Valencia, and later in Murcia and Mallorca, the Revolt of the Germanies occurred, with artisan militias rising up against pirate attacks. They demanded a reduction in the privileges of the nobility, leading to a class conflict between the bourgeoisie and the nobility, which resulted, as in Castile, in an alliance between the nobility and the king.
The Black Death
The Black Death was an ancient plague that recurred periodically, causing devastating pandemics that decimated populations. One such epidemic, the bubonic plague, spread across Europe between 1346 and 1353, becoming known as the most virulent plague. It reached its peak in 1348, killing approximately one-third of the affected population. Its effects were particularly severe due to malnourished populations resulting from the economic crises of the 14th and 15th centuries.
Key Spanish Institutions
Mayorazgo
Mayorazgo was a feudal institution that reserved the majority of family assets for the eldest son (primogenito) to maintain the family’s power. Younger sons were often destined for privileged military or administrative roles.
Alexandrine Bulls
The Alexandrine Bulls were a series of papal bulls issued by Pope Alexander VI in 1493, granting the Catholic Monarchs possession of existing territories one hundred leagues west of the Azores and Cape Verde, while respecting prior occupancy rights. In return, the Catholic Monarchs were obligated to evangelize the people. Tithes were also granted on that territory, and a few years later, Pope Julius II extended royal patronage for the appointment of bishops to these territories.
Capitulaciones de Santa Fe
The Capitulaciones de Santa Fe were agreements signed by Columbus and Queen Isabella on April 17, 1492, for the conquest of the Indies. Columbus was granted the offices of Admiral, Viceroy, and Governor of the discovered lands, as well as 10% of the benefits obtained. Subsequently, these privileges were increased and became hereditary titles.
Refeudalization
Refeudalization was a process that occurred in the 14th and 15th centuries, during which feudal lords recovered old and forgotten tax privileges and received new and updated royal favors and mechanisms for feudal income. This occurred amidst the economic and social crisis that characterized this period, punctuated by constant social conflicts. The lords were victorious in this conflict, and the peasantry was the loser.
Pactism
Pactism refers to the agreement where Peter the Great of Aragon conceded and fixed in writing in 1283, for his three peninsular kingdoms, the right not to take general measures and pass laws without consulting each of the three courts of these kingdoms. The king’s concession was imposed by the need to obtain assistance from his subjects for the war in Sicily. In practice, this meant a submission of the monarchy to the courts, as well as recognizing the relative autonomy of each of the kingdoms.