Medieval Iberian Cortes: Structure, Power, and Evolution
Sharing of Legislative Power
The sharing of legislative power between monarchs and the Cortes (assemblies) varied across the Iberian Peninsula. While some scholars argue that the Cortes merely legitimized royal decisions, others contend they actively limited royal power. A middle interpretation suggests the Cortes served as a platform for consensus-building, moderating royal absolutism to varying degrees depending on the specific context and period.
The Cortes and the Kingdom
The Cortes represented the kingdom. In the Crown of Aragon, each territory (Catalonia, Valencia, Aragon, Sicily, and Sardinia) maintained its own assembly. In Castile, the policy oscillated between joint and separate Leonese and Castilian Cortes until the mid-14th century. Afterward, while joint Cortes became the norm, Basque domains retained their own assemblies, and Navarre maintained its Cortes even after joining Castile.
Responsibilities of the Cortes
Beyond general functions like advising the monarch on justice and peace, the Cortes’ primary responsibilities centered on three key areas:
- Granting extraordinary financial aid to the monarch
- Addressing grievances
- Participating in lawmaking
The process of granting financial aid differed between Castile and Aragon. In Castile, it was customary to grant aid before addressing grievances, while in Aragon, the reverse was true, making subsidies conditional on addressing complaints. This difference significantly impacted the political dynamics of the two assemblies.
Legislative Activity
The Cortes played a role in legislative activity, but their influence varied between Castile and Aragon. The degree of Castilian Cortes’ participation in legislation is debated, with interpretations ranging from mutual agreement between king and Cortes to a more limited role for the assembly. In Aragon, the legislative powers of the Cortes were more explicitly recognized, as exemplified by the General Privilege of 1283.
Composition, Operation, and Completion of the Cortes
Representation of the Three Estates
The Noble and Ecclesiastical Estates
The nobility generally formed a single estate, except in Aragon, where it was divided into two: ricos hombres (magnates) and knights. This dual representation was unique to Aragon. Attempts by Peter IV and John I to extend this model to Valencia and Catalonia were short-lived.
The ecclesiastical estate was represented by prominent figures like bishops, abbots, and priors of important monasteries. In Aragon, the clergy focused primarily on church affairs and defending their own interests. Nobles and clergy gradually decreased their attendance at the Cortes, with their absence becoming evident in the latter half of the 15th century and absolute from 1538. From then on, meetings consisted solely of city representatives.
The Third Estate
The third estate comprised procurators from selected cities and towns within the Crown’s territories. Manorial towns were represented by their secular and ecclesiastical lords.
ecclesiastical lords.