Social and Religious Tensions in Medieval Spain
The Peasants
The peasants of Aragon were known as the Remences. Significant protests arose in Aragon and Catalonia. In the latter, during the second half of the 14th century, crop failures and plague led to the abandonment of many plots. The lords increased their demands and attempted to evict peasants occupying these abandoned lands. By the end of the century, the Remences organized and confronted the lords. During the reign of Alfonso V, the crown sided with the peasants against the lords. The final crisis erupted during the reign of John II, who faced opposition from the nobility and the oligarchy of Barcelona but found support from the peasants. The civil war ended in victory for the king.
In 15th century Catalonia, conflict arose between the Barcelona oligarchy, known as the ciutadans honrats and grouped in the Biga, and the organized popular sectors in the Busca. The Biga prevented the Busca’s participation in the city government and the Generalitat. The Buscaires seized power and implemented economic measures that favored artisans. The Biga’s boycott of the government led to the civil war of 1462-1472. Ultimately, the oligarchy regained control of the city, but Barcelona was left economically depressed.
In Mallorca, a peasant rebellion (forans) erupted against the lords of Palma. The rebels surrounded the city. The crown’s response was different in this case: Alfonso V dispatched an army to crush the forans, ending the uprising.
The Church
The Church steadily accumulated wealth during the centuries of territorial expansion. The main bishoprics and the great monasteries became wealthy landowners, similar to the feudal nobility. The same occurred with the military orders in areas like Extremadura, which the kings had granted them. The situation was similar in Aragon.
Social differences within the clergy were pronounced. The great prelates hailed from aristocratic families and enjoyed substantial ecclesiastical revenues. Their lifestyle mirrored that of the nobility, often residing far from their designated posts. At the base of the institution, priests, monks, and nuns lived in more precarious conditions. While the regular clergy enjoyed a decent standard of living, rural priests often faced poverty and hunger.
The Spanish Church was expanding. Joining its ranks provided security and, for many, a path out of poverty. Membership in the clergy conferred social status, tax exemption, and the privilege of being subject to ecclesiastical justice.
Religious Minorities
. The vast majority were Christian in both Aragon and Castile. There were two religious minorities, Muslim and Jewish. The Mudejar or Moorish were numerous at first in Aragon and Valencia where they were an essential part of the workforce.
The lack of people and rapid delivery of stocks granted capitulations benign and respected the rights and religion of the Muslims. There was massive leakage grenade or Mudejar population decline. In Castile, Toledo, Andalusia and Murcia retain the right to practice their religion privately, and in cities that surrendered were allowed to keep their properties and their internal organization. The Muslim population was declining. The revolt in Andalusia and Murcia started the exodus to grenade and social pressure was increasing, so that in the fifteenth century were a significant minority in the Guadalquivir valley in Murcia, devoted to agriculture. The Jews were numerous in many cities. Initially enjoyed a certain tolerance, the attitude toward them was hostile. The conquest were forbidden to build new synagogues or spread their faith, they were forced to live in their neighborhoods, ghettos, and carry a distinctive clothing to distinguish them. Engaged in medicine, crafts and jewelry.A mid-fourteenth century anti-Semitism grew. Promoted by Enrique de Trastámara. The anti-Semitic hatred was rooted in the collective mentality Christian. From the pulpits were openly criticized. Popular belief attributed to them richer than they were. Accusing all Jews of being responsible for the country’s ills. The result was an outburst of anti-Semitic violence, the pogrom of 1391 began in Seville and spread to several cities in Castile and the Crown of Aragon, leading to murders, robberies and all kinds of violence against Jewish communities. Several disappeared. In some cities such as Zaragoza Calatayud, Jews were kept safe from violence. The propaganda campaigns of Henry of Trastámara as violence in 1391 are typical examples of the use of anti-Semitism, as safety valves to social tensions and class conflicts. The popular classes were launched to attack and burn the Jewish neighborhoods. Poverty and the search for a culprit for the catastrophes of the century XIV and the sermons of clerics, which led to violence. In 1412 a royal ordinance established in Castilla restrictions on freedom of the Jews. There were sermons and campaigns against the Jewish religion. The Jews decided to convert. The rejection led to the converted, suspecting that many of them secretly practicing the Jewish religion (Judaised), especially because many of the conversos attained influential positions. Generalizes the reluctance of older Christians to the new Christians, and claimed to put limits on access of converts to civil and ecclesiastical.