Spanish Monarchy: 15th & 16th Century Rule
The Catholic Monarchs (1474-1516)
Conquest of Granada (1482-1492)
The Granada War, marked by Christian military strength and internal conflicts within the Muslim kingdom, began in 1482. Key victories included the conquests of Ronda (1485) and Malaga (1486). The final siege of Granada (1491-1492) culminated in the surrender of Boabdil, ending Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula.
International Politics
The Catholic Monarchs pursued several objectives:
- Recovery of territories (Roussillon, Sardinia, Naples) through a permanent, publicly funded army.
- Defense against French incursions in Naples, leading to Spanish control of Naples, Sicily, and Sardinia, and securing strategic Mediterranean points (Melilla, Tripoli).
- Atlantic expansion, limited by agreements with Portugal, leading to westward exploration towards America. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) established territorial boundaries with Portugal.
- Mediterranean expansion through matrimonial alliances.
- Expansion into North Africa, continuing the Reconquista, and exploration of Atlantic routes to America.
Government Institutions
The Catholic Monarchs consolidated royal power:
- Resolved conflicts between nobility and monarchy.
- Restored and strengthened government institutions and public finances.
- Reviewed noble grants (1480 Cortes of Toledo).
- Established the Holy Brotherhood (1476 Cortes of Madrigal) for law enforcement and tax collection.
- Reorganized the Royal Council (1480), prioritizing lawyers over nobles.
- Strengthened local power through magistrates.
- Controlled Military Orders (Santiago, Calatrava, Alcantara).
- Reinforced the administration of justice with Royal Chancelleries in Valladolid and Granada.
- Strengthened the power of the Lieutenant General in Aragon.
Religious Policy
The 15th-century Church held significant economic and political power. The Catholic Monarchs aimed to consolidate their authority over the Church:
- Established the Spanish Inquisition to suppress heresy and other crimes against Christian belief.
- Expelled Jews who refused conversion to Christianity (1492).
Charles V & Philip II (16th Century)
Philip II and Iberian Unity
Philip II incorporated Portugal into the Spanish Monarchy after the Portuguese king died without an heir. Philip’s claim, based on his parentage, prevailed after a conflict with another claimant. This union created the largest empire ever known.
Habsburg Political Model
The 16th-century Spanish Monarchy comprised diverse realms with considerable autonomy. Castile, the wealthiest and most populous, became the center of power. The Habsburg political model was polysynodic, relying on councils:
- Council of State: Addressed major issues, especially foreign policy and war.
- Regional Councils: Dealt with specific issues in Castile, Aragon, India, Italy, Flanders, and Portugal.
- Technical Councils: Focused on specific matters like the Inquisition, military orders, and finance.
Viceroys and governors represented the king in territories where he couldn’t reside.
Charles V (1516-1556)
Domains
Charles I inherited vast territories from his parents:
- Austrian territories from Maximilian I.
- Burgundy and the Low Countries from Mary of Burgundy.
- The Crown of Aragon from Ferdinand II.
- The Crown of Castile from Isabella I.
Domestic Affairs
Despite Castile being the empire’s cornerstone, Charles’s focus on European possessions led to revolts:
- Comuneros Revolt (1520-1522): Major Castilian cities rebelled against Charles’s rule, but were defeated.
- Germanies Revolt (1519-1523): Craft guilds in Valencia and Mallorca formed militias against the nobility, leading to social conflict.
Foreign Policy
Charles V faced numerous conflicts:
- Struggle for European hegemony against Francis I of France (1519-1544).
- Conflict with Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire (1545-1555), culminating in the Peace of Augsburg.
- Defense of Christianity against the Ottoman threat in the Mediterranean.
Philip II (1556-1598)
Domains
Philip II inherited his father’s territories, excluding Austria, and later added Portugal.
Domestic Policy
Philip II’s rule was based on absolutism and religious intolerance:
- Used the Inquisition for religious control.
- Morisco Revolt (1568-1571): Erupted in Granada after a decree forbidding Moorish customs, leading to their dispersal throughout Castile.
- Aragonese disturbances: Conflicts arose due to Philip II’s attempts to strengthen his authority in Aragon.
Foreign Policy
- Dutch Revolt (1568-1648): Conflict with the Protestant Netherlands, ending with their independence.
- Battle of Lepanto (1571): Spanish victory against the Ottoman Empire in the Mediterranean.
- Anglo-Spanish War (1585-1604): Conflict with England, including the defeat of the Spanish Armada (1588).