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Ferdinand and Isabella with Nobles (Other (Noble legitimatises (e.g.…
Ferdinand and Isabella with Nobles
Context
Nobles wealthy and Nobles owned around 90% of land in Castile and more than 60% of the land in Aragon
Political position strengthened by civil wars and they were serious threat to authority of Catholic monarchs with private armies and fortified castles
1470- 15 aristocratic families within Castile owned more than half of the land
Mendozas could rely on the support of up to 90,000 vessels
Privileges included exemption from taxes such as the alcabala
Reducing political influence of nobility
Nobles role within the council was minimised as they were replaced by Letrados (professionals) and their influence over policy was much restricted- eventually all government councils were supposed to be entirely composed of Letrados
Unrest in Castile after Isabella's death in 1504 suggests that the nobility had not lost their taste for political intrigue
Duke of Medina Sidonio was prepared to offer troops and money to Phillip of Burgundy to support his claim over Ferdinand's in ruling for Joanna La Beltraneja
Nobility also played a role in revolts against authority of Charles V at start of his reign as King of Spain
Nobles excluded from council of finance and inquisition
Gaining land back from nobility
1480, Cortes of Toledo, Act of Resumption passed by which crown claimed back all lands it had given to nobility since 1464- land given away to nobility during civil war for support
Coastal city of Cadiz was taken from Duke of Cadiz in 1492
Gibraltar was taken from the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1502 and taken back under royal control
Some compensation for lost territory was made possible by Granada campaign which made additional land available- estimated nobility received up to half of the land seized from the Moors
Controlling noble estates
Rebellious nobles found their castles were destroyed (84) - all castles had to receive licence from crown but this was often ignored, nobles were also arrested and had property stolen
By 1504, over 260 fortified homes and Castles had been rebuilt despite orders from the crown that there should be no new fortifications in Castile
Right of entail, passed in 1505, meant estates were passed down to eldest son rather than split between all of the sons of a noble- ensured noble estates remained large and thus consolidated power in the hands of relatively few nobles
Military Religious Orders
Of the five orders of chivalry, Ferdinand was master of three by 1500
Groups of monk like soldiers saw their role as being crusaders, playing a key role in the reconquista
Provided about 1/6 of the cavalry for the Granada campaign and thus represented a key military force which could draw on the loyalty of around 1 million vassals
They owned land and fortified buildings
Ferdinand taking control ensured Spanish nobility could not use them against the crown
Other
Noble legitimatises (e.g. brutality against their peasants, illegal tax collection, banditry) were dealt with firmly but inconsistently
Nobles forbidden to make private war
Monarchs offered bribes and incentives for noble cooperation
Right to collect taxes given to specific nobles
Nobles who had right to collect royal tax of alcabala within their jurisdictions were allowed to continue to be able to collect the tax
Crown confirmed aristocracy's exemption from taxes and arrest
Pacts signed whereby huge estates granted in return for surrender of a particular office often a regional govern-ship- Count of Trevino gave up govern-ship of Vizcaya in return for extensive lands in Rioja
F and I encouraged nobles to spend time in court so they could keep watch on them
Opportunities given to nobles to serve in foreign wars
Support for crown meant rewards and many new titles created
Nobles encouraged to use Mayorazgo- forbade sales or division of land- meant property and land could descend from one generation to other without being divided to help prevent disputes between families
Economic interest
Loss of political influence meant nobles turned towards economic activities
Admiral of Castile had monopoly over productions of dyestuffs and others invested in commodities such as sugar
Nobility began studying classical languages at university of Alcala and being patrons of the arts
Traditional aristocratic pastimes such as jousting and hunting provided a distraction