THE REIGN OF THE CATHOLIC MONARCHS
The dinastic union of Castilla and Aragon
At the end of the 15th century, the Catholic Monarchs’ Isabella I of Castilla and Ferdinand II of Aragón established an authoritarian monarchy on the Iberian Peninsula
Domestic reforms
The number of royal officials was increased, the existing institutions were reformed and new ones were established.
In 1469, Isabella, the half-sister of Henry IV of Castilla, married Ferdinand, the Crown Prince of Aragón. When the King of Castilla died in 1474, a civil war broke out between the followers of his daughter, Joanna la Beltraneja, who had the support of Portugal, and those of Isabella, who had the support of Aragón.
Ferdinand became the King of Aragón after the death of his father. This resulted in the dynastic union of Castilla and Aragón.
A single state was not created
Hispanic Monarchy.
This union of the reigning families did not result in the creation of a unitary state.
They have 4 objetives:
To weaken the power of the nobility
A permanent army was formed with professional soldiers, which could overpower the militias of the nobility
Permission was obtained from the Pope to place Military Orders under the monarchs' control
Territories
Most important
Council of Castilla
Aragón and Navarra
Also important
Trained officials began to replace the nobles in these institutions.
Specific matters
The Castilian military orders were managed by the Council of Military Orders
The Council of the Supreme Inquisition dealt with matters concerning morals and faith.
The royal treasury was given greater powers to control and administrate tax collection.
Councils of experts were appointed to advise the monarchs about
The judicial system of Castilla was restructured through the audiencias of Valladolid and Granada, whose judges appointed the kings
A militia, the Santa Hermandad
was created to fight crime and keep the peace in rural Castilla.
To reduce the autonomy of the kingdoms of the Hispanic Monarchy
The power of the General Courts was reduced.
The position of viceroy was created
This figure represented the monarchs in each of their kingdoms in their absence.
The Inquisition was established in the kingdom of Castilla in 1478 and was reformed in Aragón to persecute false conversions.
religious court, although it was controlled by the Crown
To restrict the autonomy of the urban oligarchies
In Castilla
In Aragón
the sortition system, where local governors were selected by lottery, was maintained.
the monarchs appointed the mayors, who ran the city councils.
To improve international relations
The diplomatic corps
represented the monarchs in other kingdoms, was expanded.
Castilla became an authoritarian monarchy
The Crown of Aragón maintained the pact tradition,
the king made decisions with the approval of the regional institutions.
Religious Policy
One of the Catholic Monarchs’ main political objectives was to establish religious unity in their domains
Their aim was to prevent revolts and internal divisions
Jews
Muslims
were persecuted by the Christian population towards the end of the Middle Ages.
The Christians believed that the Jews offended God
In 1492
the monarchs forced them to convert to Christianity
Those who did not obey had to sell their assets at a loss and leave their homes
Sephardic Jews.
Those who agreed to convert
were investigated and persecuted by the Inquisition to prevent them from practising their old religion in secret
conversos
MUDÉJAR
were Muslims who lived in Christian territories
After the conquest of Granada in 1492
Cardinal Cisneros forced them to be baptised
many of them revolted in the Alpujarras
Those who converted
Moriscos
they were also persecuted by the Inquisition
The majority were farmers
their departure had a negative impact on agriculture.
