Government

Question 1

Councils

Answer 1

Advisory:

• New Council of State set up 1526 to advise on Governing of Spain, had little influence/importance.
• New Council of Orders 1522, advise on military affairs.
• Made up of Military Experts and members of Council of State.

Adminsitrative:
Royal Council Of Castile-
*Most Important, Dealt with Castilian Affairs, Acted as a Court of Law (Heard Appeals).
*Charles reduced size and No. of nobles joining, invited more Letrados.

Council of Aragon-

• Dealt with justice, highest appeal court.
• Kept Charles aware of people’s opinions.
• Mainly Letrados from 3 kingdoms of Aragon.

Council Of The Indies: Formed 1524, dealt with Castile’s American Possessions.
Council of Finance: Formed 1522.
Council of Supreme and General Inquisition: Dealt with Heretics in all parts of Spain.

Question 2

Secretaries

Answer 2

• Most important Secretariat in Castile.
• Aragon had already developed these in form of Chancellery, Charles kept this.
• Powers Resented by Council Members, Powers increased during Charles’ reign.

Secretaries dealt with:

• Preparing Agendas for Council Meetings
• Countersigning Royal Documents
• Issuing Royal Decrees
• Giving Patronage

Question 3

Francisco De Los Cobos:

Most Important Secretary To King

Answer 3

Most important Secretary.

• Dealt with affairs of Castile, Portugal, Indies and, in 1503, Italy.
• Cobos appointed men with Administrative Training rather than men of high rank.
• Men more loyal because they owed their lands to Cobos.
• Cobos received lots of rewards, became very rich and had extensive lands.

Question 4

Cortes

Answer 4

Aragon:
3 cortes, traditionally independent.
-Concerns discussed before giving money.
-Charles called General Cortes (All 3 Cortes’) 6 times during reign.
*However, each had to be dealt with separately.

Catalonia: Called twice during reign
Aragon: Called once
Valencia: Called once

Not worth calling these for taxes because they gave little amounts. A 3rd of the money had to be spent internally.

Castile:

• Easy to get money from, had less powers than Aragon Cortes.
• Representatives from 18 towns, Castile Cortes had less power because not all of the towns were represented.
• Cortes had to grant money to Charles before their concerns could be discussed.