THE START OF MODERN

AGE IN THE HISPANIC

KINGDOMS AND
AMERICA
THE REIGN OF THE CATHOLIC MONARCHS

In the Hispanic Kingdoms the Modern Age began with the Catholic Kings or Monarchs. Their policies
established the foundations for the Hispanic hegemony in Europe during this period.

How did they achieve it?

First of all with the territorial

unification with the marriage
of Isabel of Castilla and
Fernando of Aragón in 1469
but, this was just a dynastic
union because the different
territories maintained their
institutions, laws, customs and
currencies. The only thing in
common were their kings or
monarchs.
As authoritarian monarchs they strengthen their royal power by:

● Territorial unification: they began with the conquest of the

Nasrid Kingdom of Granada to Castilla in 1492 and concluded
by the annexation of the kingdom of Navarra in 1512. With
marriage ties they prepared the future union with Portugal (Felipe
II).

● Religious unity: They created the Tribunal of the Inquisition

(1478): this tribunal pursued heretics and judaizers and even
forced Jews and Mudejares to submit baptism or leave the
country.

● Imposed their authority over nobility, clergy and municipalities: controlled nobility and military
orders properties, allocation of bishops, appointed chief magistrates over the municipalities and hardly
ever summoned the Cortes.

● Reformed the administration: creating Councils made up of jurists and Chancillerías or Audiencias
(royal courts in Valladolid and Granada). Increased royal incomes through taxes, created the Santa
Hermandad (kind of police for rural areas to maintain the order) and modernised the army organising
them in regiments (Tercios).
Their foreign policy:

● Castilla: conquered
fortresses in North Africa:
Melilla, Orán, Algiers and
Tripoli (1495- 1510) and
continued its expansion in
the Atlantic region:
conquest of the Canary
Island (1496) and the
discovery of America.

● Aragón: continued its

rivalry with France:
recovered Roussillon and
Cerdanya, and conquered
Naples which led to the
definitive expulsion of the
French from southern Italy.
THE HISPANIC MONARCHY

All the territories governed by the Catholic Monarchs were inherited by their grandson Charles I . He was born
and raised in Netherlands, son of Juana of Castilla and Felipe “El Hermoso”. This was the Start of the
Spanish branch of the House of Austria, the Habsburgs.
The”Austrias Mayores”: Charles I and Philip II . The 16th century.
They were the first monarchs of the habsburg dynasty. They are called the “Austrias Mayores” because
strengthen their power , addressed numerous internal conflicts and governed an extensive empire imposing the
Hispanic Hegemony across Europe. This led to a constant series of foreign conflicts.

Their reign coincided with a period of demographic and economic prosperity and a flourishing of art and
cultures known as Golden Age. They consolidated the authoritarian monarchy introduced by the Catholic
Monarchs.

How did they do it?

- They were assisted by a well-organised public administration with royal secretaries (responsible of
studying important matters and giving advice to the monarch), councils (undertook the governance of
specific territories as the Councils of Castile or Aragon, or in charge of specific matters as the Inquisition).

- They organised the territory as an association of states (remember Spain didn´t exist yet): they
maintained their own institutions, laws and customs and in each one the monarch was represented by a
Viceroy.
Councils that formed part of the
“Polisinodial System” helping the
king to govern his territories (The
Cortes lost importance due to this
system)
Charles I (1516-1556) Spain did not officially exist as a crown
and a state until the beginning of the 18th
He inherited numerous territories in Europe and century. Before that date we refer to the
America. Also in 1519, he was elected Emperor of
Hispanic Monarchy.
the Holy Roman Empire (What is today
Germany) as Charles V.

When he arrived to the Peninsula in 1517, Charles did not know how to
speak in Spanish. He was raised in Netherlands so he spoke French and
German but his brother Fernando was raised in Castilla, so Castilians
preferred him to become the new king. He came with Flemish advisors as
Adriano of Utrecht (future Pope Adrian VI)that were the ones in charge
of the government.

He had the right to be elected Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and
he asked the Cortés of Castilla to finance his election. The huge
territories he governed made him face different conflicts during his reign:
internal and external.
Internal conflicts:
- The Comuneros in Castilla (1520-1521):
(Bravo, Padilla and Maldonado) low nobility and
urban guilds claimed for the protection of textile
industry, exclusion of Flemish advisors from
Government , to stop castilian money getting out
of their territory (In the form of taxes) and a less
authoritarian monarchy (More power for the
Castilian Courts). Their petitions were not
respond by the king and they were subjugated by
his army.
Execution of the leaders of the Comuneros
defeated in the Battle of Villalar in 1521
- The revolt of the Brotherhoods in Valencia a Mallorca (1519-1523), called “Las Germanías”:
artisans and traders took the control of the government of Valencia when the nobles and authorities
leaved the territory due to the black death. They wanted the guilds to control municipalities and the
end of feudal taxes. It was more a social revolt against lord's power. Again, they were subjugated by
king´s army.

After defeating the revolts monarchy strengthen its power over cities, nobility
and the Courts.
COMUNIDADES Y GERMANÍAS
External conflicts:

- Against France: Carlos I fought against France which was

surrounded by Habsburg´s territories. They fought over
control of northern Italy.

Carlos I annexed Milan to the Spanish Empire (1525) after

the battle of Pavía.
- Against the Turks (Ottoman Empire): who were a threat in Central Europe and the Mediterranean.

Carlos I added Tunis to the Hispanic Empire in 1535

- Against the Protestants: some German princes converted to Lutheranism, and demanded autonomy from
Charles I.

After many years fighting, Carlos I recognised religious freedom in Germany (Peace of Augsburg, 1555)
Representatives of the German estates at the Augsburg conference discuss the possibilities of a religious
peace.

The front page

of the treaty:
each prince
could chose
the religion in
his dominions
Territories at the end of
the reign of Charles I
In 1556, tired of so many conflicts, Carlos I abdicated the
throne and retired to Extremadura (Monastery of Yuste)
where he died in 1558.

His last will established the division of the Hispanic Empire:

Castle and Aragón, Hispanic territories in America, the Low
Countries, Naples, Sicily… to his son Felipe II and the
German Empire to his brother Fernando.

”Abdication of Carlos V” (L. Gallait, 1841). It depicts the

abdication of Carlos V on the 25th of October 1555 in the
imperial palace of the Low Countries (Brussels).
He inherited the Hispanic Empire (Castilla Aragón, Hispanic territories in Philip II (1556-
America, the Low Countries, Naples, Sicily…) from his father. Since he 1598)
wasn’t the German Emperor, he governed in Hispanic kingdom´s benefit. To
do so, he established a permanent court in Madrid (1561), which became the
capital of Castilla.

The Spanish Empire under Felipe II after the annexation of Portugal (1580)
Another important event was the Annexation of Portugal (1580)

1598: the died in the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, being

succeeded by his son Felipe III.

Internal conflicts
The rebellion of the Moriscos in La Alpujarras (1568): sparked due to the
rule that made the muslims abandon their religion and customs. At the end
they were defeated and moriscos were expelled from Granada and
dispersed across Castilla.

The rebellion in Aragón (1590) were they considered that the king didn´t
respect the traditional rights (fueros). They were also defeated.
External conflicts:
Against France: the French invaded Naples, so the Spanish army in the Low Countries counterattacked
invading France. The French were decisively defeated in the Battle of San Quintín on 10th of August 1557,
during the festivity of San Lorenzo.

To commemorate the victory of the Battle of San

Quintín, Felipe II built the “Monastery of San
Lorenzo de El Escorial”

San Lorenzo was a saint who was burned to

death in a grill.
Catholics (Holy League)
VS Ottoman Turks:

Felipe II allied with Venice

and the Pope and formed
a fleet (“Holy League”)
which defeated the Turks
at the Battle of Lepanto
(1571).
Netherlands: Felipe II was seen as a foreigner
by the Flemish (born in Spain, court in Madrid...)
and catholic while there was an expansion of
Protestantism.

Flemish rebelled demanding autonomy (1566). It

was the beginning of the 80 Years War.

In 1579 the northern provinces of the Low

Countries, mostly Protestant, declared
themselves independent creating the “United
Provinces” (Union of Utrecht).

The southern provinces, mostly Catholic,

remained loyal to Felipe II (Union of Arras) in
order to receive protection against Protestants’
attacks. However, the war between Spain & the
protestants of the United Provinces continued
until 1648.

Felipe IV recognized their independence in the

Peace of Westphalia (1648).
“LA RENDICIÓN DE BREDA”
(DIEGO VELÁZQUEZ, 1634)

The Siege of Breda (1624–25)

occurred during the Eighty Years' War.

The siege resulted in Breda (a Dutch

fortified city) falling into the control of
the Hispanic Army of Felipe IV.

The Siege of Breda is considered one

of Hispanic´s last major victories in the
Eighty Years' War.

Hispanic armies regained the

formidable reputation they had held in
the past century.
Also confronted England due to the support
to Netherlands against the Hispanic
Monarchy, English piracy against Spanish
ships that came from America & Anglicanism.

Philip II planned to invade England by

sending the Armada Invencible, but failed
(1588). This supposed the major defeat
suffered by the Hispanic Monarchy.
The Spanish “Tercios”

Spanish military units composed of 3,000 soldiers.

They were based on the combination of different
weapons: musket (mosquete), harquebus (arcabuz) &
pike (pica).
THE CONQUEST OF AMERICA (1519-1558)
Discovery took place during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs (1479-1516). Exploration and conquest of
territories occurred mostly during the reign of Carlos I (1516-1556).

The characteristics of the conquest were:

It was a rapid process (1519-1558) due to the superior equipment and weapons ( musket, harquebus, metall
armours and horses ( Conquerors were identified as gods?)

Another factor that made the conquest easier were the diseases. Mainly due to European diseases: smallpox
(viruela), measles (sarampión)… Native population dropped hugely.

The conquerors were a mercenary army with a few number of soldiers (compared to indigenous armies),
low-nobility and commoners who wanted to become rich.

The conquest of America was not undertaken directly by the State. It was based on Capitulations: a contract
where the Crown and an explorer fixed the terms under which an enterprise of conquest was to be carried out.
The explorer had to pay the expedition. In exchange, the explorer would receive different benefits as becoming
governor of the territory, big extensions of lands and part of the riches found. Usually 20% had to be given to
the Crown (“El Quinto Real”).
PHASES OF THE CONQUEST

Conquest of México Hernán Cortés

(1519-1521): conquered the Aztec
Empire (centre and South of modern-day
Mexico). They made alliances with rival
Aztec tribes, and captured king
Moctezuma who was later killed by an
Aztec revolt. Cortés and his men finally
seized and conquered Tenochtitlan
(capital) in 1521.
Francisco Pizarro (1531-1533) conquered the Inca
Empire (Modern-day Perú and parts of Ecuador,
Bolivia…).

Pizarro identified with the god Viracocha. They captured

the king Atahualpa, who offered a room full of gold and 2
full of silver for his freedom. The Hispanics accepted, but
executed him later.

Then the incas started internal disputes over who should

succeed him. The Hispanics took advantage of this
situation and conquered Cuzco (capital) in 1533.
Further conquests: conquerors gained
territories in: Rest of Central America (Mayan
culture), South America (except Brazil), South
of North America (Florida, Texas, California) and
Philippines in 1571.
COLONISATION AND ORGANISATION OF
AMERICA
Government and administration.

After the conquest, the Indies were annexed by Castilla

and the new territories were governed from there by the
Council of the Indies controlled affairs in the Americas
and drew up the Laws of the Indies.

The administration: the territory was organized in 2

viceroyalties: large territories controlled by a viceroy,
direct representative of the king. Viceroyalty of New
Spain Viceroyalty of Peru.

This viceroyalties were subdivided into governorates

or provinces, controlled by governors and subdivided
again into councils or municipalities, governed by a local
council.

Audiencias were created for the administration of

justice.
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.

America provided Spain with a source of unparalleled wealth in the form of natural resources or raw materials
(and labour).

Mining was the main economic activity for Castilians in América.Gold & silver were extremely important in
Mexico (Zacatecas) and Perú (Potosí).

“Mita” system: system by which the government required Indians to perform periodic paid forced labour,
especially in the mines. Salaries were insufficient: workers had to pay for living expenses and they were charged
taxes.

Agrarian activities were undertaken in large agrarian properties: Haciendas (agriculture) or Estancias
(livestock farming). Labour force consisted of indians and africans under a system of “encomienda” (similar to
feudalism). The “encomendero” was granted a specific number of natives, which he had to take care of
(protection, place to live, evangelization…) and, in return, the natives worked for him and paid tributes (metals,
agricultural product…).

Trade was monopolized by Castilla. Organized from the “Casa de Contratación” (Sevilla), established in 1503,
where they controlled the ships, goods & people coming and going to the Indies. They established an exchange
between America and Europe.
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

Castilians introduced to America the European crops (wheat, barley, oats, vines, olives) and livestock
(horses, cows, pigs, chickens).

Also Castilians
introduced to Europe the
American crops
(maize,tomatoes.potat
oes, green beans,
pepper, cocoa,tobacco
and tropical fruits) and
a number of animals
(Turkeys, cuy, llama,
alpaca,...).
CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONQUEST
The consequences for the natives were essentially negative: their civilizations were destroyed and there
was a severe demographic decline (diseases, forced labour,...) They were forced to convert into Catholicism
and forced to abandon their culture and traditional economy (what made them depend on the conquerors
and be subordinate to them).

The consequences for Castilians were mostly positive: Castilla was rewarded substantially for exploration
and colonization. Conquest stimulated Spanish trade and economy, and financed Hispanic hegemony in the
16th century.

Negative: a high number of Castilians emigrated to America and with the extraction of so many precious
metals caused inflation of prices (products became more expensive) in the home country. Money lost value
because there was so much supply of gold and silver.
ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND DAILY LIFE.

Population and economy: peninsular population rose, reaching 8.000.000 inhabitants and Castilla was the
most populated territory. Although economy was essentially based on primary sector, the conquest of America
led to an economic prosperity.

Castilla underwent a phase of expansion due to the trade with the new territories but it did not last because
it was invested in financing the Empire´s wars and paying debts. Furthermore, there was a price revolution.

Aragon suffered from gradual stagnation due to the displacement of trading activity from the Mediterranean
to the Atlantic.

Social groups: nobility and clergy maintained their privileges, social prestige and economic power. They
spent their time hunting, grooming their appearance etc…

Bourgeoisie developed very little because they were not interested in trade and crafts.

Third estate was composed mainly by peasants.

Other groups on the fringe of society were the Jews converted to Christianism and the Moriscos (purity of
blood statutes).