Council of Aragon facts for kids
The Council of Aragon was a very important group that helped rule the Spanish Empire a long time ago. Its official name was the Royal and Supreme Council of Aragon. It was almost as powerful as the king! Its job was to manage the lands that were part of the Crown of Aragon.
These lands included places like the Kingdom of Aragon, the Principality of Catalonia, and the Kingdom of Valencia. It also looked after islands like Kingdom of Mallorca and Kingdom of Sardinia. Later, some parts of Southern Italy, like Naples and Sicily, were also managed by this Council. The Council of Aragon helped the king rule these areas as part of Spain.
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History of the Council of Aragon
The Spanish Empire was made up of many different kingdoms. Each kingdom had its own laws, customs, and government. But they all shared the same king. This is why the Council of Aragon was created.
Why the Council Was Formed
Ferdinand II of Aragon and his wife, Isabella I of Castile, were the first rulers of both Castile and Aragon. Ferdinand spent most of his time in Castile, not Aragon. This meant the king was often far away from Aragon. This caused problems for how Aragon was governed.
To solve these problems, a system of viceroys (like a king's representative) and councils was set up. In 1494, the Council of Aragon was officially started. It grew out of an older royal council that advised the kings of Aragon.
Who Was in the Council?
The Council had a Treasurer-General, a Vice-Chancellor, and five Regentes. Most of these members were from Aragon itself. Many members were letrados, who were educated lawyers. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella often relied on these lawyers to help organize their lands.
The Council of Aragon helped control the viceroys. It was the main link between the viceroy and the king. Its jobs included:
- Reading reports from the viceroys.
- Giving advice to the king about his plans.
- Sending the king's orders to different territories.
Through this Council, the king could manage lands he couldn't visit. He could also stay in touch with the people in those areas.
How the Council System Grew
The Council of Aragon became a model for other councils. As the Spanish Empire grew, more councils were created. These new councils helped manage other parts of the empire. For example, there were councils for Italy, Portugal, and Flanders.
There were also councils for general matters. These included the Council of the Inquisition (for religious issues) and the Council of War. The Consejo de Estado, or Council of State, was also very important. It helped the king make big decisions.
Good and Bad Sides of the Council System
The council system had many good points. It helped the king manage a very large empire. It allowed different parts of the empire to keep their own traditions.
However, there were also some challenges. The different parts of the empire often didn't work together very closely. The only thing that truly connected them was having the same king. There was no real effort to create a common government for everyone. Also, each region often focused on its own needs first. This sometimes made it hard to do things that would help the whole empire.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Aragón para niños
