Council of Italy facts for kids
The Council of Italy was a really important group that helped the Spanish Empire rule its lands in Italy a long time ago. It was like a special government department, second only to the king himself! This council was based in Madrid, Spain. It managed Spanish areas in Italy like the Kingdom of Naples, the Kingdom of Sicily, the State of the Presidi, and the Duchy of Milan.
Before 1556, these Italian lands were looked after by another group called the Council of Aragon.
History of the Council of Italy
By 1556, the Crown of Aragon (part of Spain) had strong control over Southern Italy and the Duchy of Milan. Local leaders and special representatives called viceroys or governors managed the daily life in these places.
To make Spanish rule in Italy even better, King Philip II decided to create a new council in 1556. He separated the Italian states from the Council of Aragon. This new group was called the Council of Italy. It included representatives from Naples, Sicily, and Milan. Each area had two representatives: one from Spain and one from the local Italian area.
Most of the Spanish viceroys and governors in Italy were from Spain, not Italy. This showed that the Spanish king wanted the empire to be mostly run by people from Spain.
The Kingdom of Sardinia stayed under the old Council of Aragon. Later, it was given to Austria and then to the Savoy family. In 1713, after a big war, the Council of Italy no longer had any lands to manage. So, Philip V of Spain officially closed it down on May 1, 1717.
Who Was in the Council?
The Council of Italy had several important people:
- One President: This person was chosen from the highest-ranking Spanish noble families.
- Six Regents: These were like special advisors. There were two for the Kingdom of Sicily, two for the Kingdom of Naples, and two for the Duchy of Milan. For each area, one regent was Spanish, and the other was a naturale, meaning they were born in that Italian territory. Both had to be leetrados, which meant they were experts in both church law and civil law.
- Other officials: These included three secretaries (one for each Italian area), a Fiscal advocate who looked after the state's money, and a Conservator General of the Patrimony who managed the king's property.
What Did the Council Do?
The Council of Italy was in charge of all government and legal matters for the Italian states ruled by the Spanish kings.
It suggested who should be the viceroys of Sicily, viceroys of Naples, and governors of the Duchy of Milan. These suggestions went to the Spanish Council of State, which the king led. The Council of Italy also approved important jobs for civilians and military leaders in these states.
The council's main job was to give advice. They would write down their ideas in a document called a consulta. This document was then given to the king, who would make the final decision. If the council members didn't all agree, the different opinions were all written down for the king to see.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Italia para niños
- Kingdom of Naples
- Kingdom of Sicily
- Duchy of Milan
- State of the Presidi
- Italian War of 1551–59
