Remensa facts for kids
The Remensa (pronounced Reh-MEN-sah) system was a special kind of serfdom that existed in Catalonia, a region in Spain. People who lived under this system were called pagesos de remença, which means "peasants of remensa." Sometimes, they were just called remences.
The word remença comes from a Latin word, redementia, which means "redemption" or "being set free." This name hints that there was a way for these peasants to eventually gain their freedom from being tied to the land.
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What Was the Remensa System?
In the Middle Ages, many parts of Europe had a system called feudalism. This meant that powerful lords owned large areas of land. Peasants, like the remences, worked on this land. They were not slaves, but they were not completely free either. They were tied to the land and had to follow many rules set by their lords.
Life as a Remensa Peasant
Life for a remensa peasant was very difficult. They had to pay many taxes and follow strict rules. These rules were sometimes called "evil customs" because they were very unfair. For example, a remensa peasant could not leave the land they worked on without the lord's permission. If they wanted to get married, they often needed the lord's approval and sometimes had to pay a fee. If a peasant died without children, their property might go to the lord instead of their family. These rules made it hard for peasants to improve their lives or move somewhere else.
The Peasants Fight Back
The unfair rules and harsh lives led to big problems. The remensa peasants became very unhappy and decided to fight for their rights.
The Remensa Revolts
There were two major uprisings by the remensa peasants:
- The first revolt happened in 1462.
- The second revolt took place in 1485.
These fights are known as the War of the Remences. The peasants were trying to change the unfair system and gain more freedom.
King Ferdinand's Solution
After the second revolt, a powerful leader stepped in to help. King Ferdinand II of Aragon wanted to bring peace and order back to Catalonia.
The Sentencia de Guadalupe
In 1486, King Ferdinand II issued an important decision called the Sentencia de Guadalupe. This was a special ruling that aimed to fix many of the problems.
- It made many of the "evil customs" illegal. This meant lords could no longer force peasants to follow those very unfair rules.
- It gave remensa peasants a way to become free. They could pay a fee of 60 sous (a type of coin) for each household. Once they paid this fee, they were no longer tied to the land.
A New Kind of Freedom
The Sentencia de Guadalupe was a big step forward. While the countryside still had some parts of the old feudal system, it was much more fair for the peasants. They had more rights and the chance to gain their freedom. This ruling helped to change society in Catalonia for the better.
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