The Aristocracy against the King in the Twelfth Century: Rebellion as Opposition to Alfonso VII “Imperator Hispaniae”

• Autores: Sonia Vital Fernández
• Localización: A Plural Peninsula: Studies in Honour of Professor Simon Barton / coord. por Antonella Liuzzo Scorpo, 2023, ISBN 9789004425460, págs. 351-377
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • As demonstrated by Simon Barton in his influential The Aristocracy in Twelfth-Century León and Castile, during the reign of Alfonso VII (r. 1126–1157), both the aristocracy and the monarchy sought to consolidate and reinforce their power in the Kingdom of León. Having newly ascended the throne, Alfonso VII was forced to negotiate with a powerful aristocracy, who resisted his actions, hence shifting the balance of power in the kingdom. Subsequently, the Leonese, Castilian, Asturian and Galician aristocracies staged rebellions against the king’s authority. While each rebellion had its own particular underlying reasons, they all shared several common elements. An overall analysis of these rebellions through contemporary chronicles and documentary sources reveals a common aspect related to the processes and strategies of political affirmation of the aristocratic groups: the aristocrats of this time were able to oppose the king’s policy when they believed that it harmed their interests. At the same time, they were able to establish other power relations that allowed them to prosper politically and socially. This study also reveals the political and institutional mechanisms that Alfonso VII put in place to consolidate his authority in the kingdom.