The Fight for Status and Privilege in Late Medieval and Early Modern Castile, 1465–1598

In __The Fight for Status and Privilege in Late Medieval and Early Modern Castile, 1465–1598__, Michael Crawford investigates conflicts about and resistance to the status of __hidalgo__, conventionally understood as the lowest, most heavily populated rank in the Castilian nobility. It is generally accepted that legal privileges were based on status and class in this premodern society. Crawford presents and explains the contentious realities and limitations of such legal privileges, particularly the conventional claim of __hidalgo__ exemption from taxation. He focuses on efforts to claim these privileges as well as opposing efforts to limit and manage them. Although historians of Spain acknowledge such conflicts, especially lawsuits associated with this status, none have focused a study on this extraordinarily widespread phenomenon. This book analyzes the inevitable contradictions inherent in negotiation for and the implementation of privilege, scrutinizing the many jurisdictions that intervened in these struggles and debates, including the crown, judiciary, city council, and financial authorities. Ultimately, this analysis imparts important insights about the nature of sixteenth-century Castilian society with wide-ranging implications about the relationship between social status and legal privileges in the early modern period as a whole.

In The Fight for Status and Privilege in Late Medieval and Early Modern Castile, 1465–1598, Michael Crawford investigates conflicts about and resistance to the status of hidalgo, conventionally understood as the lowest, most heavily populated rank in the Castilian nobility. It is generally accepted that legal privileges were based on status and class in this premodern society. Crawford presents and explains the contentious realities and limitations of such legal privileges, particularly the conventional claim of hidalgo exemption from taxation. He focuses on efforts to claim these privileges as well as opposing efforts to limit and manage them. Although historians of Spain acknowledge such conflicts, especially lawsuits associated with this status, none have focused a study on this extraordinarily widespread phenomenon. This book analyzes the inevitable contradictions inherent in negotiation for and the implementation of privilege, scrutinizing the many jurisdictions that intervened in these struggles and debates, including the crown, judiciary, city council, and financial authorities. Ultimately, this analysis imparts important insights about the nature of sixteenth-century Castilian society with wide-ranging implications about the relationship between social status and legal privileges in the early modern period as a whole.

In The Fight for Status and Privilege in Late Medieval andEarly Modern Castile, 1465-1598, Michael Crawford investigatesconflicts about and resistance to the status of hidalgo,conventionally understood as the lowest, most heavily populatedrank in the Castilian nobility. It is generally accepted that legalprivileges were based on status and class in this premodernsociety. Crawford presents and explains the contentious realitiesand limitations of such legal privileges, particularly theconventional claim of hidalgo exemption from taxation. Hefocuses on efforts to claim these privileges as well as opposingefforts to limit and manage them. Although historians of Spainacknowledge such conflicts, especially lawsuits associated withthis status, none have focused a study on this extraordinarilywidespread phenomenon. This book analyzes the inevitablecontradictions inherent in negotiation for and the implementationof privilege, scrutinizing the many jurisdictions that intervenedin these struggles and debates, including the crown, judiciary,city council, and financial authorities. Ultimately, this analysisimparts important insights about the nature of sixteenth-centuryCastilian society with wide-ranging implications about therelationship between social status and legal privileges in theearly modern period as a whole.

In The Context Of Legal Privileges Based On Status And Class In Premodern Spain And Europe In General, Investigates Conflicts Over And Resistance To The Status Of Hidalgo In Fifteenth- And Sixteenth-century Castile--provided By Publisher. The Constitution Of Privilege : Royal Granting, Revoking, And Recognizing Of Hidalguía -- The Economic And Political Value Of Status -- Migration, Resettlement, And Status -- Anatomy Of A Lawsuit Of Hidalguía -- Social Networks And Privilege -- Justice And Malfeasance At The Tribunal Of The Hidalgos. Michael J. Crawford. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 223-231) And Index.