OCR Specification focus:
‘Provincialism, revolts of the Moriscos (1568) and of Aragon (1590); government, law and order, finances and economy in 1598’
Philip II inherited a vast and diverse monarchy, where tensions between central authority and provincial traditions shaped governance. His reign was marked by challenges of provincialism, revolts, and fiscal strain.
Provincialism in Spain
Philip II presided over a composite monarchy — a political system in which separate kingdoms, such as Castile, Aragon, and Navarre, retained their own laws and traditions. This made Spain less of a unified state and more a federation under one monarch.
Features of Provincialism
Separate institutions: Each kingdom had its own cortes (assemblies), laws, and taxation systems.
Regional privileges: These were known as fueros, or local rights, particularly strong in Aragon.
Administrative fragmentation: Philip relied on the conciliar system, with councils overseeing different territories rather than a centralised bureaucracy.
Resistance to centralisation: Attempts to impose uniform control from Madrid often met strong local opposition.
Composite Monarchy: A political system in which one monarch rules several distinct territories, each retaining its own institutions and traditions.
This system gave Philip legitimacy across kingdoms but created barriers to reform and efficient government.
The Morisco Revolt of 1568
The most significant revolt of Philip’s reign arose in Granada, where the Moriscos (Muslims forcibly converted to Christianity) resisted assimilation policies.
Causes
Religious repression: Philip intensified bans on Islamic practices such as language, clothing, and rituals.
Cultural discrimination: The Moriscos felt targeted and marginalised.
Economic grievances: Heavy taxation and inequality worsened their resentment.
Events
The revolt began in December 1568, centred in the Alpujarras mountains.
Rebellion of the Alpujarras (1568–1571). The map locates the Morisco heartlands and principal zones affected by the revolt, aiding spatial understanding of operations and repression. Source
Moriscos used guerrilla tactics, prolonging resistance.
Philip appointed Don John of Austria, his half-brother, who brutally suppressed the rebellion by 1571.
Consequences
Harsh resettlement: Thousands of Moriscos were dispersed across Castile, weakening their cultural unity.
Increased distrust: The crown regarded Moriscos as a permanent internal threat.
Military lesson: Demonstrated both the vulnerabilities and capabilities of Philip’s armies.
The Revolt of Aragon (1590)
Unlike the Morisco uprising, the Aragonese revolt was not primarily religious but centred on provincial liberties.
Causes
Judicial independence: Aragon defended its right to try cases under its own laws.
Antonio Pérez affair: Philip’s disgraced secretary fled to Aragon, where locals resisted royal attempts to extradite him.
Fear of centralisation: Subjects saw Philip’s intervention as a violation of their fueros.
Events
In 1591, Philip sent troops into Aragon to restore order.
Rebellion collapsed quickly due to weak leadership and lack of resources.
Consequences
Weakened fueros: Philip reasserted royal power, diminishing Aragonese autonomy.
Political warning: Highlighted resistance to centralisation and the limits of provincial loyalty.
Government and Law under Philip II
Philip II’s governance was based on bureaucratic monarchy supported by councils and secretaries.
The Conciliar System
Council of State: Advised on major policy.
Regional councils: For Castile, Aragon, Italy, and the Indies.
Specialised councils: For finance, war, and the Inquisition.
This system was effective in managing diverse territories but often slowed decision-making due to excessive paperwork and Philip’s preference for micromanagement.
Conciliar System: A form of government in which monarchs are advised and supported by specialised councils, each responsible for particular territories or areas of policy.
Law and Order
The monarchy upheld its authority through royal justice, but local traditions limited central power.
Philip presented himself as a pious and just ruler, though interventions in Aragon showed his readiness to override local rights when challenged.
Finances and the Economy in 1598
By the end of Philip’s reign, Spain faced a severe financial crisis, stemming from war, administration, and provincial imbalance.
Financial Strains
Heavy military spending: Continuous wars in the Netherlands, against the Ottomans, and with England drained resources.
Bankruptcies: Philip declared bankruptcy several times (notably 1557, 1575, 1596).
Dependence on Castile: Castile bore the majority of taxation, creating resentment.
Economic Issues
American silver: While vast quantities entered Spain, much was spent on wars abroad rather than invested domestically.
Inflation: The “price revolution” reduced real wages, worsening poverty.
Agricultural weakness: Poor harvests and rural hardship undermined stability.
Provincial disparities: Castile suffered economic decline, while regions like Aragon remained underdeveloped.
Legacy of 1598
At Philip’s death, Spain was an exhausted empire: still powerful but undermined by entrenched provincial divisions, weakened finances, and reliance on outdated systems of governance.
FAQ
Don John of Austria’s suppression of the Morisco revolt gave the monarchy credibility as a military power capable of quelling internal dissent. His brutal tactics, including massacres and forced resettlement, demonstrated the crown’s determination to impose order.
However, this also created long-term mistrust between Moriscos and the monarchy, reinforcing the sense of Spain as a divided kingdom. Don John’s success increased Philip II’s reliance on military solutions to political and religious tensions.
Antonio Pérez had served as Philip II’s secretary before fleeing into Aragon to avoid prosecution.
His presence became a symbol of Aragonese judicial independence, as locals resisted extradition.
Philip’s attempts to override Aragon’s legal protections were perceived as an attack on their fueros.
The affair provided a rallying point for provincial resentment against central interference.
Philip II sought to present himself as a king of justice, but this was selective.
In Aragon, he intervened directly in judicial matters, undermining local institutions.
He used royal tribunals and officials to assert authority where provincial law conflicted with royal interests.
By bending justice to political ends, he signalled that fueros could be overridden when loyalty was questioned.
Castile bore the financial brunt of empire, unlike Aragon or Navarre.
The alcabala (sales tax) and extraordinary grants from the Castilian Cortes fell heavily on its towns.
The influx of silver caused severe inflation, eroding real wages in Castile more than elsewhere.
Agricultural decline and emigration reduced the tax base, deepening the sense of unfair provincial imbalance.
After the revolt, Moriscos were dispersed into smaller communities across Castile and other regions.
This weakened their cultural cohesion, but also caused tensions with local populations unused to Morisco presence.
In some areas, labour shortages made their resettlement economically useful, especially in agriculture.
Social friction remained high, with suspicions of disloyalty persisting and hardening provincial divisions in Spain.
Practice Questions
Question 1 (2 marks)
In which region of Spain did the Morisco revolt of 1568 begin?
Mark Scheme
1 mark for identifying Granada.
1 mark for specifying the Alpujarras mountains.
(Max 2 marks)
Question 2 (6 marks)
Explain two reasons why Philip II faced difficulties in governing the provinces of Spain.
Mark Scheme
Award up to 3 marks for each explained reason.
Provincial privileges (fueros): 1 mark for mentioning fueros/local rights; 1 mark for noting their strength in regions like Aragon; 1 mark for explaining they limited central authority.
Separate institutions: 1 mark for noting each kingdom had its own cortes/laws; 1 mark for highlighting administrative fragmentation; 1 mark for explaining how this slowed or complicated governance.
Resistance to centralisation (alternative valid answer): 1 mark for identifying provincial resistance; 1 mark for linking to specific events (e.g., Aragon Revolt 1590); 1 mark for explaining impact on Philip’s authority.
(Max 6 marks)
