The Limits of Royal Authority

Inwhatissometimescalledtheageofabsolutism,Castiliannoblesandcommoners,tribunesandtowns,weretoaconsiderabledegreeabletoresistandshaperoyalcommands.Whereastherewaslittleopenconflict,therewassometimesasurprisingdegreeofautonomy,rightsandreciprocityonthepartoftheking'svassals.Thisisastudyofonesuchformofresistance:theoppositiontomilitarylevies.Thisoppositiontookplaceduringaperiodofcrisis,duringthe1630sand1640s,whentheCrown'sneedtoraiseanarmycameintoconflictwithanotionofkingshipthatwasfarfromabsolute.Fromtheking'sadvisorycouncilstoparliament,fromcitycouncilsandseigneurialestates,tothemosthumblevillages,Castilianshadrecoursetoawiderangeofpoliticalandjuridictionalmeanswithwhichtodisputetheking'sclaimsandavoidconscription.