Seignorial and council disputes about the exploitation of natural resources in the Huéscar region during the first half of the 16th Century

Abstract

This paper tries to address the discussion about the intricate issue of the exploitation of natural resources in the Huéscar region where several territorial, social and economical interests arise. This conflict is well characterized by some legal disputes like boundaries actions, related to the district community and resources exploitation, which are often solved between the jurisdictional lords, between them and their council or between the concerned municipal councils sheltered by the local oligarchies. Throughout the next pages an example of each dispute will be analyzed, paying special attention to the controversy related to the terms community, which were signed in 1508 through the agreement between don Pedro Fajardo and the Huéscar municipal council and provoked a long conflict without break during the Ancient Regime period.