Justice in the parlament representation of the Sixteenth Century: The Courts of Castilla and the General States

Abstract

Within the two largest European monarchies of the sixteenth century, France and Spain, justice is, undeniably, the ultimate virtue. Scholars from both countries insistently remind us of this and advise monarchs that justice be enforced equally. But next to the idealized image of justice going through both realms, it is also possible to track both in Spain and France a firm criticism against the enforcement of justice itself, which many deemed afflicted by numerous problems. Courts and General States —where, as we know, the whole of the social entity had to be heard— witnessed this particular trend in views.