The revolt of the Comunidades in Cuenca (1520-1522)

Abstract

In order to improve our knowledge of the revolt of the “Comunidades” from the local perspective, the author proposes in this article a study of the case of the city of Cuenca, that is based on the information provided by the recorded acts of the assemblies of the town council during the years 1520, 1521 and 1522. He analyses the main changes that took place in the political life of the city from the summer of 1520 onwards, and gives account of the influence that these changes had over the evolution of the relationship between the town council and the Junta of Tordesillas-Valladolid. He proves that the pressure from the local “comuneros” forced the introduction of several changes in the social composition of the town council, although the “regidores”(aldermen) continued to control it, and only some of them refused to attend its sessions, and left the city. And he also proves that during the revolt of the Comunidades the group that ruled in the city of Cuenca only gave a weak and ambiguous support to the Comunero Junta,because they sent very late their deputies to this assembly, and shortly afterwards they were required to leave it.