The sale of waste lands in 16th century Andalusia: The “Reformation” of Junco de Posada

Abstract

The misappropriation of Crown lands during the Modern Age was a means to increasing patrimony mainly used by minicipal oligarchies. However, it was also significantly practised by members of less wealthy social groups in sites of Castile. The Crown endeavored to avoid it through comissions, but the need to sustain the kingdom’s poor finances forced it to reach “compositions” or agreements to sell off land with the usurpers formely sued. After a brief bibliographical introduction on the issue, this paper focuses on the inquiry of one of the commisioned, namely Junco de Posada.