Rebellion of the Remences

Two major peasant revolts in Catalonia against feudal lords and seignorial abuses.

Quick Facts: Who was Rebellion of the Remences?

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Rebellion of the Remences
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Two major peasant revolts in Catalonia against feudal lords and seignorial abuses.
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Origins & Early Life

The Rebellion of the Remences or War of the Remences was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe against seignorial pressures that began in the Principality of Catalonia in 1462 and ended a decade later without definitive result. Ferdinand II of Aragon finally resolved the conflict with the Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe in 1486. The Catalan term remença derives from the Latin redementia and emphasizes the possibility of redemption from servitude. In the early 14th century, the rise of Catalan cities and the expansion of Catalan culture and the Aragonese Empire led to a decline in the rural population, which declined still further due to the Black Death. The nobility began to strictly enforce the evil customs tying peasants to the land; they also began a much stricter enforcement of seignorial rights in general than had been the practice in recent centuries.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The strongest support for open rebellion came from the poorest peasants. Those with more goods—who were in the majority on the Plain of Vic, l'Empordà, and el Vallès—tried to appeal to the king for reforms and the end of the seignorial abuses. The monarchy had some reasons to wish to have the peasants as an independent force, since the Aragonese crown was continually in a power struggle with the nobility. In the mid-15th century, Alfonso V of Aragon, "the Magnanimous", allowed the peasants to form a sindicat remença, a peasants' guild or primitive trade union, granted them their liberty and intervened in several other ways against the abuses. However, the Bishop of Girona sided with the nobility; along with the Generalitat, controlled by the nobles, their opposition led Alfonso to reverse himself.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Alfonso's successor, John II, sought the peasants' help against the nobility. By May 1461, the peasantry had declared themselves in favor of the king against the nobles. In 1462, the remensa peasants rebelled; this coincided with the War against John II by the nobles. The peasants, under the leadership of Francesc de Verntallat, fought mainly in the mountainous interior, while the king and the more traditional armed forces loyal to him fought nearer the Mediterranean coast. After ten years, John won the war, but failed to abolish serfdom or even to bring about significant reforms.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1461: 1461 Milestone — By May 1461, the peasantry had declared themselves in favor of the king against the nobles.
  2. 1462: 1462 Milestone — The Rebellion of the Remences or War of the Remences was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe against seignorial pressures that began in the Principality of Catalonia in 1462 and ended a decade later without definitive result.
  3. 1486: 1486 Milestone — Ferdinand II of Aragon finally resolved the conflict with the Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe in 1486.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Rebellion of the Remences

True or False: “The Rebellion of the Remences immediately resulted in the complete abolition of serfdom across Catalonia.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While significant reforms were enacted, the Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe left the rural society still fundamentally feudal in character.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Rebellion of the Remences

Who was Rebellion of the Remences and what are their primary contributions?

Two major peasant revolts in Catalonia against feudal lords and seignorial abuses. Origins & Early Life: The Rebellion of the Remences or War of the Remences was a popular revolt in late medieval Europe against seignorial pressures that began in the Principality of Catalonia in 1462 and ended a decade later without definitive result. Ferdinand II of Aragon finally resolved the conflict with the Sentencia Arbitral de Guadalupe in 1486. The Catalan term remença derives from the Latin redementia and emphasizes the possibility of redemption from servitude. In the early 14th century, the rise of Catalan cities and the expansion of Catalan culture and the Aragonese Empire led to a decline in the rural population, which declined still further due to the Black Death. The nobility began to strictly enforce the evil customs tying peasants to the land; they also began a much stricter enforcement of seignorial rights in general than had been the practice in recent centuries.

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Source: Wikipedia