revolt revolt spanish las war communities uprising citizens rule administration height rebels controlled heart ruling cities revolt occurred wake political instability death queen isabella isabella daughter inherited throne husband king philip died years reign son charles years old youth mental instability ruled nobles father king ferdinand regency ferdinand death sixteen year old charles proclaimed king charles raised netherlands little knowledge arrived spain october accompanied large flemish nobles factors resulted new king social threat power status charles elected holy roman emperor departed germany leaving dutch cardinal adrian rule absence soon series anti government riots broke cities local city councils took power rebels chose charles mother alternative ruler hoping control madness rebel movement took radical anti feudal dimension supporting peasant rebellions landed nobility april nearly year rebellion reorganized supporters emperor struck blow battle following day rebel leaders beheaded army fell apart city kept alive rebellion surrender october character revolution matter debate according scholars revolt modern revolutions notably anti noble sentiment social injustice basis ideals democracy freedom consider typical rebellion high taxes perceived foreign control 19th century onwards revolt generally liberals drew political inspiration conservative intellectuals traditionally adopted pro imperial revolt critical motives government end franco dictatorship establishment autonomous community positive commemoration grown april celebrated day incident referred nationalism origins discontent years revolt second half 15th century saw profound political economic social changes spain economic growth created new urban industries offered route power wealth tied aristocracy support urban critical ferdinand isabella power acted landed aristocracy clergy queen isabella death alliance national government middle class government decayed successive administration corruption king philip ruled mere years replaced regent short time isabella ferdinand ruled ferdinand claim continue ruling regent somewhat isabella death plausible alternatives existed sovereign widowed daughter mentally unfit reign landed nobility took advantage weak corrupt illegally expand territory domain private armies government response towns signed mutual defense relying national government budgets poor condition time government expelled jews muslims moves lucrative trades businesses ferdinand isabella forced borrow money pay troops spanish military obligations increased large number troops required maintain stability recently conquered threatened revolt muslims converted christianity frequent naval raids muslim nations mediterranean additionally ferdinand invaded occupied forces required garrison revolts french armies little money left pay royal army proper let service foreign debts corruption government isabella death budget worse succession charles ferdinand died remaining heir ferdinand isabella grandson charles king charles regency mother charles brought flanders homeland father philip barely knew people greeted skepticism hoped restore stability arrival new king late flemish court took positions power young charles trusted people knew netherlands appointment year old archbishop important position held regent country months rule discontent openly rich poor alike monks began denouncing royal court flemish nobility public protests involved posted churches read land damned suffer noble kingdom governed love unrest growing charles paternal grandfather holy roman emperor died new election held choose emperor charles campaigned aggressively post king francis france bribe prince charles won election emperor power prepared head germany possession new domains new taxes charles stressed treasury limit extravagant flemish court million gold spent bribes election taxes raised cover debt new taxes approved parliamentary body late march charles convened charles ensured limited power attempted stack representatives bribe support opposition increased response representatives demanded grievances heard new tax granted group soon circulated statement protest king argued points new taxes rejected embraced foreign empire rejected king account subjects defend interests kingdom time word communities independent populace stick councils later formed point members intended vote king requested duties taxes stacked response charles decided suspend april convened april time getting program passed embarked germany left regent spanish possessions tutor adrian better known future pope adrian april unstable city council forefront protests charles bid holy roman emperor short term expenses borne questioned role new political framework given possibility land mere imperial province situation erupted royal government summoned radical city away city intending send easily replacements royal salary order came april day later prepared leave large crowd opposed departure drove royal administrators instead citizen committee elected leadership naming april remaining administrators driven fortifications following charles departure germany riots multiplied cities central especially arrival legislators voted yes taxes charles asked earliest violent incidents mob murdered administrators city legislator voted favor incidents similar size occurred cities suffered minor proposals cities widespread discontent circulating june council suggested cities vote hold emergency meeting goals cancel taxes voted return local controlled system taxation reserve official positions church prohibit money leaving kingdom fund foreign affairs designate lead kingdom absence king claims especially spread quickly society ideas began replacing king leaders floated possibility turning cities independent free cities similar genoa italian competing proposals suggested keeping monarchy charles proposed replaced mother born brother ferdinand ideas revolt shifted simple protest taxes broader revolution cities outright revolt stopped sending taxes began self govern expansion revolt blockade situation moved closer armed conflict june sent investigate recent murder legislator refused entry unable city small force instead set blockade supplies entering people led militia leader noble rallied requested aid army madrid cities responded sending militias captained won major confrontation forces king rebels cities followed lead governments revolutionary holy assembly communities held session declared legitimate government named captain general troops assembled cities sent representatives burning del faced situation regent cardinal adrian decided use royal artillery located nearby defeat adrian ordered commander seize artillery arrived august encountered heavy resistance townspeople city strong trade links ordered setting fire distract resistance grew control town destroyed including monastery trade warehouse containing goods valued withdraw troops event public relations disaster government uprisings occurred cities previously neutral capital establishment caused important core plateau declare rebels stability government new members joined looked adrian flee fell royal army soldiers unpaid months started army properly organized integrating militias madrid told attack forces went del took possession artillery denied troops august army arrived goal declaring queen sole sovereign moved queen request invited cities sent representatives total thirteen cities represented madrid invited cities failed attend cities kingdom represented renamed general del general_assembly kingdom september mad queen time presided legislators met explained purpose sovereignty restore lost stability kingdom day september issued declaration use arms necessary aid city threatened september declared new legitimate government denounced self defense taken cities represented week finishing september revolutionary government structure free hand act ineffective confused scope rebellion strong central plateau scattered places rebels sought revolutionary ideas rest kingdom success attempts rebellion northwest south south set unique time drawn stayed rebel cause coordinate rebellion character closer nearby revolt southwest city joined undermined close proximity royalist cities close drawn poor economic fortunes previous years rebellion central suffered agricultural failure setbacks relatively prosperous maritime trade leadership feared instability civil war likely revolt popular governmental response turning nobles growing success people accuse members old government royal abuses protests attacked landed nobility illegally taken property reign weak kings isabella death count revolted september encouraged rebel monks uprising followed similar anti feudal nature leadership forced stance new rebellions reluctant openly endorse initially denounced oppose dynamics uprising changed profoundly status entire system nobles previously somewhat sympathetic cause loss privileges central government new developments lead dramatic drop support frightened radical elements revolution response charles charles grasp magnitude revolt continued demand payments government found impossible secure new loans letter august warned charles severity situation making great error think able collect use tax kingdom city pay members council amazed scheduled payments funds realized fledged revolution underway charles responded vigorously undertook new policy initiatives taxes granted important appointment new complaints rebels addition adrian approached nobles convince best interests lay king established admiral enabled council nearer cities skeptical supporters royal army high nobles maintained trained mercenary armies armies revolt recent fight king organization funding diplomacy political defeats came october attempt use legitimacy bear fruit blocked initiatives refused sign turn voices inside began heard especially position soon known negotiated government granted number significant concessions exchange leaving following incident hoped cities imitate leave peacefully seat royal power considered especially likely turn supporters king left city politics lost influence remained rebel controlled admiral continued campaign try convince return royal government avoid violent suppression attitude concealed great shortage funds royal october november sides accepted military conclusion soon necessary actively devoted fundraising recruiting soldiers training troops organized militias major cities levied new taxes countryside took measures aimed eliminating waste routinely dismissing thought corrupt royal government lost revenue revolt sought loans portugal conservative saw signs switch allegiance battle leadership disputes gradually city leader lost influence retained popularity prestige new figures emerged powerful nobles supported rebellion thought originate charles refusal grant prestigious year prior war head leader army included priests royalist nobles agree tactics use preferred directly challenge rebels combat favored continued waiting building defensive fortifications admiral preferred negotiations exhausting possible peaceful options patience began run thin armies expensive maintain assembled late november armies took positions confrontation inevitable royal capture command army advanced following orders established headquarters town merely kilometres royalist army occupied nearby villages cut communication lines situation continued december apparently thinking royal army remain entrenched moved forces west small town town surrendered day resistance troops began looting estates area movement left path completely unprotected royal army took advantage marching night december occupying day small rebel garrison overwhelmed seizure marked defeat lost claim legitimacy addition thirteen representatives imprisoned fled escaped morale fell rebels angry criticism directed maneuvering troops position failure attempt retake capture obliged resign post withdrew war events december january reorganization following loss december cities represented height fourteen representatives return left earlier capital rebels situation somewhat worse army large number forced rebels intensify recruitment drives especially new recruits arrival rebel military apparatus rebuilt morale bolstered beginning prepared war despite disagreements movement suggested seeking peaceful resolution favored continuing war favored war divided tactics occupy ambitious proposal defended lay siege tactic favored military initiatives far north rebel army began series operations conducted bishop received orders december try raise rebellion tasked collecting taxes behalf creating administration sympathetic cause army series raids area raising inspiring returned early came january begin major offensive nobles nobles land holdings completely devastated mid january count joined organized army thousand men set raiding north nearby awaited joined royalist cause months prior slow response led dissatisfaction uncertainty city aware situation decided north south sought undermine defenses encouraging revolt inhabitants royalist response germany issued december confused condemned prominent members secular rebels punishment death clergy receive lighter penalties similarly declared supported rebels occupation town loyal count sent meet combined force besieged royal army castle royal army slipped away nightfall forced pay tribute avoid recovered rebels day january rebellion scheduled january failure poor coordination besieging army started days early easily crushed surrender rebellion seen rebel campaigns early decision rebels abandoning siege failure revolt decided return opted resume harassment noble properties series actions intended destroy occupy homes prominent nobles rebels set completely system strongest features second phase rebellion recent setbacks suffered realized needed victory raise morale decided castle stronghold halfway close taking grant rebels excellent fortress launching military operations remove threat february siege began outnumbered town resisted days thanks walls february entered town subjected massive looting reward troops churches spared castle resisted days threatened hang inhabitants point castle surrendered defenders secure agreement spare half goods inside castle avoiding looting victory lifted spirits rebel camp worrying rebel advance exactly hoped faith nobles cardinal adrian shaken accused having avoid losing began send troops area contain rebels prevent advances despite renewed enthusiasm rebels decision remain positions near pressing advantage launching new attack caused soldiers return home communities tired waiting salaries new orders problem forces war possessed small number time soldiers militias constantly recruiting attempt negotiate peaceful end war tried sides north failure siege january count resumed campaign set cause uprising homeland besieged southern campaign young appointed charles died january worms germany proposed submit candidate seat departed february small force command traveled south declaring impending claim village passed raised enthusiasm received cheers aroused suspicion aristocracy feared attack holdings duke contacted persuaded sign pact mutual neutrality soon confront appointed commander royalist army area prior maintained base time received information area pursued battle near drove rebel forces launched counterattack inflicting crushing defeat relentless self promoter tried minimize loss claimed emerged victorious confrontation continued appeared plaza heart city march good friday crowd gathered took directly cathedral claiming archbishop chair day met wife facto leader husband absence brief rivalry emerged resolved mutual attempts reconciliation settled began recruit men find enlisting soldiers years old royalist troops burned town april returned countryside roughly men command moved conducted raids operations royalist controlled rural areas attacked faced inconclusive battle near river light near continue news ended war early april royalist moved combine armies threaten moved troops including soldiers recently transferred defense southwest meet admiral forces near reinforced troops far secure preferred forces suffering presence royalist artillery castle vulnerable considered withdrawing seek reinforcements early april delayed decision early hours april losing considerable time allowing unite forces combined royalist army pursued strong advantage cavalry army consisting infantry cavalry infantry cavalry heavy rain slowed infantry royalist cavalry rendered primitive firearms rebels nearly useless hoped reach relative safety heights infantry slow gave battle royalist cavalry town cavalry charges scattered rebel ranks battle slaughter estimated rebel casualties important leaders rebellion captured beheaded morning large portion royalist nobility present remains rebel army fragmented attempting join army near rebellion struck blow end war battle towns northern soon succumbed king troops cities returning allegiance king early madrid kept alive resistance news arrived april largely ignored local magnitude defeat apparent days survivors began arriving city confirmed fact rebel leaders executed declared mourning death death bishop lost popularity favour widow people began suggest negotiating seeking avoid suffering city situation looked worse surrender madrid fall matter time ray hope remained rebels withdrawn troops occupied fight king francis france opportunity invade support royalist army forced march respond left travel recognized caught disputed seeking join french continue fighting simply fleeing took control city remains rebel army living collecting taxes strengthening defenses requested intervention uncle respected negotiate hoping able obtain better concessions eventually abandoned negotiations took personal negotiations commander besieging forces demands somewhat honor ultimately minor property reputation children concerned french royal government gave support parties surrender orchestrated october october left new officials appointed run city truce guaranteed freedom property revolt february new administrator restored order brought city royal control provoked continued presence city refused hand hidden weapons personally signed agreements reached unstable situation came end february generous terms surrender royal soldiers filled city administrator ordered execution riots broke protest incident temporarily thanks intervention sister truce granted defeated distraction exploited escape portugal disguised farmer pardon returned spain july acts repression retaliation occur sporadically large numbers important people supported slow declare allegiance king charles thought press issue charles declared general pardon november pardon gave amnesty involved revolt exception small figure given huge number rebels excluded pardon issued later pressure repression completely end executed died prison purchased amnesty pardoned later rest unknown aftermath successfully escaped portugal lived exile remaining years life captured stripped ecclesiastical standing executed killed guard trying escape received pardon going exile north_africa served commander locked son remain thirty years rest life emperor rule largest european history consequence charles nearly constantly war fighting france england reign spain provide bulk armies financial resources period charles placed high governmental positions empire large generally left administration hands sense revolt considered successful reforms isabella reduced noble power reversed price nobility royalist charles understood noble power helped cause revolt embarked new reform program unpopular corrupt ineffective officials replaced judicial functions limited local courts charles adjusted membership hated president replaced aristocracy role reduced gentry added realizing urban elite needed stake royal government charles gave positions privileges government salaries important hoped maintained power required approve new taxes advise king charles discouraged officials overly methods seeing heavy handed treatment option middle class worked charles successor king demanded large tax increase dependent crown money effectively resist policies wreck economy later influence revolt fresh memory spain referenced literary works spain golden age references rebellion conversation uses word synonym rebel works 18th century held high regard government encouraging rebellions term condemn opposition revolt rebels willingly meant revolt modern colombia similarly unrelated original beginning 19th century image began scholars freedom decline liberty linked later decline spain major commemorative event came centenary liberal military leader fought resistance napoleon led expedition find remains leaders executed praised behalf liberal government power time likely positive governmental recognition cause view challenged conservatives viewed centralized state modern progressive especially anarchy revolution spain conservative government minister published volume las important works scholarship revolt drawing collected original sources emphasized fiscal demands cast medieval feudal liberal intellectual shared dim view prevailed spain cast conflict modern progressive state open foreign influence conservative spain religious cultural insistence racial purity general franco government encouraged unfavorable interpretation according approved historians revolt fundamentally issue petty spanish franco best discourage additionally properly appreciate spain imperial destiny mid twentieth century sought reasons revolt historians portray developing revolt alliances different social shifting economic interests industrial combining intellectuals low nobility merchants views revolt modern revolutions especially stresses ideological conflict intellectual nature revolt features proposed written constitution spain transition democracy following franco death celebration started april small ceremony held years later event huge demonstration support autonomy autonomous community created response public demand recognized april official holiday similarly february celebrated nationalist party celebration highlights roles memory rebellion event war
Revolt of the Comuneros