Community, fatherland and nation as sources of political legitimacy in the Castilian Communities (1520-1521)

Authors

  • Mateo Ballester Rodríguez

Keywords:

Revolt of the Communities of Castile, national identity, political legitimacy

Abstract

The revolt of the Communities of Castile has been object of the most discordant interpretations throughout history. Some current perspectives assign the political program of the Comuneros a moderately reformist, or even conservative and traditionalist character. As opposed to that, this article subscribes José Antonio Maravall’s interpretation of this political rebellion as modern, ground-breaking and revolutionary. Even though Maravall —whose one hundred-birthday is commemorated this year— never used this terminology in relation to the revolt of the Communities, this article holds that in this historical context there is not only an early expression of a national identity, but also a clear outline of the principle of national sovereignty.

Issue

Section

RESEARCH NOTES