Cámara de Castilla
Item
Country
ES
Name of institution (English)
General Archive of Simancas
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
spa
Contact information: postal address
Miravete 8, 47130 Simancas
Contact information: phone number
0034 983590003
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
ags@cultura.gob.es
Reference number
CCA
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Chamber of Castile
Title (official language of the state)
Cámara de Castilla
Language of title
spa
Creator / accumulator
Cámara de Castilla
Date(s)
1323/1716
Language(s)
spa
Extent
3348 boxes and 417 books
Type of material
Textual Material
Scope and content
The Cámara de Castilla fonds comprises documentation related to the governance of the Castillian territories. As a composite monarchy, the territories under the rule of the Habsburgs had different councils that assisted the king in matters of governance related to each territory. The primary documentation of this fonds is made of "consultas" (advice) that were sent to the king on different matters. In each archival unit, other documents, such as the royal order that gave rise to the "consulta", the letter or other document initially sent to the king on a particular matter, can often be found. In some instances, the royal orders that determined the final decision can also be found in this fonds.
Some documents are related to Spanish Jews and conversos, such as the following:
CCA,CED,1,9,1: "Desembargo de bienes del físico García Fadrique": Royal provision of the Catholic Kings, Ferdinand (1475-1504) and Isabella (1451-1504), ordering the restitution of 290,741 meravedís to a Jewish physician, García Fadrique, as he had converted to Christianism. March 20, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,33,1: "Alonso Núñez de Guadalajara, converso": Royal provision ordering the restitution of assets to Alfonso Núñez de Guadalajara, who had been confiscated before his conversion to Christianity. April 30, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,34,6: "Devolución de bienes al converso Pedro Lainez, vecino de Sepúlveda": Royal provision ordering the restitution of the assets confiscated from Pedro Laínez, who lived in Sepúlveda, after his conversion to Christianity. April 30, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,33,3: "Merced económica a don Álvaro de Zúñiga en bienes de conversos": Royal provision giving 100,000 meravedís to Don Álvaro de Zúñiga, prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, to be collected in conversos' assets. The Royal decree particularly mentioned the assets of Juan de la Peña, who refused to convert to Christianity and left the Castillian territory. April 30, 1494.
CCA,CED,1,82,2: "Información sobre bienes confiscados a judios": Royal provision ordering the collection of debts left by Jews who had abandoned the kingdom, which should revert in favour of the Royal Chamber. July 26, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
Digital copies of these documents are available online:
Some documents are related to Spanish Jews and conversos, such as the following:
CCA,CED,1,9,1: "Desembargo de bienes del físico García Fadrique": Royal provision of the Catholic Kings, Ferdinand (1475-1504) and Isabella (1451-1504), ordering the restitution of 290,741 meravedís to a Jewish physician, García Fadrique, as he had converted to Christianism. March 20, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,33,1: "Alonso Núñez de Guadalajara, converso": Royal provision ordering the restitution of assets to Alfonso Núñez de Guadalajara, who had been confiscated before his conversion to Christianity. April 30, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,34,6: "Devolución de bienes al converso Pedro Lainez, vecino de Sepúlveda": Royal provision ordering the restitution of the assets confiscated from Pedro Laínez, who lived in Sepúlveda, after his conversion to Christianity. April 30, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
CCA,CED,1,33,3: "Merced económica a don Álvaro de Zúñiga en bienes de conversos": Royal provision giving 100,000 meravedís to Don Álvaro de Zúñiga, prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, to be collected in conversos' assets. The Royal decree particularly mentioned the assets of Juan de la Peña, who refused to convert to Christianity and left the Castillian territory. April 30, 1494.
CCA,CED,1,82,2: "Información sobre bienes confiscados a judios": Royal provision ordering the collection of debts left by Jews who had abandoned the kingdom, which should revert in favour of the Royal Chamber. July 26, 1494. Published in Suárez Fernandez (1964).
Digital copies of these documents are available online:
Archival history
Most of this fonds's documents entered the archive in various incorporations. The most important one took place during the 16th century when numerous documents from the house of the Comendador Mayor Francisco de los Cobos (c. 1477-1547) were sent to Simancas. It included documentation from 1523 to 1556 and more than 100 "libros de cédulas", the oldest part of the series. In the 17th and 18th centuries, there were three significant incorporations. The first and second ones occurred approximately in the reigns of Felipe II (1613) and Felipe IV (1636), and the last one occurred during Carlos II's reign (1718).
Administrative / Biographical history
The date of the foundation of the Cámara de Castilla is uncertain. However, this institution served as a critical element for distributing royal privileges, the cornerstone of the Ancien Régime. Separated for this purpose from the Royal Council of Castille, its consummation as a body took place during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs in the 15th century. In the following decades, its functions and system of governance were gradually regularised. Indeed, it received successive instructions under Carlos V (1500-1558), most notably those of 1528, which fully consolidated it as an institution.
The growing complexity and progressive accumulation of power during the 16th century clearly express its increasing importance. On January 6, 1588, Felipe II (1527-1598) promulgated a new instruction that updated its internal governance.
Its initial structure was remarkably simple: two or more Councillors, who were Royal Council of Castille members, and a Royal Secretary. From 1588, the structure was fixed on a President (the same as that of the Royal Council of Castille), several Councillors, and three Secretaries: one for the "Cámara o gracia" (Chamber or Grace), another for the "Oficios de Justicia" (Offices of Justice), and another one for the "Patronato Real" (Royal Patronage).
The growing complexity and progressive accumulation of power during the 16th century clearly express its increasing importance. On January 6, 1588, Felipe II (1527-1598) promulgated a new instruction that updated its internal governance.
Its initial structure was remarkably simple: two or more Councillors, who were Royal Council of Castille members, and a Royal Secretary. From 1588, the structure was fixed on a President (the same as that of the Royal Council of Castille), several Councillors, and three Secretaries: one for the "Cámara o gracia" (Chamber or Grace), another for the "Oficios de Justicia" (Offices of Justice), and another one for the "Patronato Real" (Royal Patronage).
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The fonds is organised according to document type. Documents are described individually by content.
Access, restrictions
Numerous documentation is available online:
Links to finding aids
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2023
Bibliography
Linked resources
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Archivo General de Simancas | Collections (official language of the state) |