Authority and Justice in the Formation of the Kingdom of Asturias–León. Issue 2 (4th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Martín Viso, Iñaki
• Is Part Of: Al-Masāq. Volume 29:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 114
• Page End: 132
• Publication Date: 2017-05-04
• Subjects: Justice -- Asturian–Leonese kingdom -- kings -- magnates -- judicial practices -- authority; Civilization, Islamic -- Periodicals; Islamic Empire -- Periodicals; Mediterranean Region -- Civilization -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 909.04927
• DOI: 10.1080/09503110.2017.1349979
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-3110

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper aims to analyse the role of control over judicial practices in the shaping of the Asturian–Leonese monarchy. Within the diversity of dispute settlement and resolution levels, royal justice may be understood as a resource to build authority and legitimize a new power. In fact, royal justice concerned individuals or institutions linked to the monarchy. However, the kings' sphere of action was initially restricted to the areas where they actually enjoyed landownership and patronage. Nevertheless, in certain areas where royal authority was not direct, like Astorga or Coimbra, this power was exercised by individuals labelled as magnates. In both cases, political integration into the kingdom of Asturias–León was undertaken by aristocrats who theoretically acted on behalf of the king. Although reference to the kings served to legitimize their de facto position, the agency of such counts included the control of justice at the local level.