From Castilla del Oro to the Royal Court and Back: Cities and Political Representation in the Spanish Atlantic, 1510–1573

Abstract

Although there never was a representative Cortes for the New World, and American cities were never summoned to take part in those held in Castile until 1812, every city or town, no matter its size or population, found ways to communicate and negotiate directly with the Crown and take an active part in politics. Shortly after their foundation, Spanish cities in the New World were granted permission by the Crown to appoint representatives to assist in their affairs, defend them before royal councils and tribunals, and pursue their rights, among other functions. The cities of Castilla del Oro – present day Panama – provide a case study of how representatives of American councils acquired urban privileges. Their example highlights the role of the individual and collective agents who actually defined its politics and so provides a more balanced interpretation of the construction and management of power in the Spanish Monarchy. Ultimately, to understand how it functioned, we need to look beyond the formal government institutions that have dominated accounts of its operation.