Nueva Planta decrees

The Nueva Planta decrees were royal orders issued by Philip V of Spain between 1707 and 1716, abolishing the laws and institutions of several Crown of Aragon territories and extending Castilian administration.

Crown of Aragon: A composite monarchy whose territories included Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. Its territories supplied the institutions and laws the decrees dismantled.
War of the Spanish Succession: A European war from 1701 to 1714 over who would inherit the Spanish monarchy. The decrees followed the Crown of Aragon territories’ support for Philip V’s rival.
Decree of Nueva Planta for Valencia and Aragon: The 1707 royal decree that abolished the institutions and laws of the kingdoms of Valencia and Aragon. It marked the first major abolition of Crown of Aragon institutions by Philip V.
Aragonese law: The body of laws and legal institutions historically governing the Kingdom of Aragon. Its abolition contrasts with the preservation of some local civil law.
Fueros: Regional laws and privileges recognized by monarchs in parts of Spain and its former kingdoms. The decrees revoked these legal privileges in targeted territories.
Philip V of Spain: The first Bourbon king of Spain, whose reign began in 1700. Philip V issued the decrees to consolidate royal authority after victory.
Nueva Planta Decree for Mallorca: The 1715 decree that reorganized Mallorca’s government and institutions under Philip V. Its terms differed from those imposed earlier on Valencia and Aragon.
Navarrese fueros: The historic laws and privileges of Navarre, maintained under the Spanish monarchy after the succession war. Their survival shows that Philip V did not abolish every regional legal system.
Real Audiencia: A high court that also exercised administrative and governmental functions in Spanish territories. Royal Audiencias became instruments of the new centralized administration.
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor: The Habsburg claimant to the Spanish throne during the War of the Spanish Succession. Many Aragonese territories backed his claim against Philip V.

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