When Emperor Charles V returned to Spain in 1522, the peninsula was once again under royal control. Perhaps incredibly, over the next seven years Charles negated much of the hostility and anger that had been directed towards him, stabilising the politics and society of Spain. Indeed, when historians discuss the contribution that Charles made to Spanish history, the period 1522 - 29 is seen as his most successful (although his financial activities are usually considered more significant).
New Relationships
The defeat of the Comuneros was a major factor, because the manner of victory did more than simply end a rebellion: it paved the way for renewed royal control. The towns had been humbled, and the crown was able to exercise great magnanimity - the rebellious districts were left physically intact, as were their privileges - in return for greater compliance in the Cortes. Indeed, the towns were never able to challenge Charles again on anything nearing the same scale, and the only alternative was the development of a proud, but submissive, Cortes. New corregidores were installed, and the instruments of royal control renewed, with greater attention to the effectiveness and honesty of the agents.Equally, the relationship between king and aristocracy developed favorably for Charles. The nobility had won victory in Castile and Valencia, with the Castilian grandees obtaining concessions from the king in return for their actions. However, by relying on the grandee's military strength the crown had re-established a close relationship between the two, bringing the previously discontent nobles closer to Charles. Some of the nobility may have hoped for greater political power - neither the concessions, nor Charles' later grants gave them any more of that - but most were pleased with the ego-boosting conflict.
Charles Changes
Charles' own actions also contributed immeasurably to his growing success in Spain. Upon returning he learnt Castilian, establishing it as the language of choice in his court, and he reorganised both his entourage, and the government of Spain, in a way appealing to many Spaniards; this included the appointment of many grandees to important positions. Over time the awkward young man grew into a more assured and dominant individual, giving the impression of sound leadership. Charles also married an Iberian woman, princess Isabella of Portugal, and she soon bore the Spanish-born heir desired by the population. Indeed, Isabella was to act, most capably, as a regent during Charles' later absences. The king also declared that Spain was the head of his vast empire; given the financial drain which Charles imposed on Castile, this is certainly true.Equally, Charles began to match the reputation of Isabella and Ferdinand, not least in the peripatetic nature of his court. Neither of these two monarchs remained in a capital, as each constantly travelled from one city to another; Charles did the same. It is, perhaps, ironic that all of these elements - which united Charles with his kingdom - are the same as those demanded by the Comuneros. The difference is in the circumstances: Charles made these changes in his own time, under his own auspices, and not as a result of anyone's demands.
Of course, adverse reaction to Charles had been only partly responsible for the disturbances in Castile and Valencia, and while the king removed much of the antipathy towards him, the local familial and urban rivalries remained, as they would for centuries. However, opposition to the crown never grew strong enough in Charles' reign to overcome these disputes again.
The Nature of the Revolts
One dimension which historians often bring to Charles' problems is that of Europe. Were the events of 1521 - 2 the results of "a traditional, xenophobic Castilian regionalism against an innovative, cosmopolitan Habsburg family enterprise"? (Bonney, The European Dynastic States, Oxford, 1991, p. 111) Or can we conclude "There was likewise no triumph of Europe over Spain, which remained stubbornly impervious to foreign influence...and actually succeeded in Hispanising the emperor himself"? (Kamen, Spain 1469 - 1714, Longman, 1991, p. 81)The answer will probably be subjective, and depend upon an examination of the rest of Charles' empire, as well as the surrounding Spanish history. However, it is clear that when Charles inherited the kingdoms of Spain, he inherited a country that was heavily divided, very regional and focused firmly on the traditional Hispanic sphere of influence, the Mediterranean. Can we really talk about a conflict of Spain and Europe when two separate rebellions in Spain, the Comuneros and the Germania, made no attempt to unite themselves, and where the warring parties, town and grandee, were wholly Spanish? The influx of European, Habsburg, or even Charles', thinking may well have been just a trigger for Iberian civil conflict.
