Nueva Planta Decree (January 16, 1716)

Nueva Planta. The decree

After the end of the War of Succession for the Spanish Crown, with the signing of the treaty of Utrecht on July 13, 1713, and in Catalonia as the last political scenario where the conflict continued, after the fall of Barcelona on 11 September 1714, the creation of the Royal Superior Board of Justice and Government of the Principality of Catalonia, erected by decree of the Duke of Berwick on September 15, 1714, and the fall of Cardona on September 18 of that year, two years later by Decree, issued by the Council of Castile on October 9, 1715 and dispatched by Royal Decree of January 16, 1716, the New Plant of the Real Audiencia [=Royal Court] of Catalonia, presided over by the Captain General, with functions of both government and justice will mark a starting point for further changes in history.

With the Nueva Planta Decrees a new model of absolutist administrative organization was initiated, which responded to the desire of Philip V to make a more homogeneous administration of all the territories of the Bourbon monarchy. The preference of the military authorities over civilians was reinforced, combining the dualism of Captain General and Real Audiencia for the functions of government, tending to gradually reduce the Audiencia's role to merely consultative, not forgetting the great tensions that arose between both powers.

The systematics of the Decree will be consistent in giving first the new plan to the Audiencia, then the new administrative plan and, finally, ordering some institutions of a different nature. But it will not cover everything in a way that will require further provisions that will conform the entire regime of the New Plan.

The Nueva Planta Decree of the Real Audiencia of Catalonia is composed of 44 articles, but it will be the first article that marks the decisive point of the highest governmental authority of Catalonia: Salto de línea "Having with the divine assistance and Justice of my cause pacified entirely my Weapons that Principality, its my Sovereignty turn to establish government in it, and to my Fatherly Dignity to give from now on the healthiest measures so that its inhabitants live in peace, calmness and abundance... "

Its Bourbon structure will be definitively established in the Ordinances of 1741 (with the Royal Decree granted in Aranjuez on May 30) which includes the "Ordinances that have deigned to establish for the best regime and government of the Audiencia of Catalonia", published by the Acuerdo [=Agreement] on January 23, 1742.

Salto de línea The New Plan seen through the collection of the Real Audiencia

For the study of this event, which would mark a new course for the history of the Hispanic Monarchy, we have made a short selection of documents preserved in the Real Audiencia and, together with the New Plan Decree, show part of the issues (social, institutional, political, religious...) dealt with by that institution, a reflection of the exercise of its functions, which allow us to glimpse part of the history of that period.

Salto de línea 1714, September, 15, MadridSalto de línea Decree of his Excellency the Duke of Berwick and Liria by which establishes the Superior Board of Government and Justice of the Principality.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 1

1716, January, 16, MadridSalto de línea Decree of New Plan of the Audiencia of the Principality of Catalonia. Agreed Letter of the Real Audiencia that registers Real Cédula on the New Plan.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 6, fols. 1r-11r Link to PARES

1716, July, 9, BarcelonaSalto de línea A proclamation addressed to all the natives of the kingdoms of Aragon, Castile and Valencia who have followed the enemy party for leaving the Royal Domains of His Majesty in the term of ten days, incurring the offenders in the penalties mentioned.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 243, fols. 5r-6r Link to PARES

1717, September, 22, BarcelonaSalto de línea Edict in which is ordered to go into effect the Royal Order of Her Majesty prohibiting the introduction, sale and commerce of the genera and clothes suspected of contagious evils introduced by the ports of this Principality, especially the "Breton shirts."Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 243, fols. 109v-111v Link to PARES

1717, December, 10, BarcelonaSalto de línea Edict in which is prohibited in these kingdoms the entrance of the sugars, sweets and cacao of Marañón that come from the kingdoms of Portugal.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 243, fols. 115v-117r Link to PARES

1717, December, 13, BarcelonaSalto de línea Edict prohibiting the retention of the book "The life of San Felipe Benicio", and any other book or story that directly or indirectly contain clauses or some words against the state or royalty of His Majesty.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 243, fols. 117r-119r Link to PARES

1741, July, 6, BarcelonaSalto de línea Letter of the Real Audiencia which records the Ordinances established by His Majesty for the best regime and government of the Audiencia of Catalonia, with Royal Decree issued in Aranjuez on May 30, 1741.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Registros, 20, fols. 67r-131v Link to PARES

1742, January, 23, BarcelonaSalto de línea Ordenanzas de la Real Audiencia del Principado de Cataluña mandadas imprimir por su majestad [=Ordinances of the Royal Audiencia of the Principality of Catalonia ordered to be printed by His Majesty]. Salto de línea Salto de línea 1774Salto de línea About prohibition of fights, pedestrians, ban on amusement, and masquerade costumes.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 75

1776Salto de línea Exemptions enjoyed by parents of 12 and 6 children.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 77

1790Salto de línea Prohibition on the introduction of "unhealthy" stale flours imported from Portugal and elsewhere.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 92

1794Salto de línea About graces that are granted to volunteers for the war against France.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 96

1797Salto de línea Treaty of peace, friendship, navigation, commerce and fishing between the King of Spain and the King of Morocco.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 60

1808Salto de línea Raising by the Duke of Berg of the prohibition held by King Phillip V of the use of arms to the natives of Catalonia.Salto de línea ACA, Real Audiencia, Legajos, 118

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