Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why did the fueros of Valencia and Aragon matter during the War of the Spanish Succession?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Illustration of the Battle of Blenheim showing cavalry and infantry in combat, fallen soldiers, and smoke rising from cannon fire across a hilly battlefield. — War of the Spanish Succession The Battle of Blenheim (August 13, 1704), was the most famous victory of John Churchill, duke of Marlborough, and Eugene of Savoy during the War of the Spanish Succession.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, the fueros—traditional local privileges, laws, and rights of self-government—became a central point of conflict between the Bourbon monarchy and the regions of Valencia and Aragon.12

For the Bourbon administration, these fueros were viewed as obstacles to the creation of an efficient, centralized state capable of extracting resources for the war effort. Conversely, the regions of Valencia, Aragon, and Catalonia perceived the imposition of royal rule as a Castilian-led centralizing force that threatened their historical autonomy.1

The importance of these privileges escalated as the war progressed:
* Political Disaffection: The regions’ defense of their fueros fueled opposition to Philip V, as Bourbon officials increasingly viewed these special rights as covers for treasonable sympathies toward the Austrian and English invaders.1
* Revolt: When Philip V attempted to move troops through Aragon to attack Catalonia, the Aragonese revolted in defense of their fueros, which hardened the resolve of the king’s advisers to dismantle local privileges.1
* Abolition: Following the Bourbon victory at the Battle of Almansa in 1707, the fueros of Valencia and Aragon were formally abolished as a punitive measure against the rebels.1