Land Communal Usurpations in the City Municipal Area of Plasencia at the End of Middle Ages

Abstract

This essay analyses the land usurpations into the municipal area of Plasencia (Cáceres) reported at the end of 15th Century and beginning of 16th Century. In these usurpations took part the practically totality of the members of the neighbouring nobility, the local knights and the villages located inside the municipal area. The usurpations mainly affected to Campo Arañuelo and the area comprised between the rivers Tagus and Almonte; i. e., the spaces with less demographic density. The main initiative against these abuses was sometimes taken by the city council, but also the royal small villages had an outstanding role at the defence of communal goods.

Keywords

• baja edad media
• extremadura
• concejos
• oligarquía
• usurpación de comunales