«Elegir obispos que parezcan bien a Dios y al mundo». Patronato regio y elecciones episcopales durante el viaje de Fernando el Católico a Italia (1506-1507)

Abstract

This paper analyses the vacancies and appointments of bishops in Castile in the period between the death of Philip the Fair in September 1506 and the return of Ferdinand the Catholic from Naples in August 1507. During that year, the Royal Council and the Aragonese monarch arbitrated measures to defend the Royal Patronage after Queen Juana had refused to select people to cover the vacant seats, which were disputed by nobles, clergymen and courtiers. Nevertheless, Pope Julius II demanded the appointment of the incumbents who had died <em>in Curia</em>. New documentation sheds light on this unique situation in the Castilian Church, which Ferdinand had to resolve in order to regain the government. He was able to achieve this with the help of Archbishop Cisneros, who was in favor of electing bishops “who were good before the eyes of God and before the eyes of the people”.

El presente trabajo analiza las vacantes y los nombramientos episcopales que se produjeron en Castilla entre el fallecimiento de Felipe el Hermoso en septiembre de 1506 y el regreso de Fernando el Católico desde Nápoles en agosto de 1507. Durante aquel año, el Consejo Real y el monarca aragonés arbitraron medidas para defender el patronato regio ante la negativa de la reina Juana a cubrir las sedes vacantes –disputadas por nobles, eclesiásticos y cortesanos–, mientras el papa Julio II reivindicaba el nombramiento de los titulares fallecidos <em>in Curia</em>. Usando nueva documentación, se ilumina esta singular situación de la Iglesia castellana que Fernando debió resolver para retomar la gobernación con la ayuda del arzobispo Cisneros, partidario de elegir obispos “que parezcan bien a Dios y al mundo”.