Valencia is dealing with a variety of…

Valencia is dealing with a variety of problems in the early sixteenth century.

In King Ferdinand II's later years as ruler, the government had slowly decayed and become more corrupt.

The economy in Aragon is not as vibrant as in Andalusia, as it is more based on agriculture and less on the lucrative maritime trade.

Valencia's economy is dominated by two somewhat static factions: the landed nobles, who control agriculture and the countryside, and the Germanies (guilds), which control light manufacturing, crafts, and the cities.

Outbreaks of famine, flood, and plague impede the economy still further.

However, the most imminent threat to the country is that of warfare.

Ferdinand had pursued an ambitious foreign policy, participating in the Italian Wars and invading Navarre in 1512 during a war against France.

This had stretched the finances of Aragon and Castile to their limit.

Spanish relations with Muslim nations and North Africa are still exceedingly poor after the Reconquista, and the coast of Aragon is constantly raided by Barbary pirates.

Revolt of the oppressed Muslim-convert population in the recently conquered Granada is also a concern.

Royal troops are required to be stationed in Granada and Navarre to maintain order.

In order to maintain a coastal defense against the pirates without the cost of deploying the army, Ferdinand had given the Germanies permission to arm themselves and form their own paramilitary brigades.

The local nobles did not approve of this and initially tried to prevent the Germanies from arming, fearful of the consequences of an armed citizenry.

When the King's paternal grandfather, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, dies in 1519, Charles competes with King Francis I of France to win the imperial election by aggressively bribing prince-electors.

Charles wins, becoming Emperor Charles V. He leaves Aragon to return to the wealthier Castile to raise funds to pay down the debts he had incurred in the election.

The taxes granted to Charles at a Castilian cortes in Corunna help spark the Revolt of the Comuneros of Castile.

Of more importance for Aragon, in the summer of 1519 Charles grants his permission to the Germanies to arm themselves against the raiding Muslim fleets.

While permission had previously been granted under Ferdinand, Charles is able to force the Valencian nobles to accept this decision.

The plague strikes Valencia in 1519.

Several of the most important nobles die, and many of the others flee to the countryside.

The superstitious population concludes that the disease is punishment for immorality, and riots against people suspected of being homosexual as well as Muslims.

The government tries to contain the rioters, but the rioters depose the government instead.

The Germanies step into this power vacuum, and gradually replace the royal government of the capital of Valencia.

The "Council of Thirteen", comprising one representative from each union, becomse the new government of the capital city.

Joan Llorenç (Juan Llorens) emerges as the leader and intellectual statesmen of the Germanies, and seeks a representative government similar to the Italian republics such as the Republic of Genoa.

Llorenç and the Council of Thirteen give power to the Germanies, which reestablish their monopolies on their professions and forbid anyone to work who does not affiliate with one of the guilds.