Organization of the Empire:
- The king ruled the empire, decided the foregin policy, led the army and raised taxes. However, he was helped by the following institutions:➔ Parliament (or "cortes"). They passed new taxes and new laws. Each territory had its own Cortes.➔ Councils: they adviced the king. There were territorial councils and others for specific areas. The State Council was the council which took important decisions for the whole Empire.➔ Viceroy: who represented the king in different territories and governed in the king's name.➔ "Chancillerías" and "Audiencias": they were the Supreme Courts of Justice.➔ Chief Justice of Aragon: It guaranteed traditional rights.The society continued being divided into three different estates:➔ Nobility: There were two kinds of nobels: --> High nobility: Landowners --> Low nobility: Hidalgos➔ Clergy.➔ Common people: They paid taxes and performed productive work.