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Political Factionalism in the Court in the Late Middle Ages

Aintzane Sanchez Labaka, University of the Basque Country

Abstract: In her post, Aintzane Sanchez Labaka explores the political trajectory of the Hurtado de Mendoza family, focusing on Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Clean” and his son, Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Butler”. Their story exemplifies how noble families adapted to changing power structures at court, balancing royal authority, personal alliances, and internal rivalries. A significant event, the coup of Tordesillas in 1420, highlights these tensions, where nobles led by Infante Enrique targeted Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Butler” due to his alliance with Álvaro de Luna, the king’s favorite. The family’s origins trace back to Álava in the Basque Country, with Juan Hurtado “the Clean” gaining prominence by supporting Henry of Trastámara during a civil war, earning lordships and royal integration. He played a crucial role as a regent and advocate for broad-based governance during the reigns of John I and Henry III. Internal family rivalries mirrored broader conflicts, as seen with Diego Hurtado de Mendoza’s opposition. Juan Hurtado “the Butler” later allied with Álvaro de Luna, which, despite securing his influence, led to the coup attempt. The family’s political navigation reflects the factional dynamics and mechanisms of power in medieval Castile.

Among my lines of research, I have explored the role of noble families in late medieval Castile, particularly in relation to the factional dynamics that shaped the political life of the kingdom during the Trastámara dynasty. In this post, I will focus on the political trajectory of the Hurtado de Mendoza family, with special attention to Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Clean” and his son, Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Butler”, who were key figures during the late 14th and early 15th centuries.

Their story offers a fascinating example of how noble houses adapted to shifting
power structures at court, navigating between royal authority, personal alliances, and internal noble rivalries. A particularly striking episode—the coup of Tordesillas in 1420—serves as both a starting point and culmination of these tensions.

On the night of July 14, 1420, a group of nobles led by Infante Enrique stormed the palace at Tordesillas, attempting to break the influence of Álvaro de Luna, the king’s favorite, and his close allies. Among their targets was Juan Hurtado de Mendoza “the Butler”, who had risen to prominence at court thanks to his alliance with Álvaro de Luna, strengthened through marriage and political cooperation. This event—an act of political violence rooted in factional competition—symbolizes the deeper instability of Castilian politics in this era.

The origins of the Hurtado de Mendoza family lie in Álava, in the Basque Country, where their estate was located. Their political rise began with Juan Hurtado “the Elder”, who advanced under Alfonso XI. His son, Juan Hurtado “the Clean”, gained power by supporting Henry of Trastámara during the civil war against King
Peter I, his stepbrother. As a reward, he was granted lordships and integrated into royal politics.

During the reign of John I, Juan Hurtado “the Clean” became tutor to the heir, the future Henry III, and married into the royal family. After the king’s death in 1390,
he served as one of the regents during Henry III’s minority. He advocated for a corporate, broad-based regency, resisting efforts by Pedro Tenorio and others to consolidate power into fewer hands.

Even within the Mendoza family, factional rivalries emerged. A younger relative, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, allied with Pedro Tenorio in opposition to Juan Hurtado, demonstrating how internal family politics mirrored the broader conflicts of the realm.

Juan Hurtado remained close to Henry III until the king’s death in 1406. During the minority of John II, his political activity waned temporarily but regained momentum in 1419, when he supported efforts to declare the king’s majority to counter the influence of Archbishop Sancho de Rojas.

During this period, Álvaro de Luna began his rise. Recognizing his influence, Juan Hurtado “the Butler” allied with him through marriage and political loyalty. This pragmatic move earned him new tenancies and kept him close to the king. However, this alliance placed him in the crosshairs of rival factions, leading ultimately to the coup of 1420, where his enemies attempted to wrest control of the monarchy.

In conclusion, the trajectory of the Hurtado de Mendoza family illustrates how factionalism defined political life in Trastámara Castile. While Juan Hurtado “the Clean” favored inclusive governance structures, his son, the Butler, adapted to more personal dynamics by aligning with powerful court figures like Álvaro de Luna. Their ability to navigate these shifting landscapes not only secured their family’s power but also reflects the broader mechanisms of political negotiation and rivalry that shaped medieval Castile.


Photo: El rey Juan II de Castilla, in: Wikimedia Commons, URL: [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/El_rey_Juan_II_de_Castilla_%28Museo_del_Prado%29.jpg] (15.09.2025), Don Alváro de Luna, in Wikimedia Commons, URL: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alvaro-luna.jpg] (15.09.2025).

Euskal Herriko Bando Gerrak (XIV-XV. mendeak)

Ekaitz Etxeberria Gallastegi, University of the Basque Country

Abstract: This post by Ekaitz Etxeberria Gallastegi discusses the Basque factional wars. Driven by a socio-economic crisis families of the nobility used violence to sustain their income, a practice legally permitted at the time. These conflicts were particularly intense in the Basque region due to its unique social and territorial configuration, with over 200 noble families vying for control over resources, political dominance, and social prestige within a defined coastal area. Conflicts ranged from local disputes to large-scale alliances, eventually forming two major factions across different regions, with fluid alliances leading to widespread violence, especially between 1440 and 1448.

Bando gerrak Behe Erdi Aroko Euskal Herriko fenomeno bereizgarrietakoenen artean egon ziren, eta beharbada garai hartako fenomenorik adierazgarriena izan ziren. Baina zer izan ziren? Behe Erdi Aroko gizarteari eragin zion krisi orokorraren ondorioz, euskal behe nobleziako leinuek (aitonensemeak edo kapareak) diru-iturri gutxituei eusteko modu berriak bilatu zituzten. Testuinguru horretan, indarkeria zilegizko irtenbide bihurtu zen. Izan ere, garaiko legediak (tartean, 1452ko Bizkaiko Foru Zaharra) elkarri desafiatzeko eskubidea aitortzen zien nobleei, benetako gerra pribatuak deklaratzeko aukera emanez.

Honaino, egoera ez zen Europako beste eskualde batzuetan bizi zenaren oso bestelakoa. Hala ere, Euskal Herrian gerra pribatuek izaera kronikoa hartu zuten, eta benetako gaitz endemikoa bihurtu ziren, bereziki XV. mendean. Intentsitate berezi hori ulertzeko gakoa eremuaren gizarte- eta lurralde-konfigurazioan datza. Eremu honi Kantauri itsasoak iparraldean eta Gasteiz eta Iruña hiriek hegoaldean, Karrantza haranak mendebaldean eta Donibane Garazik ekialdean mugatzen duten kostaldeko korridorea da, erantsitako mapan ikus daitekeenez.

5.000 kilometro karratu inguru hartzen dituen lurralde honetan 200 leinu noble baino gehiago biltzen ziren, interes desberdinengatik borrokatzen zirenak: mendi eta burdinolen kontrola, hiribilduetako kontrol politikoa edo, batzuetan, lehia pertsonalengatik. Eztabaida horiek prestigio sozialerako nahiari ere erantzuten zioten. Garai hartako kronikari bizkaitar batek adierazi zuen bezala (berak ere gatazka horietako batzuetan parte hartu zuen), “gehiago balio” nahi zen (“valer más”): hau da, aberastasunean, boterean edo eraginean aurkariaren aurrean nagusitasuna erakustea, esparrua edozein zela ere.

Leinuen arteko liskarrak maila desberdinetan gertatzen ziren. Horiek aldi berean gertatzen ziren eta askotan gainjarri ere egiten ziren, eta horrek indarkeria mailaren gorakada ekarri zuen. Oinarrizko mailan, gatazkak tokian-tokiko aferak ziren, leinu bik edo gehiagok bailara edo herri jakin baten barruan konfrontazio estrukturalak zituztenean. Hala ere, aliatuak bilatu nahi izateak gatazka zabal zezakeen, leinu gehiago erakarriz eta gatazka eskualdearen nagusitasuna eskuratzeko borroka batean bihurtuz. Kasu batzuetan, aliantza horiek are gehiago hazten ziren, probintzia-dimentsioa lortuz. Horrela, leinuak aurrez aurre zeuden bi bando handitan elkartuta amaitu zuten, eta horrek lurraldearen polarizazio orokorra eragiten zuen.

Aurrez aurre zeuden bandoak, Gipuzkoan, oinaztarrak eta ganboatarrak ziren; Bizkaian, Abendaño eta Butroi-Mugika ditugu; Lapurdin, Urtubia eta Amezketa; eta Nafarroan, Agramont eta Beaumont. Bando horiek egitura egonkorrak ziren arren, ez zuten afiliazio finko edo iraunkorrik. Leinuen arteko aliantzak aldakorrak ziren eta interes zirkunstantzialei erantzuten zieten; beraz, gaur ganboatarrekin lerrokatzen zen leinu batek bihar oinaztarrekin egin zezakeen. Dinamika hori 1440tik 1448ra bitarteko aldi bereziki bortitz batean amaitu zen, euskal probintzia desberdinetako leinuak hauen eremuetatik kanpo ematen ari ziren gatazketan esku hartzen hasi zirenean. Horrek bando gerren eskala areagotu egin zuen, eta nabarmen igo zen  bai gerra-ekintzen bai biktimen kopurua.

Azken hamarkadan, ValerMás ikerketa-proiektuan eta Gizarteak, Prozesuak eta Kulturak (VIII-XVIII. mendeak) ikerketa-taldean (biak Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatean, EHUn, errotuak), eskura dauden iturri narratibo nagusien azterketa kuantitatiboa jorratu dugu: Anales Breves de Vizcaya eta Lope García de Salazarren Libro de las Buenas Andanças e Fortunas. Azterketa horri esker, zehatzago neurtu ahal izan da Euskal Herriko gerra pribatuen fenomenoa eta haren ondorioak. 1390 eta 1473 urteen artean, 443 gerra ekintza identifikatu dira guztira, hilketak, segadak, dorretxeen aurkako erasoak, setioak eta batailak barne. Erregistro horietatik abiatuta, bando gerren ondorioz 1.933 eta 2.091 pertsona inguru hil zirela kalkulatu dugu.


Photo: “Trachtenbuch” des Christoph Weiditz, Germanisches Nationalmuseum Nürnberg, Hs. 22474. Bl. 133-134 Baskischer Bauer mit seiner Wehr / Baskischer Kriegsmann.