Corts

Corts is the term used in Catalan and Valencian to denote historic representative assemblies or parliaments in the territories of the Crown of Aragon. The word is the plural form of cort, meaning a court or council that gathered to decide on governance.

From the 12th to 15th centuries, regional Corts emerged in Catalonia, Aragon, Valencia and their realms, often including clergy, nobles, and representatives of towns or cities. They were convened by the monarchs to discuss affairs of state, approve taxes, and advise on law and policy. The structure and powers of each Cort varied by region and era.

Regional examples include the Corts Catalanes in the Principality of Catalonia, the Corts d'Aragó in the Crown of Aragon, and the Corts Valencianes in the Kingdom of Valencia. Their procedures and authority ranged from mainly fiscal bodies to broader legislative assemblies, with influence fluctuating over time depending on the balance between royal and regional power.

With the rise of centralized monarchies in the early modern period, many Corts lost independent authority or were absorbed into centralized institutions. The legacy of the Corts persists in historical study and in place names and institutional terms. In contemporary Spain, the national parliament is called the Cortes Generales, while the regional parliament of Valencia is known as the Corts Valencianes.