CORTES, koetas (Sp., Port. pl. of eortc, court). The name given in Spain and Portugal to the assembly of representatives of the nation. As one district of Spain after another was recov ered by the Christian princes from the Moors, there arose in each a corporation composed of the different `estates' or orders of the population, limiting the power of the princes. From the union of several of these territories were formed the two leading kingdoms of Castile and Aragon, each having its Cortes. representing the clergy. the nobility, and the cities. In Aragon the Cortes appointed a judge, known as the this ticiar. who decided disputes between the King and his subjects, and confined the royal power within constitutional limits. In Castile the rights of the burghers were less in Aragon, hut in both States the King was do pendent on use Cortes. After the union of Cas tile and Aragon the Crown succeeded in greatly lessening the powers of the Cortes, and it was seldom assembled except to do homage or to sanction an arrangement as to the succession to the throne. After 1713 it did not meet till 1789, on the accession of Charles IV. In 1809 the
Cortes, as composed in 1789. was assembled by the Junta, and framed a new constitution, called the Constitution of 1812. which, however, was set aside at the Restoration. For the present Constitution of the Cortes, see SPAIN, para graph on Gorernment.
The history of the Portuguese Cortes is very similar to that of the Spanish. In 1S26 Dom Pedro promulgated a new constitution after the model of the French, calling the Cortes again into life, and abdicating at the same time in favor of his daughter, Maria da, Gloria. This Constitution was set aside during the usurpa tion of Dom Alig,uel. but was restored in 1842. Consult: Muro y Martinez, Constituelones rle Espana (Madrid, 1881) Desdevisu du Degert, L'Espagne de Pancieti regime (Paris. 1897-99), which contains a bibliography; Colmeiro. Cortes de los antiguos reinos de Leon y de Castilla (2 ids., Madrid, 1883-84); Stephens, Portugal, in the "Stories of the Nations" Series: Prescott, Ferdinand and Isabella (in numerous editions).