Trarre vantaggio dal conflitto: gli effetti della guerra civile catalana sull’economia siciliana (1462-1472). Appunti per una ricerca

The following paper aims to examine the years of the Civil War in Catalonia, considering the wartime context in its economic dimension and analyzing it from the privileged viewpoint of the Sicilian viceroyalty. Presenting the first results of an ongoing research, it will be highlighted how the years of conflict represented an opportunity for Sicilian notables to pursue their political interests and economic and strengthen their bargaining power by supporting the sovereign and the royal troops. The purpose will be achieved by emphasizing the contributions made by the viceroyalty in terms of supplying the royal armies, the payments requested through direct taxation and credits granted to the sovereign by local élites, consisting of bankers and officials from the Universitas of Palermo and the Royal Court, to finance the operations of repression and the subsequent recovery of the Principality