{{Short description|Catalan mode of serfdom}} {{More citations needed|date=September 2013}} [[Image:Placa remença Amer.jpg|thumb|Plaque commemorating the 500th anniversary of the ''remences''' acceptance of King Ferdinand II's mediation between the ''remences'' and the feudal lords. (Located in Amer monastery, where the arbitration occurred.)]]

'''Remensa''' (Catalan: ''Remença'') was a Catalan mode of serfdom. Those who were serfs under this mode are properly ''pagesos de remença'' (''pagesos'' meaning "peasants"); they are often (though not quite correctly) referred to simply as ''remences'' (singular ''remença'').

The Catalan term ''remença'' derives from the Latin ''redementia'' and emphasizes the possibility of redemption from servitude.<ref>[http://www.elalmanaque.com/diciembre/15-12-eti.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040810164842/http://www.elalmanaque.com/diciembre/15-12-eti.htm |date=August 10, 2004 }}</ref>

The severity of this way of life led to rebellions by the remensa peasants in 1462 and 1485 known as the War of the Remences. After the second revolt, King Ferdinand II of Aragon issued the ''Sentencia de Guadalupe'' (1486), outlawing the more severe abuses of the oppressive evil customs and allowing remensa peasants to be redeemed by a payment of 60 sous per household, leaving a rural society that was still feudal in character, but significantly reformed.<ref>Nunez, Clara, Eugenia, and Tortella, Gabriel. "Economic Development and the Problems of National State Formation: The Case of Spain". In Teichova, Alice, and Matis, Herbert, (ed.) ''Nation, State And The Economy In History''. Cambridge; Cambridge University Press, 2011 {{ISBN|9780521283137}} (p.115)</ref>

==See also== * History of Catalonia * Principality of Catalonia * Catalan Civil War * Spain in the Middle Ages

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.tvcatalunya.com/historiesdecatalunya/cronologia/cron103453645.htm "La qüestió remença"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113180041/http://www.tvcatalunya.com/historiesdecatalunya/cronologia/cron103453645.htm |date=2004-11-13 }} {{in lang|ca}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Remenca}} Category:Crown of Aragon Category:Peasant revolts Category:Medieval history of Spain

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