AHC: Aragon/Iberia as one of the "birthplaces of democracy"

[Sporian]

At the beginning of the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crown of Aragon, with their many different jursidictions, began developing an intriguing set of pre-parliamentary institutions, much like the things that became the English/British Parliament. Kings were judged on their oratory skills as they had to approach the "cortes" that made up the government of the mechanics of state to do such things as raise taxes for wars. What would be necessary for these institutions to solidify, strengthen themselves, and eventually be perceived as an inspiration for other forms of shared governance? How would that affect the future of constitutional representative government?

 

[sarahz]

At the beginning of the 12th and 13th centuries, the Crown of Aragon, with their many different jursidictions, began developing an intriguing set of pre-parliamentary institutions, much like the things that became the English/British Parliament. Kings were judged on their oratory skills as they had to approach the "cortes" that made up the government of the mechanics of state to do such things as raise taxes for wars. What would be necessary for these institutions to solidify, strengthen themselves, and eventually be perceived as an inspiration for other forms of shared governance? How would that affect the future of constitutional representative government?

You need certainly to prevent the union with Castile. Perhaps Castile unites with Portugal instead.