Antigüedad, costumbre y exenciones frente a innovación en una institución medieval: el conflicto entre el maestrescuela y el Cabildo de la Catedral de Burgos (1456-1472)

Abstract

This article studies the consequences that the introduction of the «maestrescuela » (schoolmaster) rank had for the members of the Cathedral chapter of Burgos in the middle of the fifteenth century. The long conflict, which set the schoolmaster against the Cathedral chapter, illustrates the extraordinary ability that had been developed by this institution to avoid Papal and Episcopal justice. The strength of this ability resided in the primacy of its historical statutes and customs. And, above all, on the direct dependence of the Burgos Episcopal See to the Papal Court. In practice, the remoteness of Rome allowed a certain degree of freedom. In the same context in which Bishop Acuña tried to carry out his reforms, the schoolmaster had to deal with the debate put forward by the Burgos Cathedral chapter between tradition and innovation.