Political prestige and royal offices:: The nobility of Cuenca in the Late Middle Ages at the court

The nobility of Cuenca adquired a great territorial patrimony and a high political position during the Late Middle Ages. The complex relationship sustained by the Monarchy allowed them to project a socio-economic ascent -Town charges, courtly offices, seigneurial donations- in a time of social and political turbulence over the peninsular kingdoms. The noble lineages of Cuenca had a singular characteristic: a high number of their members developed a royal office in the court or in administrative and territorial functions. These offices used to be appropriated by a lineage for several generations and provided social as well as economic benefits.