Some reflections about the diocesan synod of Ciudad Rodrigo of 1592 by the bishop Martin de Salvatierra

Abstract

Martín de Salvatierra was a prelate who studied in Salamanca, although he finished his degree far from the aforementioned University. After completing his studies, he worked as a prosecutor and inquisitor in various Hispanic Courts and was promoted to bishop of Albarracín first, later on to Segorbe and in 1591 ended up in the Episcopal see of Ciudad Rodrigo. In April of 1592, he convoked the synodal assembly, the sessions lasted from the 19th to 23rd of that month, from Sunday to Thursday. As a result, 73 constitutions —distributed in five book and regulating Canonical matters mostly— were approved, in which the the Tridentine Council was applied, along with  other precepts of the Corpus Iuris Canonici. The Customs of the territory were taken into consideration in great detail, some of which were prohibited and others would mantain their validity.