What strata of society participated in the Spanish Cortes?

At the time of their inception, these assemblies could hardly be called popular: they included exclusively representatives of the two higher feudal estates, that is, the clan nobility and clergy. The third estate received representation a little later – the rich townspeople began to be part of the Cortes, making up their second chamber, since 1188. Some influence (albeit nominal) on tax and legislative policy could be exerted by the peasantry, represented in the third chamber.