This week and last I have noticed a couple of posts on EOS related to the independence of Catalonia and it has always been a topic that has really interested me. Personally I am more inclined to believe that Catalonia should stay a part of Spain and doesn’t have a real historical claim to independence. I am not an expert on Catalan history but I am informed and have read a fair bit, however it seems there are no experts on the matter, as many of the experts simply disagree or interpret history to benefit their own position especially Catalan politicians, so it is very difficult to get to the truth. Nonetheless I will endeavour to share my view or opinion on the matter and how I understand it. It may give you another perspective.
It is undeniable that the territory of Catalonia (as it is known today) has always shared, since ancient times, the political and cultural destiny of the rest of the Iberian Peninsula. Catalonia and Spain are not two entities that can confront each other because Catalonia is essentially a part of Spain. One must remember that Spain is not a single nation or unique culture but a grouping of cultures, traditions, kingdoms, nations, counties and regions that all together and united are called Spain. Catalonia comprises this and it was determined by all in the constitution that this unification was indivisible. This explains the illegality of the upcoming referendum but underneath all this does Catalonia really have a right sovereignty? Was it ever an independent country? Did Spain really conquer Catalonia in 1714?
Nationalists tend to put the date of 1714 as the origin of this oppression: When Philip V abolished the Catalan institutions, after the fall of Barcelona to the Bourbon troops. At that time, Catalonia was already part of the Hispanic Crown and had been since the fifteenth century, the result of a process of peninsular reunification.
The Crown of Aragon encompassed the all of the territories that were under the jurisdiction of the King of Aragon, (1164-1707) including what we call today Catalonia. On November 13th 1137, Ramon Berenguer, Count of Barcelona and Queen of Aragon Doña Petronila get married and this results in the transfer of the County of Barcelona to the Kingdom of Aragon and not the other way around, as Catalan nationalists would like to believe. The crown of Aragon was always the dominant power. In 1164, Alfonso II of Aragon inherited the entire royal estate.
Later, with the union of the kingdom and county under a single crown, he would expand his territories to include other domains: mainly the kingdom of Mallorca, Valencia, Sicily, Corsica, Sardinia and Naples, as well as the duchies of Athens (from 1331-1388) and Neopatria (between 1319 and 1390). With the marriage of the Catholic Monarchs in 1469, the process of convergence with the Crown of Castile would begin, forming the basis of what would later become the Crown of Spain.
But lets not forget, the reunification process of 1137 simply brought back the political and cultural unity which had been enjoyed in the Peninsula since the ancient Roman times and the times of the Visigoth Kings.
Therefore, in 1714, Catalonia was not an independent country that was conquered by a foreign country (Spain), but it was already part of the Spanish Crown and had been for over two centuries, and part of the same ‘cultural-political’ entity as other regions since the times of the Romans.
What’s more important is that in 1714, the Catalans who fought against the Bourbons (not against the Castilians -‘Spanish’) did not want independence at all, but they were fighting for the Austrian candidate to become head of the Spanish crown, not the French suitor who was Philip of Anjou.
Indeed, both the Councillor in charge, Rafael Casanova, as well as General Villarroel, who commanded the troops, always clearly expressed that they fought for their fleet and the Crown of Spain. Therefore, in 1714 there was no claim sovereignty. In fact the first ‘claim’ to sovereignty started with the political movements a little over a century ago.
Unbelievably the Catalan government has been manipulating this event for decades, they even went to the extent of manipulating an etching from the time changing the Dutch flag of a battle ship to a Spanish flag, making all viewers believe that Catalonia was under attack from ‘Spain’. Incredible, but true.
I’ll let you decide the reasons behind that move.
The events of 1700-1714 can be summarised as follows:
Before 1700 Catalonia was not independent but was a territory with its own institutions comfortably integrated into the Spanish Crown for centuries. That year, King Charles II (of Spain, including Catalonia) died without an heir and a war of succession to the throne began (not a sovereignty secession) between two candidates: Philippe of Anjou – French, and Charles of Habsburg – German. In all the territories of the Crown there were supporters for both candidates. It wasn’t an issue that only affected what is known today as “Catalonia”.
The Catalan institutions first swore allegiance to Philippe of Anjou (Courts of Barcelona January 14, 1702), but after an Anglo-Dutch fleet in favour of Charles landed in the river Besos (August 25, 1705) and conquered Barcelona to the indifference of the population. On October 16 the Catalan institutions recognised Charles as King of Spain.
Finally, the war ended with the resignation of Charles to the throne (as had been elected Holy Roman Emperor) and Philippe V was unopposed to the throne. He amnestied the leaders of the Habsburg revolt, but abolished the Catalan institutions, creating a centralised state imitating that of France at the time.
The institutions of the eighteenth century were estates, typical of feudalism representing the aristocracy, bourgeoisie and upper clergy. They defended, therefore, the interests of these. There was no Parliament, as we know it today, as national and popular sovereignty were concepts that appeared later on, not known at the time of these events.
Every September 11 the Catalans celebrate “The Day of Catalonia”. However this has only happened since 1980. Partly due to Franco’s regime, yes, but historically there is not independence movement prior to the late 1890’s and the celebration of “The Day of Catalonia” never occurred before the 1980’s and only came about with the growing power of the nationalist politicians. With it they commemorate and remember the surrender of Barcelona to the Bourbon troops during the course of the War of Spanish Succession 11 September 1714. One of their rituals is to lay a wreath at a memorial for Counsellor Rafael Casanova, presenting him as a martyr to the fall of Barcelona when in fact he died twenty-nine years later (in 1743).
From this great historical lie (amongst others) we will discover how Catalan nationalism is pushing myths to present the region of Catalonia as an occupied country and seized by Spain.
In conclusion: In schools in Catalonia it is explained and taught that Catalonia was conquered, but the whole fact, neither the original oath that the Catalans made to Felipe V, nor the inheritance will of Charles II, nor the subsequent betrayal of the institutions that later swore legitimacy to Charles of Habsburg (who was an intruder with his army and occupied Barcelona without any legitimacy)
Unfortunately they appear to be more nationalist myths. Myths and lies, in order to model the history of nationalist interests. There was no conquest by Spain.
The famous historian Henry Kamen warns of the falsification of the history of Catalonia and published a new book called "Spain and Catalonia. History of a passion', which criticizes the "falsification of history" that, in his view, presented the Catalan separatists, including CiU and ERC, to defend the independence of Catalonia and the sovereignty process. He says:
"If the separatists offer lies, as a simple historian I examine the material" and conclude that "there is a manipulation of facts in favour of separatism"
Kamen said that "there is no historical basis to provide support to the separation" and that "the historical context is being distorted by the Catalan government."
One of the episodes that have been manipulated is, in his opinion, the War of Succession, as some say that "Catalonia was crushed" and went into "economic misery" after September 11, 1714, date of the surrender of Barcelona.
Catalonia was not crushed in 1714. However, Catalonia "remained an important, prosperous and thriving region, Spain's richest territory," stressed Kamen, who considers "almost impossible" to support with evidence the historical argument of "plundering" of Catalonia from Spain.
Also, in his book he rejects the version according to which the Spanish State attacked the people of Catalonia-which rebelled against it-and ended abolishing its democratic laws and imposing a regime of terror. Kamen doubts that a majority of Catalans rose against Felipe V and indicates that it was Barcelona itself that caused the abolition of the “Catalan institutions” as well as stating that in 1714 the rebels were "strong supporters of the unity of Spain". But to be more precise and clarify that there were no parliamentary institutions, as we know today that represented the people, just institutions that represented the rich and privileged.
Other historians and journalists have spoken up on this manipulation too. Cesar Vidal says that in the declaration of sovereignty by the Catalan Parliament it refers to certain historical events that supposedly justify their independence, which he says, is “absurd and idiotic” however not way near as bad at what happened in the 1987 when Jordi Pujol, the Catalan leader, invented the Catalan Millennium celebration, costing the Catalan people a fortune. Catalonia didn’t even exist in 987.
Vidal says that the independence declaration in the Catalan Parliament refers to the self-government of Catalonia as being based on the assemblies of Pau and Treba, in the County Court and later on in the 14th Century in the general council or Generalitat which later turned into the Government of the Principality of Catalonia. “This is absolutely false and total nonsense” say Vidal, “firstly, the county court didn’t appear until the 11th century and as it’s name explains it was a county court not a general assembly or a parliament nor anything similar”. The assemblies of Pau y Treba were ecclesiastical institutions that applied two types of institutions “The Peace of God and the Truce of God”. They have nothing whatsoever to do with a parliamentary systems.” This as well as other discrepancies has caused anger amongst historians.
The simple truth is before 1714 and before 1700, Catalonia was not independent, but formed part of the Spanish Crown and never had any intention to fight for independence. In fact independence was never an issue in those days or even contemplated.
This is how many others and I see it, I am open to any corrections or clarifications, so long as they are founded with historical evidence.