In the article we will talk about the history of Catalonia. We will consider in detail all the main stages in the development of the historical region, as well as immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Everything you need to know about Catalonia can be found in the article below.
Territory
Let's start with the fact that Catalonia is called an autonomous community or historical region located in the north-east of Spain. The countdown goes back to prehistoric times. The main events took place on the territory of Spain, although as far as historical borders are concerned, they are rather French. The main historical stages, which we will consider below:
- prehistory;
- antiquity;
- Middle Ages;
- New time;
- Recent time;
- modernity.
Prehistory
Scientists say that material evidence has been found, according to which people have lived in Catalonia since the Middle Paleolithic. Bones of Neanderthals were found here, which date back 200 thousand years. The main finds were made near Banyolas. The beginning of the Bronze Age here marked the arrivalimmigrants from Indochina. The Iron Age began in the 7th century BC. e.
Antiquity
In the period of the II millennium BC. e. - In the 5th century, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks and Iberians lived in this territory. The Iberian peninsula was inhabited by people from North Africa who came from East Georgia or Iberia. These early settlers settled near present-day Barcelona and Mataró. Many ancient authors wrote a lot about the Iberians. Mentions are found in the writings of Herodotus and Strabo. However, by the time of these written references, peoples lived in the territories for several centuries.
Later the area was settled by the Phoenicians. A few centuries later, the first Greek colonies began to appear, formed by immigrants from Ionia. The most famous are Emporion and Rodis. The Greeks had a huge influence on the development of Catalonia. Thanks to them, crafts appeared here, trade revived, internal communication came, and agriculture improved. Researchers regularly find new artifacts from this period. Most often these are ceramic products, amphoras, mosaics and silver coins. The era of Greek power changed when the Carthaginians arrived.
III century BC e. began with the fact that Rome decided to conquer the Iberian Peninsula. Because of this, a military border between Carthage and Rome appeared on the Ebro River. A little later, the first Roman colonies were founded in Catalonia - Far and Close Spain. In 27 BC. e., when Rome turned from a republic into an empire, there were serious reformatory changes that could not but affect the colonies. Modernthe territory of Catalonia became part of Tarraconian Spain.
Then followed the decline of the Roman Empire, which, of course, had the same effect on Catalonia. Enemy tribes such as the Huns and Visigoths immediately noticed the weakened colony and decided to appropriate it. Because of this, a period of active enemy raids began. As you know, in 410 Rome fell, and Barcino (modern Barcelona) began to belong to the Germanic tribes.
Despite such events, the colony was under the rule of the Romans for almost 6 centuries. Any influence of Rome on Catalonia ceased only when Romulus Augustus abdicated. At the same time, Romanization took place, which left a noticeable mark on the culture, life and even the language of the Catalans. Thanks to the Romans, the lands of the Iberian Peninsula were mastered. Here began the cultivation of olives and cereals, viticulture. In general, agriculture has made great progress. In addition, the first fig structures appeared, such as irrigation systems and aqueducts. We must not forget about Latinization, which also contributed to the formation of the language. That is why the modern Spanish language is very diverse.
During the time of Roman rule, the largest cities were founded, which have retained their significance even to our times! These are Barcelona (Barsino), Girona (Gerunda), Tarragona (Taraco), etc. The Romans were actively engaged in the construction of roads and bridges, so at that time there were especially many of them. The system of taxation was introduced, the rules of law and the current managementinstitutions. All this served to ensure that the population of Catalonia itself became more educated and reasonable. It learned a lot from the just and talented Romans. All cities had fortifications with ramparts and fortresses. It was thanks to this that Catalonia could withstand the attacks of the Germanic tribes for a long time. As for the influence on culture, it was most clearly manifested in the planting of Christianity.
Middle Ages
The history of the emergence of Catalonia, which we briefly reviewed above, was simple, but who knew that later great events would take place here? Note that the Catalan Middle Ages is the period of the 5th-15th centuries. The power of the Visigoths continues. Aquitaine, Narbonne and Tarraconian Spain were conquered. During the Dark Ages, the Visigoths were tough and observant rulers who did not give an extra chance to throw off the collar of power. This period was characterized by frequent wars with external opponents. Everywhere people died from the plague. However, this could not last forever, and decentralization took its toll. In 672, Duke Paul rebelled against the government and declared himself the only king in Narbonne. On his side came Septimania and Roman Spain, that is, Catalonia. However, the Visigoth king Wamba regained power and territory already in 673.
In the 7th century, the Damascus Caliphate became very interested in the Iberian Peninsula. In the summer of 711, under Guadaleta, a serious battle took place between the Visigoths, who professed Christianity, and the Arabs, who were ardent Muslims. This served as an invasion of Muslims into foreign territories. They managed to captureToledo is the capital. Already by 720, Catalonia was completely under the rule of the Arab-Berbers. Their invasion was what started the Reconquista. This is the struggle of the Iberian Peninsula for liberation from the power of the Arabs. Catalonia managed to get out of the control of the Muslims by the 8th century, despite the fact that most of the territories of Spain were subject to them until the end of the 15th century.
Independence
At Poitiers in 732 the Arabs stopped after being defeated by Charles Martel, King of the Franks. The Carolingians quickly ousted the Arabs and became the rulers of Catalonia themselves. The new rulers divided the territory into counties, each of which was independent (Serdan, Osona, Urkhel, Gironsky, Besalu. All territories were called the Spanish Mark. Burel Uzonsky ruled this part.
In 801, the County of Barcelona was formed after Barcelona was captured by William of Gelon. It lasted until 1154. The first earl was Bury, who added Basal, Cunflain and Girona to the territory. The count also established a centralized policy.
In the XI century, the Carolingians still continued to unite the Catalan counties. King Charles the Bald appointed his son, Count of Barcelona, Count of Urgell and Cerdany, thus creating a single system of government for the entire territory of modern Catalonia. In 878, Count Wilfred also became ruler of Girona. However, when he dies in 897, the time of fragmentation sets in again.
Liberation from the power of the Carolingians
History of ancient Cataloniatimes is a constant struggle with those who want to get a new colony. Since 897, new attacks began, in which the Carolingians did not help the Catalans. This was due to the fact that Borrell II did not swear allegiance to Hugh Capet. The history of Catalonia, according to the official version, begins precisely in 988, when she managed to get rid of the Frankish yoke. Independence favorably reflected on the general condition of the territory. Many industries began to intensify, the economy flourished. There has also been significant population growth. Later, allods appeared - small farms that could produce more than they consumed. Thanks to this, business in trade improved. Against this background, feudal service ceased. However, already in the XI century the situation changed radically. The new feudal society dictated its own rules, and the former peasants had to become vassals of the aristocrats. It was a difficult time when the class war blossomed. Military force, professional mercenaries, were more than once sent against the peasants. All this led to the fact that at the end of the century almost all allods became vassals.
Against this background, the gradual disintegration of the Spanish brand took place, centralized management came to naught. All this led to the fact that the small counties became small feudal states with a special and very intricate system of subordination. Thanks to Ramon Berenguer, Count of Barcelona, the counts came to represent the highest authority. The reign of this ruler became a period of prosperity for Catalonia. The count expanded his possessions and subjugatedan Aragonese Barbastro. As for politics among the Muslims in the Iberian Peninsula, Ramon imposed heavy taxes on them. He was the first to conquer Rhazes and Carcassonne, and also took the territory of modern Northern Catalonia.
In 1058, thanks to the efforts of the ruler, a code of customs called Usatici and law appeared. Do you think what can surprise the history of Catalonia? The independence movement here bore fruit very quickly. The already named code was the first feudal law in Europe that controlled feudalization. Even before that, the count was able to decisively stop the internecine wars between the feudal lords - he used the "World of God" system.
The descendants of Ramon Berenguer were worthy. Their policy was also based on the strengthening of power and the development of Catalonia. In the XII century, the word "Catalonia" was used for the first time in official documents. This time is characterized by the fact that the power of individual counts was unthinkably strengthened, and the territory itself expanded very quickly. The territories of Besalu, Ampuryas, Serdanyam and even Provence were annexed. In 1118, the Catalan Church separated from the Diocese of Narbonne and became an independent entity centered in Tarragona.
Kingdom of Aragon
Catalonia, the history of which we are considering, has changed the vector of its development very quickly over the centuries. The same thing happened during the reign of Ramon Berenguer IV in the period 1131-1162. The man married Petronilla of Aragon and became the founder of the Aragonese kingdom. He became king, and sinceit was considered more prestigious, all his descendants called themselves kings of Aragon, but the family of counts quickly ceased. Despite this, the rights of Catalonia and Aragon were preserved. In the historical region of Spain we are studying, Corts Catalanas, one of the first and simplest European parliaments, still operated.
During the reign of Ramon, Lleida and Tortos were conquered. By this time, Catalonia begins to take on its modern look. By the XII century, the southern lands of the Spanish brand were fully developed. They were called New Catalonia. Sicily became part of the Kingdom of Aragon.
New time
The detailed history of Catalonia, which we are considering, changed dramatically after the conclusion of the barque between Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon in 1469. The feudal dependence of the peasants was abolished, and in 1516 the Kingdom of Spain appeared. Catalonia fell into decline after the discovery of America. Active attacks of pirates began.
In the years 1640-1652 there were "Wars of the Reapers" between Catalonia and the monarchs. Because of this, the Thirty Years' War began, when the peasants had to feed and water the Spanish soldiers. On June 7, 1640, the struggle for independence began, which ended with the proclamation of a republic under the rule of Pau Claris. All this, of course, took place under the protectorate of France. However, it lasted a little over a year.
The history of Catalonia in 1714 became more bloody. The Wars of Spanish Succession, which had lasted since 1705, finally ended. Because ofThis Catalonia lost many of its privileges. For a long time after that, the language was banned. The economy developed poorly, but agriculture flourished. In general, for more than two centuries, the Catalans paid the price for this war. Since 1778, trade with America began, the first entrepreneurs appeared.
Recent Times
What happened next in Catalonia? The history of the conflict that followed is known to many. In 1808, the territory was occupied by General Duhem. The army fell, but the people still resisted. In 1814, the history of Catalonia and Barcelona was divided, as the territory was annexed and divided into 2 departments. Barcelona was left to Catalonia only after the signing of an armistice, which left the French the right to influence politics and the economy. The confrontation between liberals and Carlites led to the Carlist wars, which lasted until 1840. The liberals won. How did the history of Catalonia continue? A federally governed Spain was a goal for the Catalans, which they did not achieve. In 1868, a crisis began in the economy, the September Revolution took place and the "Six Revolutionary Years" began. During this time, a federalist uprising, the Carlist War, took place. Later, the First Spanish Republic was created.
The 19th century was characterized by industrialization. Catalonia, whose history of independence began a long time ago, finally became the center of Spain. Culture and language revived. However, in 1871 there was again an attempt to escape from under the shoulder of Spain, which did not end in success, but the government was able toagree with the Catalans that their territory should remain part of Spain. Despite this, in 1874 Martinez rebelled. Repressions against the workers began.
Modernity
Spain and Catalonia, whose history of conflict has lasted for a long time, finally came to an agreement, although the desire of the Catalans to be independent was present. Since 1979, the government of the Generalitat has been operating. The head of the autonomy is the president, who is guided by the principles of self-government from the "Regulations on Autonomy". The current government positions itself as the successor to the Cortes.
The history of Catalonia, briefly reviewed by us, is a whirlwind of various events that either gave hope for independence or made the Catalans forget about it forever. Be that as it may, this part of Spain is a beautiful corner of the world, which every year attracts a sea of tourists.
