Since 1980 Catalonia is celebrated National Day on September 11. This holiday commemorates the defeat suffered by the Catalan people against the troops of Philip V this day of 1714. Then, Catalonia lost its last Catalan state and institutional structures that were created since the Middle Ages.
This conflict was part of the Succession War that raged between 1702 and 1714 following the death of King Charles II without succession, sparking the confrontation between supporters of Philip of Anjou and Philip V and the Archduke Charles of Austria as possible candidates to have control of the Spanish monarchy.
The War of Succession was a conflict of international character, during which the great European powers.
To learn more about the events that took place in those days, from femturisme.cat, we invite you to make 1714 the route that passes through the five scenarios Catalan linked to the War of Succession, which behaved as we all know, the occupation of our land by Franco-Castilian troops and the consequent loss of identity. A tour of our historical memory that you can not miss.
La Seu Vella of Lleida
The route starts in the capital of one of the four provinces of Catalonia, Lerida . This city is identified mainly with a monument, the Seu Vella. It is located in one of the highest points of the city, on a cliff which states that a Muslim Mosque stood and where you can control the entire city and part of the plain of Segrià, especially, from the breakwater llengua of Serp (snake language) or the Queen's Bastion.
This monument has been of great importance in the history of Lleida . For starters, its construction lasted two centuries. This cathedral and its connection with the War of Succession is given when in November 1707 Philip V's troops entered the city of Lleida and conquer, subjecting it to a strong repression and looting. Even some of the people who took refuge in the Convent del Roser were unfortunately killed.
From this moment the city was controlled by Marshal Louvigny, who occupied the rooms of the Seu Vella, forcing the monks to move. Besides building converted into a prison and later in barracks, attributing this military religious space character.
The University of Cervera
Continuing in the province of Lleida we will move to the town of Cervera . This town also stands mainly for cultural element, the University of Cervera, who during the eighteenth century was one of the nerve centers of Catalonia as it was the only higher education center in Catalonia, because the remaining six universities existing, so far, were repressed. This center had up to 2,000 students, including some characters known as the philosopher Jaume Balmes, the politician Joan Prim.
This building was built when the War of Succession was terminated. And was conducted with the acceptance and approval of Felipe V, when it ruled the removal of the six existing centers until then, centralizing everything in a single university, of Cervera . It was started in 1718 to supply and the first course was held was the 1740-1741.
This decision Felip V was a social and economic incentive for the town of Cervera which sought to reward the loyalty of these people to the monarch during the War of Succession.
Is also currently building continues to stand out as one of the most monumental works of eighteenth-century Catalonia. And is one of the unique scenarios through which passes the famous party Coven.
This time we head to the town of the region of Anoia, els prats de rei , to visit the Tower Manresana. This tower is currently the only part still standing fronterero medieval castle that stood in this population.
This tower was built in the twelfth century, although there is documentation that places its construction in 1034.
The connection he has with the War of Succession is that this space was the scene of a major episode of conflict. In the vicinity of where the tower tube a fierce battle between the months of September and December 1711, when troops clashed austriacistas and the Bourbon troops.
In this confrontation, the astriacistas deployed southeast of the town of Great Meadows and located its headquarters in the tower Manresana becoming a strategic observatory. The other side, the Bourbon army was between Calaf and Sant Martí de Sesgueioles.
With the same desires to advance the Bourbon army, we moved to Cardona for a look at the significance of this town and its castle. Also, as has been hinted above, include this population as a stage of resistance to prevent the advance of the Bourbon forces.
The village was occupied by the army on November 17, 1711 but the castle, despite suffering one of the heaviest fighting, resisted the Bourbon army.
The castle lived different episodes of attacks until the military governor of the castle, Manuel Desvalls, had to accept the September 18, 1714 the final capitulation to it, a week later than Barcelona in which they agreed about the terms of surrender of the city (the September 11, 1714).
Rafael Casanova, defensive hero Barcelona
Rafael Casanova was a key figure in the War of Succession, especially in the episode that broke out in the city of Barcelona .
Barcelona was assaulted by the Bourbon troops but 5,500 men led and organized by Rafael Casanova defended the city resisted and army harassment, exactly, until September 11, 1714.
Rafael Casanova was a councilor of the City of Barcelona , although he was born in Moiá in 1660. Rafael Casanova lived in Moiá to 14 years-in-law who was moved to Barcelona to continue his law studies. For this reason, we invite you to visit the birthplace of this character, who has become a true hero to Catalunya and more details revolving around this guy.
The birthplace of Rafael Casanova has become a museum that houses a biographical explanation of Casanova, the municipal archives and archaeological and paleontological museum municipality.
The September 11, 1714 was shot and in order to save him from repression him to be dead and transferred and refuge in Sant Boi de Llobregat in-laws house.