Catalan Republic (1641) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catalan Republic
República Catalana (Catalan)
|
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1641–1652 | |||||||||
Location of the Catalan Republic
|
|||||||||
| Status | Republic under French protection | ||||||||
| Capital | Barcelona | ||||||||
| Common languages | |||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Catalan | ||||||||
| Government | Republic | ||||||||
| President of the Deputation | |||||||||
|
• 1641
|
Pau Claris | ||||||||
| Legislature | States-General | ||||||||
| Historical era | Reapers' War | ||||||||
|
• Proclaimed
|
17 January 1641 | ||||||||
|
• Louis XIII of France appointed Count of Barcelona
|
23 January 1641 1652 | ||||||||
| Currency | Croat and others | ||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Today part of | France Spain ∟ Catalonia |
||||||||
The Catalan Republic (Catalan: República Catalana) was a short-lived independent state. It was created in 1641 during a war called the Reapers' War. The leaders of Catalonia declared it. They wanted protection from France.
The main leader was Pau Claris. He was the President of the Generalitat, which was Catalonia's government. On January 17, 1641, the Catalan leaders announced the new Republic. Just a few days later, on January 23, they asked Louis XIII of France to become their ruler. This meant Catalonia was now under French control. Louis XIII was King of France. He also became the Count of Barcelona. After he died in 1643, his son Louis XIV (the 'Sun King') took over. Catalonia stayed under French rule until 1652. Then, it became part of the Spanish Monarchy again.
History of the Catalan Republic
The Reapers' War started in 1640. It was part of a bigger conflict called the Franco-Spanish War. During this time, Catalan leaders needed help. They formed a special council called the States-General of Catalonia. This council looked for support from France.
A French representative named Bernard du Plessis-Besançon came to help. On October 27, 1640, Catalonia agreed to get supplies from France. These supplies would help them fight the Spanish army. The Spanish army was led by Pedro Fajardo.
The Spanish army won a battle in Tarragona on December 23. They then moved towards Barcelona. At the same time, the French army started to leave Catalonia. This made the Catalans even more eager for French help.
On January 3, 1641, some Catalan leaders met with Cardinal Richelieu. He was a very powerful advisor to the French King. Richelieu said France would protect Catalonia if it became a republic.
On January 14, the French representative met with Pau Claris. After these talks, Pau Claris suggested a plan. On January 16, he told the States-General that France would protect Catalonia. But Catalonia had to become a republic first.
So, on January 17, 1641, the States-General of Catalonia declared the Catalan Republic. It was under French protection.
Just a week later, the Catalan army lost a battle near Barcelona. This was the Battle of Martorell. The French representative convinced the Catalans that they needed more help. This help would only come if they accepted Louis XIII of France as their ruler.
On January 23, Pau Claris officially asked Louis XIII to be their sovereign. Louis XIII became the Count of Barcelona. This meant Catalonia was now under French rule.
On January 26, 1641, a big battle happened near Barcelona. It was called the Battle of Montjuïc. A combined French and Catalan army defeated the Spanish army. The Spanish had to retreat.
Pau Claris died about a month later. In 1643, Louis XIV became the Count of Barcelona after his father died.
The war finally ended in 1652. Many things led to this. The Spanish king, Philip IV, promised to respect Catalonia's own laws and ways of governing. Also, the Spanish army took back Barcelona. This brought the war to an end. The Principality of Catalonia then became part of the Spanish Monarchy again.
See also
In Spanish: República Catalana (1641) para niños
