Consell de Cent facts for kids
The Consell de Cent was an important government group in Barcelona. Its name means "Council of One Hundred" in English. It started in the 1200s and helped run Barcelona for many centuries. It finally ended in the 1700s.
Its name comes from the number of people in it: one hundred (Catalan: cent).
What Was the Consell de Cent?
The Consell de Cent was like the city council of Barcelona. It made important decisions for the city and its people. It was a powerful group that helped shape Barcelona's history.
How It Started
In 1249, King James I set up the first basic government for Barcelona. It had a small group of 4 advisors. They were helped by 8 counselors. There was also a larger meeting of important leaders. These leaders were all from the "senior hand" (mà major). This was the upper class of rich merchants.
By 1265, the city's government became more settled. Three main counselors were chosen by a larger group of one hundred people. This group was the Consell de Cent.
In 1335, King Peter III allowed the Consell de Cent to use the royal symbol. This was the four red bars.
What It Did
The Consell de Cent was very important in the history of Principality of Catalonia. It showed its power in many ways.
For example, in 1464, the Consell de Cent chose Peter V of Aragon to be the Count of Barcelona.
Another time, in 1401, King Martin the Humane wanted to start a new medical school in Barcelona. It would be like the famous University of Montpellier. But the Consell de Cent said no. They felt this was their job, not the king's. This disagreement eventually led to the creation of the University of Barcelona in 1450.
The End of the Consell
Towards the end of the 1600s, the Consell de Cent worked with other groups. They formed the "Conference of the Three Commons."
However, the Consell de Cent was stopped by King Philip V of Spain. This happened after he took over Barcelona in 1714. He used new laws called the Decretos de Nueva Planta. After this, the king's government directly controlled Barcelona.
Today, a main street in Barcelona is named after this important group. It is called the Carrer (street) del Consell de Cent.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo de Ciento para niños
