Sovereign Council of Asturias and León facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sovereign Council of
Asturias and León Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León
Conseyu Soberanu d'Asturies y Llión |
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| 1936a–1937 | |||||||||
.svg) Coat of arms
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| Status | Unrecognized state | ||||||||
| Capital | Gijón | ||||||||
| Common languages | Asturian, Castilian | ||||||||
| Government | Council republic | ||||||||
| President | |||||||||
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• 1936–1937
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Belarmino Tomás | ||||||||
| Historical era | Spanish Civil War | ||||||||
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• Established
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6 September 1936a | ||||||||
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• Legalized by the Second Spanish Republic government
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23 December 1936 | ||||||||
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• Independence proclamation
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24 August 1937 | ||||||||
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• Disestablished
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21 October 1937 | ||||||||
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| Today part of | Spain ∟Asturias |
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a. As the Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León
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The Sovereign Council of Asturias and León (Spanish: Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León, Asturian: Conseyu Soberanu d'Asturies y Llión) was like a small, independent government that existed for a short time in northern Spain. This happened during the Spanish Civil War.
It was first set up on September 6, 1936. Later, on August 24, 1937, it declared itself fully independent. However, this independence didn't last long. On October 20, 1937, the region was taken over by Franco's army. Belarmino Tomás was the only President of this short-lived state. Its capital city was Gijón.
Contents
Why It Started
During the Spanish Civil War, the northern part of Spain, especially Asturias, was cut off. It was about 200 kilometers away from other areas controlled by the Republican government.
This isolation meant they didn't get enough war supplies or food. Because of this, local groups had to take charge. They started organizing their own militias (citizen armies) and even printing their own money. These jobs were usually done by the main government.
In June 1936, a war committee was formed in Gijón. It was led by Segundo Blanco and included groups like the CNT (a workers' union). Another group, led by Ramón González Peña, also appeared in Sama de Langreo. These groups helped manage things like war efforts, transport, and food.
A Short History
The Interprovincial Council of Asturias and León began on September 6, 1936. It was an agreement between different groups, including anarchists and socialists. All the groups supporting the Republic in Asturias were part of it.
On December 23, 1936, the main Republican government in Spain officially recognized this Council. It also recognized similar councils in other parts of the country. This meant they were seen as special, self-governing areas.
Declaring Independence
The Council declared itself fully independent on August 24, 1937. This happened after the city of Santander fell to Nationalist forces. This left the Republican forces in Asturias completely cut off. They were hundreds of miles from other Republican armies.
The leaders of this new "nation" said their independence wasn't against the Republican government. Instead, it was a way to better organize their defense against Franco's army. They even printed their own money, called belarminos. These were named after their President, Belarmino Tomás.
The End of the Council
The Council asked the main Republican government for help. The government, then in Valencia, did send military aid. However, it arrived too late.
On October 20, 1937, Franco's troops entered Gijón. This marked the end of the Sovereign Council. Its leaders held their last meeting that day. They tried to organize an evacuation, but the next day, the Nationalist forces took over the city.
How It Was Organized
The Sovereign Council had different leaders for different areas. Here's a look at some of the people who were part of it:
| Position | Name | Organization | |||||
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| President and Commander-in-Chief | Belarmino Tomás | PSOE | |||||
| Industry | Segundo Blanco | CNT | |||||
| Labour | Onofre García Tirador | FAI | |||||
| Health | Ramón G. Posada | FIJL | |||||
| Treasury | Rafael Fernández Álvarez | JSU | |||||
| Justice and Public Order | Luis Roca de Albornoz | JSU | |||||
| Agriculture | Gonzalo López | PCE | |||||
| Merchant Navy | Valentín Calleja | UGT | |||||
| Fishing | Ramón Álvarez Palomo | FAI | |||||
| Public education | Juan Ambou | PCE | |||||
| Public works | José Maldonado | IR | |||||
| Social care | Maximiliano Llamedo | CNT | |||||
| Commerce | Amador Fernández | PSOE | |||||
| Communications | Avelino Roces | UGT | Propaganda | Antonio Ortega | IR |
What We Remember
After the war, people on the Republican side thought about why they lost the north. An article from that time said that a lack of unity and bad political choices hurt their military plans. It also pointed out that the main government in Madrid did very little to help defend the north.
Today, the city of Gijón is proud of its resistance against Franco's forces. It remembers its brief time as a center for those fighting against Franco in northern Spain.
Images for kids
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Map showing the Northern Front during the Spanish Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Consejo Soberano de Asturias y León para niños
