Víctor Balaguer i Cirera facts for kids
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Víctor Balaguer
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Víctor Balaguer i Cirera
11 December 1824 Barcelona, Spain
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| Died | 14 January 1901 (aged 76) Madrid, Spain
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| Seat b of the Real Academia Española | |
| In office 25 February 1883 – 14 January 1901 |
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| Preceded by | José Selgas |
| Succeeded by | Ramón Menéndez Pidal |
Víctor Balaguer i Cirera (born December 11, 1824 – died January 14, 1901) was an important Spanish politician and writer. He was born in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, and studied at the university there. He became famous for his plays, poems, and his work in politics.
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Early Life and Writing
Víctor Balaguer started writing at a young age. His first play, Pepín el jorobado, was shown in Barcelona when he was just 14 years old. By the time he was 19, he was already celebrated for his second play, Don Enrique el Dadivoso.
Promoting Catalan Culture
From 1843 to 1868, Víctor Balaguer was a leader of the Liberal party in Barcelona. He owned and edited a newspaper called El Conseller. Through his work, he helped to promote a strong sense of Catalan pride and culture.
He started writing poems in the Catalan language in 1857. He wrote a poem dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. He often used the nickname "Lo Trovador de Montserrat," which means "The Troubadour of Montserrat."
In 1859, he helped bring back the "Jocs Florals" (Floral Games). This was an old poetry contest that helped celebrate Catalan language and literature. In 1861, he was even named mestre en gay saber, which means "master of the gay science" – a special title for a great poet.
Historian and Author
Víctor Balaguer also wrote a very important history book. It was called Historia de Cataluña y de la Corona de Aragón. This book had five volumes and covered the history of Catalonia and the Crown of Aragon.
Political Career and Later Life
Víctor Balaguer moved to Madrid and became very active in Spanish politics. In 1867, he moved to Provence, a region in France.
When Queen Isabella II of Spain was removed from power, he returned to Spain. He represented the city of Manresa in the Cortes, which is like the Spanish parliament. From 1871 to 1872, he held important government jobs. He was first the Overseas Minister and then the Finance Minister.
He left his government roles when the monarchy was restored in Spain. However, he later rejoined his political party and supported the new royal family. He became the vice-president of the Congress and later a senator. He passed away in Madrid on January 14, 1901.
See also
- Biblioteca Museu Víctor Balaguer
In Spanish: Víctor Balaguer para niños
