War of the Catalans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids War of the Catalans
Part of the War of the Spanish Succession
Date 1713-1714 Location Principality of Catalonia Result Bourbon victory
Belligerents
Pro-Bourbon Spain  France	Principality of Catalonia
Commanders and leaders
Duke of Popoli Duke of Berwick	Antoni de Villarroel Rafael Casanova

The War of the Catalans was a short but important conflict that happened in Catalonia between 1713 and 1714. It was one of the last parts of a much bigger war called the War of the Spanish Succession. This war started because the people of Catalonia wanted to keep their special laws and rights, which they feared losing under the new king, Philip V of Spain.

What Was the War of the Catalans?

The War of the Catalans was a final fight for the rights of Catalonia. It happened even after a peace agreement was signed for the larger War of the Spanish Succession. This bigger war was about who would be the next king of Spain.

The Catalans had supported Charles VI of Austria, who was a different candidate for the Spanish throne. But in 1713, Charles decided to stop fighting. This left Catalonia to face Philip V of Spain and his allies, including France, alone.

Why Did the War Start?

In 1713, leaders from different countries met to sign the Peace of Utrecht. This agreement was meant to end the War of the Spanish Succession. During these talks, Charles of Austria tried to get Catalonia to become an independent country. If not independent, he wanted Catalonia to keep its special laws, known as the Catalan constitutions.

However, Philip V agreed to give up his claim to the French throne. He also gave Gibraltar and Menorca to Britain. In return, Britain recognized Philip V as the rightful king of Spain. This meant Catalonia's special laws were not protected. Instead, the Catalans were offered the same rights as people in Crown of Castile, which meant losing their unique laws.

Catalonia Decides to Fight On

Charles of Austria told the Catalan leaders that his troops would leave. He warned them that continuing the war would only lead to destruction. He encouraged them to accept a "General Pardon" from Philip V.

Despite this, a group of strong Catalan leaders decided to keep fighting. On July 9, 1713, they announced that the war would continue. They wanted to protect the "Liberties, Privileges, and Prerogatives of the Catalans." They felt these rights were not respected in the peace talks.

From Philip V's point of view, the war was over. He saw the Catalans' decision to fight as a rebellion against him. But the Catalans believed they were still fighting for their true king, Charles of Austria. They hoped he would eventually come back to help them.

The Siege of Barcelona

After deciding to continue the war, the Catalans created their own army, called the Army of Catalonia. They chose Antoni de Villarroel to lead it. On July 25, 1713, Philip V's armies arrived outside Barcelona. They couldn't capture the city right away, so they surrounded it. They hoped to cut off supplies and force the city to surrender.

Inside Barcelona, there were disagreements among the leaders. Some, called "moderates," wanted to negotiate a surrender with Philip V. Others, called "radicals," wanted to keep fighting no matter what. This made it hard to make quick decisions in the first few months of the war.

In November 1713, Rafael Casanova was chosen as the new Head Councilor of Barcelona. He was a strong supporter of continuing the fight. This decision stopped the plans of the moderates to surrender the city.

Key Leaders in the War

• Antoni de Villarroel: He was the commander of the Army of Catalonia. He led the defense of Barcelona against Philip V's forces.
• Rafael Casanova: As the Head Councilor of Barcelona, he became a key figure in leading the city's resistance. He was a strong supporter of fighting to protect Catalan rights.

See also

In Spanish: Campaña de Cataluña (1713-1714) para niños