Table of Contents
What is the history of Catalonia?
Catalonia was one of the first Roman possessions in Spain. Occupied during the 5th century ce by the Goths, it was taken by the Moors in 712 and at the end of the 8th century by Charlemagne, who incorporated it into his realm as the Spanish March, ruled by a count.
What percentage of Catalonia want independence?
The referendum question, which voters answered with “Yes” or “No”, was “Do you want Catalonia to become an independent state in the form of a republic?”. The “Yes” side won, with 2,044,038 (92.01\%) voting for independence and 177,547 (7.99\%) voting against, on a turnout of 43.03\%.
Where does the Catalan language come from?
Catalan is not, as some believe, a dialect of Spanish, but a language that developed independently out of the vulgar Latin spoken by the Romans who colonised the Tarragona area. It is spoken by 9 million people in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Isles, Andorra and the town of Alghero in Sardinia.
When did Napoleon Annex Catalonia?
1812-13 – Napoleon briefly annexes Catalonia to France, before French troops withdraw from Barcelona under an armistice signed with the Duke of Wellington.
How did Spain gain independence?
1761 – Spain joins the Seven Years’ War against Great Britain. 1808 – The Spanish American wars of independence begin. By 1833, the majority of the Spanish territories in America have gained their independence. 1814 – The Allies win the Peninsular War and Spain is free of French rule.
What is Catalonia known for?
Spanning 360 miles along the Mediterranean coast, Catalonia is home to Romanesque art, medieval mountain monasteries, Art Nouveau masterpieces and Roman ruins. Its cuisine is as varied as its landscape, and traditions run deep. Here are 10 reasons why you should make Catalonia your next travel destination.
What is the Catalan independence movement?
The Catalan independence movement (Catalan: independentisme català; Spanish: independentismo catalán) is a social and political movement with roots in Catalan nationalism, which seeks the independence of Catalonia from Spain.
When did Catalonia declare independence from Spain?
The organized Catalan independence movement began in 1922, when Francesc Macià founded the political party Estat Català (Catalan State). In 1931, Estat Català and other parties formed Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (Republican Left of Catalonia; ERC).
What is the Catalan referendum and why is it important?
According to the Catalan government, 90\% of participants opted for independence on a turnout of 42\%. The police action made front-page news across the world, damaging Spain’s reputation, while the referendum plunged the country into the worst political and constitutional crisis since its return to democracy.
What was the first pro Independence Party in Catalonia?
The first pro-independence political party in Catalonia was Estat Català (Catalan State), founded in 1922 by Francesc Macià. Estat Català went into exile in France during the dictatorship of Primo de Rivera (1923–1930), launching an unsuccessful uprising from Prats de Molló in 1926.