Catalan Nationalism and the Tragic Week of 1909
Catalanism from the Left
Those who left the Lliga Regionalista (1904) after the king’s visit decided to found a new party, the Nationalist Republican Center, headed by Lluís Domènech i Montaner. This new party was defined as nationalist, democratic, and republican. It had little success because Lerroux’s party garnered most of the votes. The crisis led Catalan solidarity parties to unite all Republicans into one called the Federal Nationalist Republican Union, with the exception of Lerroux’s party. It had considerable success in the elections.
In 1910, a pact called the Pact of Sant Gervasi was made, in which Lerroux’s party was also added. This did not sit well with voters (as it included an agreement with Lerroux), and in the 1914 elections, the Republican Federal Union lost many votes.
The Impact of the Tragic Week in Barcelona
The War in Morocco: In 1900, Spain consolidated its control over some territories in Africa through two treaties: the 1906 Conference of Algeciras and the Hispano-French Treaty (1912). Spain and France had agreed to establish the limits of their territories. According to these treaties, Spain received the territory of the Rif (northern Morocco), but the territory was very difficult to control, and the local population resisted the Spanish army. Spain’s interest in Morocco was not primarily economic; it was more about prestige, as it wanted to recover the prestige lost in the war in Cuba.
A significant defeat for Spain occurred at the *Barranco del Lobo* (Melilla). The government sent more soldiers to Morocco, including reservists (older men who had already served, as many younger soldiers had been killed in previous wars). These reservists were often veterans of the Cuban War.
However, the wealthy could avoid service, which caused great conflict among the popular classes. This culminated in Barcelona on July 18th, with the mobilization of women protesting the conscription of their men. Some political parties exploited this situation and called for a general strike. A popular uprising ensued, lasting over a week.
This revolt was characterized by anti-militarist sentiment and rejection of the government and the Church. Barricades were erected in the streets, and many buildings in Barcelona were burned. The government sent troops and declared a state of war in Barcelona. There were many dead and wounded. The army’s repression, ordered by Maura, was very strong: 216 war councils were held, almost 2,000 people were detained, and 17 death sentences were handed down. One of the most prominent figures executed was the anarchist Francesc Ferrer i Guardia, who was considered one of the main instigators of the riots. This prompted many protests, leading to Maura’s resignation.
The Tragic Week had important political consequences:
- Alejandro Lerroux was discredited for his opportunism, and his party lost influence.
- Many workers became disillusioned with the Republican parties. Workers began to distance themselves from the Republicans and embrace anarchist ideas.
- Catalan Solidarity fractured after the Tragic Week because the Lliga Regionalista, a party within the coalition, supported Maura’s government.
Commonwealth of Catalonia (1914-1925)
The Commonwealth is significant as it represents the first administrative body for Catalonia since 1714, when the *Decree of Nueva Planta* abolished the Generalitat. It was solely an administrative entity.
Formation Process
It was a complicated process because the Catalan government was still nascent and undemocratic. The Lliga Regionalista proposed uniting the four provincial governments of Catalonia (Tarragona, Lleida, Girona, and Barcelona) in 1911. The goal was to modernize Catalonia, requiring a plan to modernize infrastructure and implement significant educational reform. The deputation, led by Enric Prat de la Riba, spearheaded the Commonwealth, with the agreement of the four provincial councils.