Catalan Federalism: The Pact of Tortosa and the Legacy of Valentí Almirall
The Pact of Tortosa and Early Federalism
The Pact of Tortosa (1869) was a foundational document aimed at promoting a Spanish federal state that took into account the historical reality of the ancient Crown of Aragon.
The First Spanish Republic (1873)
Shortly thereafter, in 1873, the First Spanish Republic was established. A new constitution (1873) defined Spain as a federal republic composed of seventeen states (approximately corresponding to the current regions).
However, the First Republic lasted a very short time, primarily due to a lack of reinforcement and strong conservative opposition. It was unable to implement the constitutional framework. The failure of the republic caused the republican movement to fragment and lose influence.
The Rise of Valentí Almirall
Once the Republic ended and the Restoration period began, the Federal Republican Party divided. It was in this context that a new figure in federalism emerged: Valentí Almirall. Almirall shifted the political focus toward Catalan political federalism.
The First Catalan Congress (1880)
Valentí Almirall launched the celebration of the First Catalan Congress in 1880. His goal was to unite people of different ideologies, including those interested in federalism and cultural revival.
One of the main agreements of this first Congress was the creation of an entity dedicated to disseminating Catalan culture and language: the Catalan Center (established in 1882).
The Catalan Center's Political Appeal (1883)
The Catalan Center convened another conference in 1883. They appealed to all politicians to leave Spanish political parties and participate strictly in Catalan organizations.
The Memorial de Greuges (1885)
In 1885, the Catalan Center convened a meeting with people from diverse backgrounds (including the middle class and industrialists). This assembly drafted a document called the Memorial de Greuges (Memorial of Grievances).
In this document, the participants listed all the issues in Catalonia that they felt were worsening. This manifesto was presented to Alfonso XII.
- It was the first collective Catalan political manifesto.
- It successfully approached the Catalan bourgeoisie.
- It advocated for protectionism and the preservation of Catalan civil law.
- It intended to promote Catalan regionalism.
Almirall's complete thought is written in his book, Lo Catalanisme.
Fragmentation and the League of Catalonia
Almirall's project ultimately failed because:
- The bourgeoisie considered it too radical.
- The popular classes considered it insufficiently radical, noting its limited social content.
By 1888, the project was losing strength. The Catalan Center suffered a division: the most conservative members left and formed their own group, named the League of Catalonia (Lliga de Catalunya).
Leaders of the League of Catalonia
The main leaders of the League of Catalonia included:
- Narcís Verdaguer
- Lluís Domènech i Montaner
- Josep Puig i Cadafalch
- Enric Prat de la Riba