CATALONIA
MANCOMUNITAT CATALONIA
The county of Barcelona or Catalonia was united with the kingdom of Aragon
in 1163 and in this way became part of the kingdom of Spain in 1474.
It kept however a large mesure of autonomy until 1716, when its liberties
were abolished as punishment for its siding with a Habsburgian pretender
and it was fully integrated in the Spanish State,later being divided into
four provinces : Barcelona, Gerona, Lerida and Tarragona.
In 1914 these were united into the Mancomunitat Catalana, enjoying
administrative, but not political, autonomy.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVES
Presidents of the Mancomunitat
1914 - 1917 Enric Prat de la Riba i Sarrà 1879 - 1917
1917 - 1924 Josep Puig i Cadafalch 1869 - 1956
1924 - 1925 Alfonso Sala i Argemí, Conde d'Egara
In 1925 the Mancomunitat was abolished and direct Spanish rule restored.
GENERALITAT CATALONIA
Taking advantage of the troubled situation in Spain, the Catalan nationalists
proclaimed, in 1931, the Catalan republic intended to become part of a
Spanish federation. However, after negociations with the Spanish government
they satisfied themselves with a large mesure of selfgovernment and in 1932
the autonomous Generalitat de Catalunya was established.
In 1934 there was a new attempt to instore a Catalan State, as a result of
which the autonomy was suspended until 1936.
After the outbreak of the Spanish civil war Catalonia toke advantage of the
weakness of the central republican government to become a de facto
independent entity, resisting all tentatives of the Nationalists to conquer
it. (1)
In 1937 the authority of the republican government was restored, although
the Catalan government continued to have much power.
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CHIEF EXECUTIVES - HEADS OF STATE
Presidents of the Generalitat
1932 - 1933 Francesc Macià i Llussà, in 1931 - 1932
briefly provisional president of the
Catalan Republic 1859 - 1933
1933 - 1934 Joan Casanovas i Maristany* 1890 - 1942
1934 Lluís Companys i Jover, deposed 1882 - 1940
1934 - 1935 Francisco Giménez Arenas*
Spanish Governors - General
1935 Manuel Portella Valladares 1868 - 1952
1935 Joan Pich i Pon* 1878 - 1937
1935 Eduardo Alonso y Alonso*
1935 Ignacio Villalonga Villalba 1895 - 1973
1935 Joan Maluquer Viladot* 1856 - 1940
1935 - 1936 Félix Escalas Chamení 1880 - 1972
1936 Juan Moles Ormella 1871 - 1945
President of the Generalitat
1936 - 1939 Lluís Companys i Jover (2x), toke briefly
the title of President of Catalonia in
1936 - 1937, driven out by the Nationalists (2)
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COUNCILLORS
(only from 1936 to 1939)
First Councillors (3)
1936 Joan Casanovas i Maristany s.a.
1936 - 1937 Josep Taradellas i Joan 1899 - 1988
Councillors of Defence
1936 Felipe Diaz Sandino
1936 - 1937 Francisco Isglias
1937 office abolished after the restoration of the authority of the
central government.
Councillors of the Interior
1936 - 1937 Antonio Ayguade
1937 - 1939 Antoni Maria Sbert
Councillors of Justice
1936 Andréu Nin Pérez 1892 - 1937
1936 - 1937 ...
1937 - 1939 Pere Bosch Gimpera 1891 - 1974
Councillor of Finance
1936 - 1939 Josep Tardellas i Joan s.a.
Catalonia was conquered by the Nationalists in the course of 1938 - 1939
and direct Spanish rule restored once again.
Notes
(1) In the period 1936 - 1937 the authority of the Catalan
government was successfully contested by the anarchists
who controlled most of the local committees - including
that of Barcelona - one of them, Antonio Martin (1...
- 1937) of Puigcerda even "ruling" the Catalan-French
frontier region as a semi - independent fief.
In 1937 the Catalan government, supported by communists
and the central government finally broke their power.
(2) Went on as President of the Generalitat in exile till 1940
Successor :
1940 - 1954 Josep Irla i Bosch 1876 - 1958
(3) The office of First Councillor as head of the executive
was instored after Companys had assumed the title of
President. It was abolished at the restoration of the
authority of the central government in Catalonia in 1937.
Normal government was briefly interrupted in 1937 when,
in an attempt to resolve the ongoing problems with the
anarchists, a "provisional council" assumed power.
Members included :
1937 -Antonio Sesé 1... - 1937
-Valerio Mas
-Joan Pich y Pons
-Carlos Martin Faced
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