Origins of Defense Trusts
In the 16th century, the military ranks of the city of Tortosa were organised under the name of Trasts de Defensa. This group was made up of figures such as the captain, the standard-bearer, the drummer, the drummer and the labourer, who were in charge of guarding the various entrances to the fortified city. The members came from different local brotherhoods and guilds. Each group was distinguished by the colours of their banners and the shields that represented their respective organisations, which were sixteen in total.
Historical Recreation in the 21st Century
Towards the beginning of the 21st century, the decision was made to establish the figure of the Defense Trasts standard bearers as part of the historical recreation of the Renaissance Festival. This initiative was based on the information provided by Host’s notebook and the work ‘The City of Tortosa’, written by Miguel Ángel Baila.
In this way, the streets of Tortosa began to witness parades where the flag bearers carried wooden banners representing the guilds, while the laborers displayed the bicolor or tricolor flags of the Trasts de Defensa, always accompanied by musicians who enriched the atmosphere. .
Inspiration in Italian Standard Bearers
As the years went by, and taking as reference the Italian standard bearers known as Sbandieratori dei Castelli d’Arezzo, the group of Tortosa Standard Bearers was founded. From this moment on, his performance became a spectacle of displaying skills with the flags.
Transformations at the Party
During the management of Ferran Bel, who held the position of leader in the Abanderados group, Domingo Tomás assumed the direction of the Renaissance Festival. Their focus, year after year, increasingly focused on highlighting the flags, relegating to the background shows that had gained popularity, such as Enrico’s Taverna, which for a period was moved to the Sant Joan Outposts due to political considerations. .
In addition, many other community events were excluded from the festival, since, according to Tomás, they did not have the capacity to be promoted internationally.
Consequences of the Crisis
When Tomás took over as Councillor for Festivals and his partner was appointed director of the Renaissance Festival, it meant the end of various local theatre companies that offered alternatives to the Municipal Theatre School. In addition, this meant the suspension for several years of performances by other groups with international standards.
In times of crisis and cutbacks, the fireworks that traditionally marked the close of the Renaissance Festival were also eliminated. The opening and closing ceremonies were decontextualized, becoming meaningless events, given that Renaissance performances continued both before and after these events.
The Closing of the Renaissance Festival
Thus, the closing of the Festival was transformed into a great show starring the Abanderados in the Plaza del Ápside, which incorporated new elements each year, such as confetti, music, video mapping projections on the façade of the Apse, and even the reintroduction of fireworks.
Changes in the Standard Bearers
Over time, the flag bearers also gradually modified their costumes and banners, abandoning the original colors of the Defense Trasts, thus adopting the current costumes and red flags with the tower of the city’s shield. In view of the commitment that characterizes the founding spirit of this festival to adhere to strict historical rigor, I have been wondering for years about the historical authenticity surrounding the Standard Bearers of Tortosa.
You will not find a standard bearer dressed in this way anywhere, considering that, from the beginning, those who wore the striped stockings were the laborers and not the standard bearers themselves. The standard bearers of the 16th century sported feathers on their hats, jackets, brown vests and boots. The public attends a show that has lost any historical rigor it may have had, which strips the figure of the flag bearer of meaning in the context of the festivity.
Reinterpretations of History
The red tones of the 16th century were not the same dyes that we know today. Therefore, it is reasonable to imagine that the flags possessed a chromatic scale of red that was at least three shades darker than those of today. The colors of the Trasts were the same ones that are now associated with the neighborhood groups.
Historical Deviations in the Festival
Therefore, focusing the Tortosa Renaissance Festival exclusively on this spectacle created in the 21st century would mean one of the greatest historical distortions, when it was originally conceived as a celebration of historical recreation and period market.
An attempt is made to disassociate the Standard Bearers from politics, however, Tomás’ group was responsible for devising the old logo of the Renaissance Festival in which the figure of the standard bearer appeared. This design was fictitious and did not at all represent the warrior carrying the Veguería banner that is preserved in the Tortosa Museum.
Political Ambitions in the Group
The formation that now presents itself as apolitical, has in its ranks former councilors, couples of councilors, children of councillors, municipal employees, aspiring politicians, among other individuals linked to the same political party: Junts per Tortosa. A party that could perfectly be called Together for the Flag, since they are experts in changing names and jackets.
The Voice of the Community
Instead of criticizing the mayor and the current councilor of the Festival, it would be more appropriate for them to reflect on the discontent felt by those who intervened in the Plaza del Ápside to remind standard bearers, politicians and relatives that ‘the Festival belongs to everyone’.
In this context, not only the members of the six scheduled shows joined together, but also individuals from other performances, camps, volunteers of the Festival and the general public who do not understand how a group can unilaterally decide when it should perform, or the times assigned in the event programming.
Community Reaction
If any spontaneous person had tried to do what they did, they would probably have been reported by the police and the mossos d’esquadra for disturbing public order and violating municipal regulations related to the use of public space. However, it appears that flag bearers have an immunity status that exempts them from such regulations.
Consequences for the Party
It is essential to ask ourselves if a show that boasts of having achieved international projection is worthy of behaviors as regrettable as those that were evident on Sunday night. This type of attitude, reminiscent of childhood quarrels, contributes to creating a distance with the international programmers who attended the Renaissance Festival and generating aversion towards the companies that were surprised by what happened.
As indicated by the same workers in the Festivals department, it has been shown that the opposition has never been interested in the Renaissance Festival or the city of Tortosa; They have only been worried about losing the money they made between themselves and their associates during the four days of festivities, where the only greatness that mattered to them was that of their own coffers.
Recognition of Anonymous Workers
To conclude this article, it is essential to pay tribute to the selfless work of so many anonymous people who are the true architects of the greatness of the Renaissance Festival. Their effort and dedication are the pillars on which this celebration is based, and they are the ones who have truly made and will continue to make the Renaissance Festival what it is today.