The Historical Context
On a day like today, 384 years ago, a Revolution known as the Reapers broke out in Barcelona, which marked the beginning of the War of Separation of Catalonia (1640-1652/59). This day, coinciding with the feast of Corpus Christi, was called the ‘Corpus de Sang’ because of the extreme violence that shook the city of Barcelona.
The Facts
In this conflict, the people of Barcelona and the reapers from Old Catalonia faced off against the Hispanic apparatus in the Principality, including the viceroy, his officers and soldiers, and the judges of the Royal Court.
At noon, the Spanish Viceroy Dalmau de Queralt, Count of Santa Coloma, decided to flee the city and board the Royal Galley, in front of Montjuïc beach, after seeing his life threatened. Accompanied by a group of knights from the Catalan military arm, he jumped the wall and headed to the beach, where he was later found dead.
The Consequences
Pau Claris, president of the Generalitat, ordered an investigation and offered a reward for information about the facts, but without success. Three months later, the Spanish king Felipe IV formally declared war on Catalonia, culminating a long social and political crisis caused by the Spanish chancellery.
One of the main reasons given by Felipe IV to declare war was the murder of the viceroy. This led to a military intervention in Catalonia, the liquidation of Catalan government institutions and the execution of the country’s ruling classes.
