History of Barcelona

Barcelona has had a bloody history but its spirit has not diminished. All of the struggles the city has faced contributed to its vibrant resilience seen today. Though founded around 230 BC, likely by the Carthaginian, its true history started in 801 AD when the Muslims where pushed back by France. The fall of the Muslim caliphate of Córdoba benefited Catalunya. Through the 14th century Barcelona ruled a mini-empire including Sicily, Malta, Sardinia, Valencia, the Balearics, the French regions of Rousillon and Cerdagne and parts of Greece. However by the 15th century their powers fell and were exploited by Castile and Aragón.

The rebellion by King Joan II which resulted in a siege further devastated the city. Barcelona was annexed into Castille but was excluded from the plundering of the Americas. Revolts led to Catalunya siding with Britain and Austria against Felipe V, the French contender for the Spanish throne during the War of Spanish Succession. This fatal mistake caused Barcelona’s fall in 1714.

After 1778 Catalunya was permitted to trade with America, and the region’s fortunes gradually turned around. The first industrial revolution of Spain which was based on cotton happened in Catalunya and other industries based on wine, cork and iron also. The European renaissance played a large role in reviving Catalan culture and language which was on the verge of disappearing. The Catalan Renaixença, popularized Catalan culture and language.

The next decades saw the rise anarchists, Republicans, bourgeois regionalists, gangsters, police terrorists, political gunmen called pistoleros and centrists in Madrid trying to rise to power. Catalan nationalists declared a within an ‘Iberian Federation’ when the Spain’s second republic was formed in 1931. Barcelona saw more revolts and sieges during the reign of Franco. However through it all the resilient Catalan spirit helped in reviving and recreating the nation no matter how many times it was suppressed.