The battles of 1714

Situation at the beginning of 1714

The central Catalan territory was defended mostly by the forces of Austria. Since the summer of 1713, the area was immersed in the war on terror. The city of Manresa had been burned, 522 homes affected. Had also burned many other Catalan towns. Castle of Cardona had been harassed and continued to hold despite the few soldiers, as he had done on other occasions. It is advisable to consult the Route 1714 .

So, the year began with a hard pulse for the future of the territory and the battles that took place are a good example.

Baix Llobregat area

On January 13, 1714 Castle Castellvi Rosanes was occupied by the Habsburg army. The ruins of this castle are on a hill 369 meters high. Its strategic location was important in the visual domain that was on the castles of Penedès. In the plain of the hill we found the chapel of Sant Jaume de Castellvi Rosanes which is also in decline.

On 14 January, the castle was also held Corbera de Llobregat , which was recovered a week later by the Bourbon army. During the war, destroyed and are as unique testimonies and bow agencies that are near the rectory (where it is believed he had formerly Castle) which is thought to serve to access from the castle to the chapel. Males of Corbera de Llobregat were build another castle to live after its destruction and found located in the main street of the town and is Gothic.

Include Castle Sant Martí Sarroca who resisted against the Bourbon troops beyond the fall of Barcelona , on September 18, 1714. The castle has retained keeping different elements of the construction of the XI century and later. Today we find the old cellar, stables and kitchens on the ground floor, the rooms on the first floor and patio.

We must also mention the slaughter of the population lived in Sant Quintí Mediona and is remembered from 2008 Mata-party degolla in which the events of this villa recreated in 1714.

Sallent and Gaia

Also on 13 January, the Bourbon army targets Sallent with the intention of burning the village, as he had done the previous summer. Its inhabitants and waited in the doorway of the bridge, but were not able to defend the population. Most people hid in the church. Still, died 60 Catalans, including characters like Mayor Bernat Corominas, counselor Franesc Alsina and Rafel Conangla notary. Latter was hanged in the main square of Manresa in retaliation.

Sallent , in the same way that Manresa and Cardona , was one of the cities hardest hit by the war. Not only because of the attacks he received, but also because it was one of the foremost advocates of the area for the Carlist cause.

In this population, is the Casa-Museo Torres Amat showing a collection of objects and furniture from a wealthy family of the eighteenth century.

About 16 kilometers of Sallent and north, is the core of Gaia . Gaia is formed by a large group of scattered farmhouses were the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the war. Bourbon died about 700 soldiers who had been captured and imprisoned in the castle of Cardona .

Gironella

The March 11, 1714 Castle Gironella was attacked by Habsburg troops. The castle was situated at the height of the population and today only defensive walls and the bottom of a tower near the church and you see from the newer part of the town.

Each year, on dates close to the National Day of Catalonia, The Eleventh of September and Gironella, a play that takes place in the rocks of the Old Bridge of the population above the Llobregat river, and has held the story of a group of volunteers who came to support the battle to Barcelona .

Battle of Talamanca

On August 13 was initiated and passed in the mountainous terrain ranging from the stream of Talamanca , near the castle and the town, and even quintana of Mussarra, within the term of Monistrol de Calders , over two miles approx.

The stream was split between two fronts: the Bourbon, located in the house Mussarra, where the sun shone, and Catalan Castle Talamanca, in the shade. The first went down to the stream where they were received by the Catalan forces cornered to the Sant Llorenç Savall , winning the battle.

It is believed that the environment of the area should not deviate much from the present, so that dominated orchards, riparian forest, oak and farming terraces. And considering the last victory of the Catalan army before the Bourbon troops.

Following the Battle of Talamanca

Is possible to take a tour of the places where he spent the battle of Talamanca. Talamanca From the castle, visited today, get a route that goes through the town, the old town and the church, and to the own field of battle.

The path leads down to the creek and heads toward the house Mussarra, within the term of Monistrol de Calders .

All natural surroundings of the area is important as it is at the gates of the Natural Park of Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac.

The defeat of Manresa

On 4 and 5 September, Manresa received the Catalan army confronted the Bourbon army that had taken the city. The latter were less and hid in the Sey, where they burned burned furniture, altarpieces and everything inside. However, the current St. Mary altarpieces of the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, has been restored and rebuilt in several phases elements.

The Bourbon army was aided by miquelets yours and had to withdraw. The conditions also forced the capitulation of Cardona to avoid dead in the attack on the city of Barcelona . Thus, many of the members of the Catalan army went into exile to avoid retaliation, as was the case of Manuel Antonio and Desvalls brothers. Was not so lucky Josep Moragues general.

Defeating Cardona

Cardona received three attacks during the War of Succession, but we focus on the last, which occurred on September 18, 1714, when the castle surrendered after having endured as the last town before the Bourbon troops.

Today, the castle has function Parador and is managed by the Museum d'History of Catalunya . We found the defenses, cross cannonballs bulwark of San Lorenzo, Mate, covered road, canon of St. Vincent, among other elements of this era and earlier.

In the village we also find several elements that recall these facts. For one, the houses and walls that witnessed the battles, the source and Sculpture Square Fair, second, the flame (the flame) that is permanently lit in the lobby of the council and representing the resistance of the population during the War of Succession.

In addition, each year, in the next days to 18 September a play in which the events in the town, along with other commemorative events as remembered torchlight parade is held.