VAUBAN : THE TRUTH
FINALLY REVEALED !
After 20 years of war in Europe peace finally returns. The Treaty
of the Pyrenees was signed on 7 November 1659 between the kingdoms
of France and Spain. The Treaty had a disturbing impact for
the Catalans, who had existed as a single people with its own
institutions for the previous 800 years. Now, an artificial
border painfully separated families, fiancés, business,
industry, artists etc. How would Rousselló fare now that it
was cut off from Barcelona, the heart of trade and industry?
And Cerdanya too which was now split in two? Nevertheless,
the treaty promised to respect the Catalan laws and "Deputations" (a
type of independent government set up in Perpinyà). For some,
it was a minor evil.
The French authorities soon neglected their obligations and imposed
the same laws, orders and government as in other captured provinces.
The leaders of the "Diputació" (Regional Council)
wrote to Louis XIV that: "To abolish the Catalan Regional
Council of Rousselló and neighbouring territories will be
a big disadvantage for your Majesty and cause distress for
the faithful vassals (dependants).
For 300 years the "Conseil Municipal of Perpinyà" was
elected from a list of all citizens. Louvois writes :"it
will be necessary to destroy all the lists, choosing only the
best subjects approved by the King". We will eliminate those
who resist.
From 1661 the French language was made compulsory in convents,
churches, public schools and of course, university. Those who
did not speak French could not work in the public sector. Later,
on 2 April 1700, Louis XIV forbade the use of Catalan, a language “contrary
to his honour and the inclination of the inhabitants.” Only
a handful of Catalans understood French.
"His majesty Louis XIV believes and indeed asks that all the inhabitants
of the town of Perpinyà, capital of a country, must set an example to others,
from now on by dressing like the French "
The Catalan families were distressed and unsettled. What should
they do? More than 500 families fled the Conflent, Rosselló,
Vallespir, Cerdanya and Capcir with little belongings and settled
on the other side of the Albers, where relatives and friends
welcomed them.
In Catalonia the tax on salt was abolished in 1283. Louis XIV
reintroduced it in 1661. Paul Riquet collected the tax. A large
part of the money collected allowed him to continue the excavation
of the Canal du Midi in Languedoc and, due to ample funding,
gave him a monopoly on the work.
The re-introduction of the salt tax in 1663 fuelled the spirit
of resistance. Josep de la Trinxeria led the revolt of the
Angelet troops of Vallespir. Soon they controlled the Conflent,
the Cerdanya and the Rosselló. The Catalan troops even threatened
access to Perpinyà. A bloody confrontation with the French
army ensued.
The captured leaders of the Catalan resistance were tortured,
then publicly strangled. Many were decapitated and their heads
put in iron cages and hung above the gates to the entrance
to the town. The same happened in Vilafranca to Carles de Llar
and Francesc Soler and in Perpinyà for Manuel Descaller.
It was worse for Francesc Puig, whose head was placed in an
iron cage and hung at La Llotja and his body cut into quarters
and displayed in the town. Others tortured included: Mathias
and Josep Tixedas (his hand was cut off while he was still
alive and exposed high in Castellet) Maria Guitard, Alexes
Celles, Jaume Arnaudies, Anton Rivet, Joan Bigorre, Emmanuel
Boixo, Gelsen etc., etc... The widows and children reclaimed,
in vain, their bodies over the years.....More than 70 people
sentenced to death, managed to escape; their possessions confiscated.
30 communes were sentenced to heavy fines.
At the same time as this human repression was occurring, the
French authorities ordered demolitions which had to be carried
out by the conscripted countrymen. Aiguatèbia was completely
razed to the ground; then they demolished dozens of resistants'
houses in Elna, Serrallonga, Prats, Arles, Ceret, Pi, Montferrer
etc, putting families on the streets.
It's in this dire context that Vauban appeared in 1669. Would
he show any compassion? He decides to “improve the fortification
of the region” and orders a new wave of demolitions ;
a third of the town of Cotlliure (without compensation), the
Casa del Consolat (town hall) and the church ; at Vilafranca,
the church with its magnificent cloister, bell and two buildings
; at Rià, the castle of Guifré el Pelós. Then
he built or further consolidated the forts with which we are
familiar. All of these actions confirm the desire to crush
the will of the Catalan people, its culture and language, by
military force.
Now that you know the truth, do you still think that it is
appropriate to honor Vauban? Have at least some respect for our
ancestors who suffered so much.
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