Todo Concostrina – "Acontece que no es poco | 11 de septiembre de 1714: Cae Barcelona. Fin de la Guerra de Sucesión. 310 años cabreados"

SER Podcast | Host: Nieves Concostrina | Aired: September 10, 2024

Overview:

In this episode, Nieves Concostrina and Carlos discuss the historical events surrounding the fall of Barcelona on September 11, 1714, marking the end of the War of Spanish Succession and the origins of the Catalan National Day, "La Diada." The hosts offer their signature blend of humor and sharp critique, providing historical context to a conflict that, as they note, continues to reverberate in modern Spanish and Catalan identity and politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Story Behind La Diada and Its Relevance

• Carlos opens by acknowledging the emotional resonance of the topic, particularly for Catalans, and emphasizes that understanding history is not the same as justifying current events.

  "El contexto histórico siempre, siempre es importante."
  (00:22)

• Nieves underscores that many may not know the full, unvarnished story of La Diada, beyond protest or anti-monarchy sentiment:

  "...ven broncas, ven reivindicaciones, oyen poner a parir al Borbón, pero lo mismo no saben qué conmemora esta fiesta."
  (01:06)

• The episode's aim is to clarify the significance of September 11: not a celebration, but remembrance of the traumatic end of Barcelona's resistance.

Summary of the War of Spanish Succession

• Nieves provides a brisk, pointed summary:

  • Charles II dies childless, bequeathing his throne to a Bourbon, which angers his Habsburg relatives—sparking an international struggle over who would control Spain.
  • Major European powers intervened on both sides for their own interests; Britain, the Netherlands, and Portugal supported the Habsburgs to stop a Franco-Spanish Bourbon hegemony.

    "Evidentemente, los países europeos que metieron cuchara lo hacían por intereses propios, no por ayudar."
    (04:11)

• The conflict was both a European war and an internal struggle over governance: centralism vs. regional rights.

Decrees of Nueva Planta and the Loss of Autonomy

• As Bourbon victories piled up, the response was harsh:

  • The Nueva Planta decrees nullified regional privileges ("fueros")—most aggressively in Aragon and Valencia.
  • Nieves reads a segment from the original decree, highlighting the deliberate centralization against local traditions:

    "He juzgado por conveniente abolir y derogar enteramente todos los referidos fueros, privilegios, prácticas y costumbres..."
    (06:04)

  • She stresses the folly of abolishing deep-rooted customs by fiat.

    "Eso nunca ha funcionado. Eso nunca va a funcionar. Vence, como decía este vences, pero no convences." (06:54)

• Notably, Navarra and the Basque Country retained their privileges, having sided with the Bourbons.

The Lone Resistance of Catalonia

• As external powers made peace, Catalonia found itself isolated, fighting alone against overwhelming Bourbon forces:

  "Pues seguía resistiendo Cataluña, pero ya en ese momento los catalanes luchaban solos contra los franceses y contra las tropas de Felipe V. Contra todos."
  (07:43)

• Nieves distinguishes between the international and civil aspects of the conflict:

  • Europe sought balance of power; Catalans and other peninsular opponents fought to keep regional systems.
  • The supposed ally (Archduke Charles of Austria) abandoned Catalonia, pursuing greater ambitions in Vienna.

The Treaty of Utrecht and the Final Blow

• The treaty (1713) settled the war internationally but left Catalonia out in the cold.

• Nieves reads and summarizes Article 13, which offers Catalonia "amnesty" but only the status of a Castilian province:

  "...que también les dará los privilegios que poseen y gozan los habitadores de las dos Castillas, que de todos los pueblos de España son los más amados del rey católico andahuevo." (10:36)

• Catalans rejected surrender under these terms, defending their distinct institutions until the last.

September 11, 1714: The Fall of Barcelona

• The city endured an eight-month siege and relentless bombing—Nieves cites "30,000 bombs" (01:51).
• On September 11, 1714, Barcelona fell, marking both the end of the war and the suppression of Catalan autonomy.
• Nieves cautions that the standard narrative glosses over "mil matices," complexities, and myths:

  "...Pero aquí faltan mil matices, miles de malos rollos previos, excesos de unos, excesos de otros, muchos mitos añadidos."
  (11:54)

Memory, Identity, and the Persistence of Grievance

• The hosts reflect on how national and local myths are constructed, warning against letting "la patria"—any patria—cloud judgment:

  "Cuando el sentido se te nubla, ya mal. Cuando te importa más un ente amorfo como la patria... más que las personas humanas, pues mal."
  (12:41)

• The Diada is a day of mourning the loss of institutions and self-rule, and the start of centralizing repression:

  "...el 11 de septiembre fue, como también lo fue para los demás territorios de la Corona de Aragón, el principio de la represión y el fin de un sistema legal propio..."
  (13:04)

• The conversation closes with a pointed jab at the Bourbon monarchy's continued privilege:

  "...al Borbón que tenemos y a la Borbona que venga, si es que llega, Ojalá no. No le afectan las mismas leyes que a los demás, ni la administración de los demás, ni el régimen democrático de los dem."
  (13:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Carlos on historical context:

  "Digo para entender, no justificar nada, no va de eso ni mucho menos…" (00:22)

• Nieves on the tenacity of Catalan grievance:

  “…Que el Cabreo les dure 310 años. Bueno, pues sí, pero… sobre todo si los que te cabrearon, los Borbones, siguen ahí para recordarte por qué te cabreaste.” (02:39)

• Nieves on the artificiality of enforced unity:

  "Puedes prohibirlas, pero nunca vas a conseguir que te quieran." (06:49)

• Nieves (summarizing the bitter offer in the Treaty of Utrecht):

  "Les concedía una amnistía y la plena posesión de todos sus bienes… y que también les dará los privilegios que poseen y gozan los habitadores de las dos Castillas… andahuevo." (10:36)

• Nieves on the perils of patriotism:

  "Cuando te importa más un ente amorfo como la patria... más que las personas humanas, pues mal." (12:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Background & Purpose of La Diada: 00:19–01:51
• War of Spanish Succession Explained: 03:42–05:19
• Nueva Planta Decrees & Castilla-centrism: 05:31–07:15
• Catalonia’s Solitary Resistance: 07:43–09:20
• Treaty of Utrecht and the Aftermath: 09:25–11:52
• Reflection on Historical Memory & Current Resonance: 11:54–13:50

Tone & Style

Nieves maintains her signature mix of irreverence, sharp wit, and critical perspective, presenting history as both tragedy and farce—never losing sight of human cost amid national mythmaking.

Conclusion

This episode unpacks the traumatic origins of La Diada as a commemoration of political defeat, serving as a lens for understanding the persistent complexities and passions that shape Spanish and Catalan identities. With humor and historical rigor, Nieves and Carlos strip away the myths to reveal a story of resilience, loss, and the ongoing contest over memory and meaning.