Enjeu(x) de la mise en récit des incendies d’églises de Riudarenes et de Montiró en Catalogne (1640)

Abstract

In the context of the war between France and Spain (1635-1648), popular uprisings occurred in the interior of Catalonia, particularly following the recovery of the stronghold of Salses in Roussillon in January 1640. This event marked the prelude to the outbreak of the Catalan revolt of 1640. Between January and June, these conflicts spread throughout the Principality and reached a climax in Barcelona during the popular revolts on May 22nd and June 7th (Corpus Christi), the latter resulting in the death of the viceroy Santa Coloma and several judges of the Real Audiencia. Among these events, the church and consecrated form burnings in Riudarenes and Montiró had a significant impact throughout Catalonia. This article will focus on the narrative implications of these two events in the propaganda of Catalan institutions (Generalitat and Consell de Cent), which used them to justify their involvement in a defensive war against Philip IV in the autumn of 1640.

Keywords

• violence
• catalan revolt of 1640
• political and religious dialectic
• propaganda
• Proclamación Católica
• Noticia Universal de Cataluña