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El Foc de Castelló

Població: Castelló d'Empúries (Alt Empordà)
Dates: 01-11-2008 / 02-11-2008
Època: Època Contemporània
Pàgina web: http://

This festive event, first celebrated in 2006, remembers one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Castelló d'Empúries: the battle between Carlist and Liberal troops on 4th and 5th November 1874 within the Third Carlist War. The battle left behind a picture of shattered houses and deaths, even though Castelló was neutral in the war.

 

The First (Spanish) Carlist War begins in 1833 with the death of king Fernando VII, when divergences increase between supporters to his brother Carlos de Borbón (Carlists) and supporters to his 2-year-old daughter Isabel (Liberals).

 

The First Carlist War lasted from 1833 to 1839.

 

Some years later, a plan was designed to end up with disagreements between both sides and a wedding between Queen Isabel II and Carlos Luis de Borbón, son of the first Carlist pretender was arranged. However, the plan failed when the Queen married her cousin Francisco de Assís de Borbón. This originated the Second Carlist War (1846-1849) which was, in fact, a Catalan revolt against the Madrid government.

 

The revolution of September 1868 meant the dethronement of Isabel II and the beginning of a Revolutionary Six-Year Period. While Queen Isabel II was in exile, Prince Amadeo -son of king of Italy Manuel II of Savoia-, obtained the support of the Six-Year Period Government and was proclaimed king of Spain (1871). In 1872 a new Carlist pretender -Carlos de Borbón y Austria-Este-, called for a revolt. Catalonia, under a promise to regain the abolished Catalan constitutions, joined the Third Carlist War (1872-1875).

 

During the war Amadeo I abdicated and the First Republic was constituted (1873-1874). The Republic, however, could not get over the multiple revolts and disagreements among groups. In 1875, the last Carlist supporters were defeated and the last Carlist pretender fled. Monarchy, then, was re-established with Alfonso XII, son of Queen Isabel II.

 

Homage to the historical facts of November 1874, this festival takes place the first weekend in November. The central act is on Sunday morning, when several episodes of that battle are re-enacted with the contribution of a recently created re-enactment group: El Cos de Fusellers (The Body of Riflemen).

 

During this two-day event, lectures, exhibitions and other activities related to this historical battle are organised. Also, some other more festive activities take place. Worth watching is the pyrotechnic show in front of the cathedral called "The cathedral in Flames", which symbolises the condition in which the town was left after the battle.