 |  |  |  |  |  |
Historical Re-enactment » Events and Festivals » Els Firals de Bellvís
Els Firals de Bellvís
Població: Bellvís (Pla d'Urgell)
Dates: 26-07-2008 / 27-07-2008
Època: Època Moderna
Pàgina web: http://
Els Firals de Bellvís is a festival that revolves around the so called "ring" at Cal Bufalà. Cal Bufalà was a local noble House privileged with the right of asylum. Fugitives from justice could receive protection there if they managed to get hold of the ring at the door knocker of the House, before being caught. In the event of trial, Lord Bufalà would defend them believing in their presumption of innocence.
The festival has its origin in 1637, just before the popular revolt known as "Guerra dels Segadors" (Peasants War).
From 1618 to 1648 Europe suffered the Thirty Years War. The war mainly took place in Central Europe apparently grounded upon religious discrepancies between Catholics and Protestants. The real reason behind the war, however, was the struggle of European powers to gain hegemony. In this sense, the two Catholic branches of the Habsburg family - the Spanish and the Austrian one, fought German protestant princes, Netherlands Provinces and, finally, Denmark and Sweden. The Swedish defeat precipitated France's entry into the war in 1635. France, ruled by Richelieu, rivalled with the Spanish Monarchy for Europe's hegemony. In 1637 Spanish count-duke of Olivares started a campaign against the fortress of Leucata, to which the French responded by occupying the Catalan castles of Salses and Òpol in 1639.
In January 1640, Salses castle was regained by an army formed by Terços (Thirds) and Catalan volunteers. Castilian royal troops (some 10.000 men) were distributed by the north-eastern coast regions of Catalonia. Soldiers took for granted local people would feed and lodge them, but complaints about their excesses soon were heard. The support of Catalan institutions to the protest provoked the arrest of Counsellors of Barcelona and its military Deputy. But the revolt became generalised, with riots and confrontations scattered throughout Catalonia. On 7th June, Corpus Day, the climate of revolt was absolute.
Breaking with the Spanish Monarchy seemed unavoidable. Castilian troops were first defeated in the siege of Barcelona (1641), the loss of Roses (1645) and the loss of Tortosa (1648), but soon imposed themselves in all front battles, while the Franco-Catalan forces retreated elsewhere. Finally, Barcelona surrendered in 1652.
In 1648, the Peace of Westfalia was signed among European powers and a few years later, on 7th November 1659, the Treaty of the Pyrinees -bringing peace between Spain and France-, was finally signed.
This episode meant not only mutilating Catalan territories -the Roussillon and part of the Cerdagne were cessed to France-, but also the beginning of the Spanish decline (loss of Flandes, loss of Portugal, etc) and the start of France as new emergent power.
Els Firals de Bellvís festival runs for two days with street performances about the story of Cal Bufalà, or about the withdrawal of Castilian royal troops. The festival has a fixed structure although every year new sketches are incorporated to attract visitors' interest.
The high number of people from Bellvís involved in the festival is remarkable as well as the quality of all events.
The ring of Cal Bufalà can be found in Barcelona in a house property of descendants of the Bufalà family.
|
|
|
