World history. History of Europe. Andorra

World history. History of Europe. Andorra

The first settlements in the territory of what would later become Andorra began in the Ice Age, but there were no large groups inhabiting this territory until after the retreat of glaciers. Archeological excavations demonstrate that from 3500-2000 BC small groups of people lived in valleys near the Rio Valira and in caves in what would later become known as Andorra. Later, groups of people migrated to the lower mountain levels, where they began to live in small groups or villages. It is a scientifically proven fact that people in those settlements used bronze tools. Worshipping the spirits of nature, forests and lakes, ancient Andorrans constructed megaliths and dolmens. Iberian coins were also found in the territory. It is believed that the name Andorra comes either from Iberian words “ando” (highest) and “ore” (iron), or from Celtic words “an” (blow) and “dor” (wind).

The war between Rome and Carthage for control over the Iberian Peninsula began in 220 BC. In 219-218 BC Carthaginian troops under the direction of Hannibal marched through the Pyrenees to Rome. The second Punic war lasted from 218 to 201 BC. In the resulting victory over Carthage, Romans took possession of Iberia. The Roman Empire gave the citizens of Andorra their language and laws, together with advanced agricultural tools that allowed larger harvests. Andorra was a part of the Roman Empire until 414 AD, when the country came under the control of a German Visigoth tribe that founded their kingdom in Southern France and in Spain. In the beginning of the VIII century theVisigoths’ state was annihilated by Arabic conquerors that marched into the Pyrenean Peninsula from Northern Africa. Today the only visible remnant of an Arabic presence in Andorran history is a Moorish tower near Ordino. It turns out that Arabic conquerors used the territory of Andorra as the shortest route to Southern France.

Charlemagne (742-814) is considered to be the founder of what is today known as Andorra. According to legend, several thousand Andorrans led by Mark Almugaber helped the army of Franks to win the battle against Arabic invaders. As a sign of gratitude, Charlemagne proclaimed Andorra an “independent nation” whose citizens were protected under his favor. The state of Andorra was founded as a buffer for the protection of the Frankish empire from Arabic invaders.

In 817, together with the lands to the south of the country, Andorra came under the sovereignty of Frankish empire. In 819 Louis the Pious (778-840), a son of Charlemagne who in 814 became the Emperor of Franks, gave the Great Charter of the Liberties (Magna Carta) to the citizens of Andorra. In the summer of 819 Catalan bishops wrote and ratified a so called “Letter of freedom”—this document became the basis of independence for the communities of cattlemen and farmers, it was further officially named “Endor”, a biblical name. World history. History of Europe

After the collapse of the Frankish empire in 843 the king of France Charles the Bald (823-877, a son of Louis the Pious, granted the territory of Andorra to SuñerI,  who was granted the title of count of Sardinia and Urgell in gratitude for his assistance in repelling the attacks by moors from Narbon. In the course of the IX and X centuries the counts of Sardinia and Urgell expanded their holdings in Andorran valleys by acquiring, adjoining and exchanging lands. The property of the Urgell bishopric also expanded – mostly through contributions for the sake of the episcopate from the property of the counts and other persons. It is well known that Andorra is mentioned as an independent state in the documents of the Urgell episcopate dated 805.

In 1133 the rights for the eternal usage of Andorran valleys were sold by the count of Urgell to the bishop Berenger. Spanish bishops became feudal lords and the citizens of Andorra were obliged to pay them annual tribute. In the middle of the XI century the defense of Andorra became the responsibility of Caboet noble family; the representatives of this family obtained the proprietorship for Andorran valleys in exchange for the oath of fidelity to the bishops.

In 1185 a woman of the Caboet family married Viscount Arno de Castelbon. Arno and his daughter were adherents of albigensianism (a heretic movement typical of Southern France of the XII-XIII centuries; Albigenis were against Catholic Church dogmas, landowning and tithe). In 1208 a daughter of Viscount de Castelbon married the Count de Foix, also an adherent of albigensianism. Later, in 1257 their successor (Count Roger Bernard III de Foix) by means of a dynastic marriage, became one of the most powerful lords in Southern France. Viscounts de Foix refused to obey the Urgell bishops and that began a lengthy, bloody dispute. This strife lasted until the lord of Aragon was able to force the bishop of Urgell, Pedro de Castrobono, and Count Roger Bernard III de Foix to come to a peaceful agreement.

On September 8, 1278, in Lerida, the bishop of Urgell and the Count de Foix concluded a treaty (“Act- Pareage”) about double suzerainty over Andorra. Both co-Princes lived beyond the borders of Andorra and had to appoint representatives –vicars — for successive reign. Andorrans were obliged to pay tributes to the co-Princes: in the even years—to the bishop of Urgell, in the odd years—to the Count de Foix. On December, 6 1288 the second “Act-Pareage” was signed. In accordance to the treaty Andorra had to pay annual tribute to Spain and France –430 pesetas and 960 francs correspondingly. The treaty is valid up to now—the successors of the Spanish bishop are considered to be one of the co-Princes of Andorra. The rights of the Counts de Foix were transferred to the king of Navarra, later to the king of France and finally to the president of France.

In 1419 Andorra gained permission for calling an elective body – “The council of land” that later evolved into the General Council. The heads of the five most powerful Andorran families obtained the right to elect their representatives into this council.

In later centuries, Andorra managed to keep its independence from powerful neighbors on both sides of the Pyrenees. Andorrans enjoyed the benefits of a neutral state: they didn’t serve in the army, didn’t pay military contributions and took profit from free transfers of goods through the Pyrenees.

In 1580 the “House of the Valleys” was built in Andorra la Vella, nowadays the offices of the Government, Court and prison are housed in it. Now the prison is situated in other place in Andorra la Vella.

In the beginning of the XVIII century Andorra maintained a neutral position in the war for Spanish heritage that almost destroyed the neighboring Spanish province of Catalonia. In 1715 the bishop of Urgell officially prescribed the Councils of the Valleys of Andorra from obeying any orders except those issued by himself or the king of France.

In 1748 Antoni Fiter-y-Rossell collected and edited in a separate book materials about the traditions of Andorra, and in 1763 Anton iPuig edited “Politar Andorra” – a code of laws and traditions of the country.