Rafael Casanova

Rafael Casanova i Comes (Moià, Spain, 1660 - Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain, May, 3 of 1743) was lawyer and "Conseller en Cap" of the Consell de Cent of Barcelona. Retrospectively, he has come to be considered nowadays as one of the greatest Catalan patriots, even though some will argue that his only historical relevance was that of being a Habsburg supporter at the War of the Spanish Succession, without any connections whatsoever with modern Catalan nationalism [ [http://www.estrelladigital.es/diario/articulo.asp?sec=opi&fech=12/09/2008&name=german] ] .

He was the Colonel of La Coronela, a self-defense armed force of the city of Barcelona at the beginnings of the 18th century. He played a crucial role during all the Siege of Barcelona, especially on September 11 of 1714, when he led the last Catalan charge to defend the city of Barcelona from the Franco-Spanish army of the Bourbonic pretender to the throne Philip V, Duke of Anjou.

After the subsequent crushing defeat, he went into hiding. He was finally granted pardon, dying at his home in 1743.

ee also

*Principality of Catalonia
*Generalitat de Catalunya
*National Day of Catalonia
*General Moragues

References

External links

* [http://www.webpersonal.net/moria/index.htm Personal website of "Jordi Torrades". It talks about the War of the Spanish Succession]
* [http://www.11setembre1714.org/Unitats/coronela-barcelona.html "La Coronela" of the town of Barcelona]
* [http://www.11setembre1714.org The Battle of the 11 of September of 1714]