Pre-Charlemange
The valleys of
Andorra have been inhabited for thousands of years. Achaeologists
have discovered artifacts (pottery, primitive jewelry, etc.) dating back
to the Neolithic period (between five thousand and eight thousand years
ago). Bronze Age (about four thousand years ago) artifacts have been
found near the villages of Cedre and La Serra d'Enclar. However, there
is very little solid documentation. Historians speculate that the
original inhabitants of the valleys of Andorra were related to the
Basque people of northern Spain, and that the name Andorra is of Basque
derivation. Other pre-roman inhabitants included Celt tribal migrations,
Iberians from the south, and a small tribe called the Andosinos,
mentioned by Polybius when he was describing the Punic Wars. Yes, it is
likely that somewhere in Andorra, someone would be justified in putting
up a "Hannibal slept here" sign.
Andorra was part
of the Roman Empire in it's heyday (the Roman Empire, not Andorra),
although not mentioned in any of the secondary sources which I
consulted. When Rome fell, Andorra became a gateway for the northern
barbarian tribes to pass from the Roman provinces of Gaul into the
provinces of Iberia. Several of the tribes left traces of their passing
through (discarded McDonalds wrappers, etc.), including the Alans, the
Visigoths, and the Vandals.
Charlemange
By the time the
Moors appeared in Andorra (having come north through Spain via North
Africa), the populace of Andorra was predominantly Christian, with a few
pagan hold-outs in the more remote parts. The six parishes of Andorra
are first mentioned in records of the Church in the Acts of Consecration
of the Cathedral of Seu d'Urgell in 839. The inhabitants of Andorra were
very hostile to the Moors, and welcomed the liberation of their country
by Charlemange. Local legend has that Charlemange quartered in the
village of El Puy d'Olivesa during his campaign against the Moors.
The most
important document in the country of Andorra is the Carta de Fundacio
d'Andorra, a charter for the country written by Charlemange, and
given to his son, Louis the Pious, establishing Andorra's independence.
it is kept under lock and key by the Andorran government, and they
rarely let it see the light of day. However, there are many who suspect
that the document is a forgery, made by the Andorrans themselves as
fraudulent documentation to support their claims to independence against
claimants from both Spain and France.
After the death
of Charlemange, the Carolingian Empire fell into divisive territorial
quarrels, and Andorra fell into the rule of the Count Of Urgell, one of
the powerful families of the Spanish nobility. In 1133 the Count of
Urgell ceded the lands to the Bishop of Urgell.
In 1159 Andorra
became the subject of a prolonged struggle between the Count of Foix and
the Bishop of Urgell. Although an agreement was signed that year which
recognized the Bishop's authority while ceding certain rights to the
Count of Foix, the dispute lasted through many bloody, bitter battles
until 1278 when Roger Bernard (Count of Foix) and Father d'Urtx (Bishop
of Urgell) signed a peace treaty forced upon them by the King of Aragon.
This treaty,
and
another one signed eleven years later, established that Andorra would become
independent, but pay an annual tribute called questia. To whom
the tribute went alternated every year; first to the Count of Foix, then
to the Bishop of Urgell, then the Count of Foix, etc. This agreement,
called the Pareage is still the basis of Andorra's constitution
and political independence. It is still paid to the Bishop of Urgell,
and the President of France (as the successor to the Counts of Foix).
The twin heads of state are referred to as "co-princes", and hence the
country is referred to as the Principality of Andorra".
In 1419 the
people of Andorra petitioned the co-rulers for permission to establish a
local parliament, which would consider local issues. This was granted,
and the Council of The Land was established. The members of the Council
were elected by the "heads of household", which in practice meant males
over the age of 25. There were four representatives from each of the six
parishes, resulting in a membership of twenty-four.
The French Revolution
Over the years
the title of "co-prince" of Andorra changed hands on the French side of
the border. Henry II of Foix became Henry IV of France, and the title
passed into the royal dominion, and Louis XIII (the son of Henry IV)
confirmed Andorra's rights.
However, in 1793
the French monarchy was overthrown, and for the next fifteen years the
Andorrans were without the protection of the French government. While
this generally wouldn't really bother most people, the Andorrans were
worried that their Spanish overlord would take this opportunity to
revoke their independence, and make them a subordinate territory.
However, when
Napoleon became Emperor of France, he issued on March 26, 1806 an
Imperial Decree re-establishing the over-lordship of the French
government, and confirming their rights of independence. When France
became a republic in 1870 the role of overlord became part of the duties
and powers of the President of the Republic.
1
of
Andorra
In 1933 several
disaffected Andorrans, some in high positions in the government,
sponsored the attempt of Boris de Skossyreff (himself a Russian) to
proclaim himself King Boris
1
of Andorra. Several days later "King
Boris" was removed by several guardsmen of the Bishop of Urgell, but the
resultant turmoil culminated in the nation's judicial authority, the
Tribunal de Corts, firing the members of the Council of The Land.
In order to
prevent the total dissolution of law and order, the French government
sent squads of gendarmes to keep domestic order. Within a short time,
the Andorrans held elections, re-established the Council of The Land,
with all men over the age of twenty-four being allowed to vote, and all
men over thirty allowed to hold office. In 1970 women were granted the
right to vote and hold office, and in 1971 the age requirements were
lowered to twenty-one for the right to vote.
In 1978 the six
parishes of Andorra were expanded to seven, with the establishment of
the parish of Escaldes-Engordany.
In 1981 an
organization called the Government Of Andorra was created. It is the
executive branch of government, and consists of the Head Of Government
(elected by the Council Of The Land), and four to six Councillors who
act as Ministers, each looking after a particular area such as defence,
education, finance, foreign affairs, etc.
