Bombardment of Barcelona (1842)

The Barcelona of 1842 was a keg of social conflict. Amongst the issues was the free trade policy of the regent General Espartero and the damage it was causing to the textile industry and the livelihood of workers.^[1] Another simmering issue was the tax required to be paid for bringing food into the city (Catalan: drets de portas).^[1]: 120 A climate of permanent tension existed in the city that foreshadowed an eventual explosion of violence.

The trigger came when a group of some 30 workers returning to the city on 13 November 1842 tried to smuggle a small amount of wine into the city without paying the tax.^[1]: 120 An uprising spread like wildfire, and within hours the working classes of the city had taken up a war footing.^[2] The Government's reactions inflamed the civil revolt which quickly brought together interests across the social strata (including the industrialist Joan Güell (father of Eusebi Güell) and the Marquis of Llió) in opposition to the Government.^[1]: 122 The local militia (Patuleyas) also took part and by the 15th the streets had been barricaded and the army had to take refuge in the Montjuic Castle and Parc de la Ciutadella after suffering possibly up to 600 dead and wounded.^[1]: 121

After 3 weeks, the Government still refused to negotiate and the 'Bombardment of Barcelona' occurred on 3 December 1842. It was ordered personally by General Espartero who had gone to Barcelona to put down the uprising.

The Castle thereby acquired a new role that it would exercise for half a century: the repression of insurrections.^[3][4] The indiscriminate artillery bombardment of the city was made from Montjuïc under the command of Captain General Antonio Van Halen. The cannons fired 1014 projectiles and caused at least twenty deaths and widespread destruction throughout the city (some 462 buildings).