Jim Lawley

Does Catalonia really want independence?

Two men walk with the independence flag of Catalonia before the Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF at Camp Nou, Picture: Getty

In 1714, after a long siege, Spain managed to regain control of Barcelona after the War of Spanish Succession. Catalan nationalists point to the day Barcelona fell, 11 September 1714, as the point when Madrid began to strip their homeland of its ancient privileges, and three centuries of subjugation and repression began.

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