NAPOLEON

In 1807 Carlos IV of Spain and Napoleon signed the treaty of Fontainebleau, by which the French army was authorised to enter Spain in order to attack Portugal. Although their actual aim was to conquer the whole Iberian Peninsula.

On February 10th, 1808 a section of the French army led by general Duhesne entered Catalonia; 3 days later, they had entered Barcelona capturing La Ciutadella as well as the fortress of Montjuïc. In the Empordà region, the castle of Sant Ferran was easily taken by a small garrison that Duhesne had left there. The castle of Quermançó was also seized, due to its strategic position. It was partially rebuilt and used for the storage of weapons and ammunition.

The Aranjuez mutiny and the "Abdications" of Bayona left the Spanish Kingdom in Napoleon's hands. The population raised in arms against the invader. In Catalonia the rebellion started in Lleida and Tortosa, and the French were defeated twice in El Bruc on June 6th and 16th 1808. Girona suffered two unsuccessful sieges, and the French suffered many other defeats all over the country. Napoleon himself decided to take part in the war. By December 7th the town of Roses had to surrender to the troops of General Gouvion Saint-Cyr. Girona suffered a third siege but this time its defenders surrendered after seven months of resistance.

General Suchet seized Lleida, Mequinensa and Tortosa (1810) and he was promoted to Marshal on July 8th 1811. Tarragona was also defeated and on January 26th 1812 France annexed Catalonia; the country was divided into departments and administrated according to the French model. Meanwhile, Suchet was holding an effective campaign that concluded with the occupation of Valencia.

From then on the French army weakened considerably, mainly because its troops were being constantly sent to the Russian front. Suchet, the only one who had never been beaten, had to fall back to the north. In March 1814 he stopped at the Fluvià River to reinforce his army and had the castle of Quermançó blown up by his soldiers. Napoleon was defeated on April of the same year, and in May the War of Independence was over.

Castell de Quermançó