The list of the king’s lieutenants of Catalonia (1708-1808)

La lista de los tenientes de rey de Cataluña (1708-1808)

Abstract

The king’s lieutenant was one of the key soldiers in the Spain of the Bourbons. He was appointed by the king through the War Office Secretariat. During the 18th century there was no Spanish territory with more king’s lieutenants than the Crown of Aragon. The militarization imposed by Felipe V after concluding the War of Succession, justified his presence throughout the territory. However, it was in Catalonia, where this figure acquired its maximum numerical relevance, above all, in squares of arms, where the military and political governments (corregimientos) were linked to the employment of corregidor. These were the cases of Barcelona, Tarragona, Lleida, Girona and Tortosa. In 1802, the new military district of Figueres was created with its king’s lieutenant, but whose military and political governor directed the square from the imposing fortress of Sant Ferran, of Figueres. The strategic squares of La Seu d’Urgell, Castellciutat and Roses were also endowed with this unique officer, as well as the powerful Citadel of Barcelona. The king’s lieutenant, together with his immediate superior —the military and political governor (corregidor)— and the sergeant major, constituted the military hierarchy of the general staff of the squares of arms, fortresses and citadels Catalan. This was the enduring legacy of the Bourbon military presence in Catalonia throughout the 18th century.