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{{Short description|Feudal administrative territorial jurisdiction of the Principality of Catalonia}}
{{Short description|Internal administrative territorial jurisdiction of Catalonia}}
{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
[[File:Àmbits_de_Catalunya_Abril_2016.png|right|thumb|270px|Current regional plan of Catalonia and the non-deployed vegueries defined by law:
[[File:Organització territorial de les vegueries de Catalunya.svg|thumb|270x270px|Catalonia's current regional plan, with its eight {{Lang|ca|vegueries}} and the Aran Valley not included in any:
{{unbulleted list
{{unbulleted list
|{{legend2|#f37373|Barcelona ''(Àmbit metropolità)''}}|{{legend2|#73f3f3|Alt Pirineu}}|{{legend2|#73f373|Tarragona}}|{{legend2|#FF7F00|Penedès}}|{{legend2|#7373f3|Central Catalonia ''(Comarques Centrals)''}}|{{legend2|#f3f373|Girona ''(Comarques Gironines)''}}|{{legend2|#f373f3|Lleida ''(Ponent)''}}|{{legend2|#b3b373|Terres de l'Ebre}}|{{legend2|#cccccc|Aran Valley}}}}]]
|{{legend2|#f37373|Àmbit metropolità}}
[[Catalonia]] is internally divided into eight [[Administrative division|regional divisions]], known in [[Catalonia|Catalan]] as '''{{Lang|ca|vegueries}}''' ([[Grammatical number|singular]] ''vegueria'', {{IPA|ca|bəɣəˈɾi.ə}}), following the regional plan of Catalonia. Each vegueria is further divided into ''[[Comarques of Catalonia|comarques]]'' and [[Municipality|municipalities]], with the exception of the [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]], considered a "unique territorial entity".<ref>{{Cite web |last=ACN |date=2023-06-29 |title=La Val d'Aran celebra 30 anys d'autogovern - 17 juny 2021 |url=https://www.elpuntavui.cat/politica/article/17-politica/1987647-la-val-d-aran-celebra-30-anys-d-autogovern.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=El Punt Avui |language=ca}}</ref>
|{{legend2|#73f3f3|Alt Pirineu i Aran}}

|{{legend2|#73f373|Tarragona}}
The vegueries system is based on the [[feudalism|feudal]] administrative territorial jurisdiction of the [[Principality of Catalonia]], which was abolished with the [[Nueva Planta decrees]] of 1716.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=decrets de Nova Planta {{!}} enciclopedia.cat |url=https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/decrets-de-nova-planta |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.enciclopedia.cat}}</ref> The current division was established by the [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006]] with two functions: an inter-municipal government and the arrangement of the services from the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=vegueria {{!}} enciclopedia.cat |url=https://www.enciclopedia.cat/gran-enciclopedia-catalana/vegueria-1 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.enciclopedia.cat}}</ref>
|{{legend2|#FF7F00|Penedès}}

|{{legend2|#7373f3|Comarques Centrals}}
However, although the vegueries are intended to become Catalonia's first-level administrative division and a full replacement for the four ''[[Provincial deputation (Spain)|diputacions]]'' of the official [[Catalonia#Provinces|Catalan provinces]] within the [[Provinces of Spain|Spanish system]] in the future and create a council for each vegueria,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=palau |first=òscar |title=Traient l'entrellat a les vegueries - 12 març 2010 |url=https://www.elpuntavui.cat/article/146574-traient-lentrellat-a-les-vegueries.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=El Punt Avui |language=ca}}</ref> the latter is currently still used administratively at state level,<ref>{{Cite web |last=femVallès |date=2020-04-28 |title=La Catalunya de 9 vegueries (en 4 províncies) - femVallès |url=https://www.femvalles.cat/la-catalunya-de-9-vegueries-en-4-provincies/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |language=ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Se impide crear veguerías alterando los límites provinciales {{!}} Barcelona {{!}} elmundo.es |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2010/07/09/barcelona/1278690407.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.elmundo.es}}</ref> as changes to the statewide provinces system are unconstitutional.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=324cat |date=2010-07-09 |title=El Constitucional només admet les vegueries si es conserven les províncies |url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/el-constitucional-nomes-admet-les-vegueries-si-es-conserven-les-provincies/noticia/761666/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=CCMA |language=ca}}</ref>
|{{legend2|#f3f373|Comarques Gironines}}
|{{legend2|#f373f3|Ponent}}
|{{legend2|#b3b373|Terres de l'Ebre}}
}}]]
The '''''vegueria''''' ({{IPA-ca|bəɣəˈɾi.ə}}; [[grammatical number|pl.]] ''vegueries'') was the [[feudalism|feudal]] administrative territorial jurisdiction of the [[Principality of Catalonia]] (to the [[Crown of Aragon]]) during the [[Middle Ages]] and into the [[Modern Era]] until the [[Nueva Planta decrees]] of 1716. The vegueria was headed by a ''veguer'' ({{lang-la|vigerius}}) and its office was called a ''vigeriate'' ({{lang-la|vigeriatus}}).


== List ==
Vegueries were also in place during the [[History of Sardinia#Kingdom of the Crown of Aragon|Crown of Aragon dominion of Sardinia]], and –briefly– during the same in the [[Duchy of Athens]] .
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Vegueria
!English name
!Capital<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dogc.gencat.cat/ca/document-del-dogc/?documentId=777117 | title=Document }}</ref>{{efn|Following the vegueries law, the regions of Alt Pirineu, Central Catalonia and Penedès have the most populated cities as their de facto capitals until a law determines them.}}
!Population
(1 Jan 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Idescat. Anuari estadístic de Catalunya. Població a 1 de gener. Comarques i Aran, àmbits i províncies. |url=https://www.idescat.cat/indicadors/?id=aec&n=15224 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.idescat.cat}}</ref>
!Date approved<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Torre |first=Marga |date=2011-01-03 |title=Pla territorial de l'àmbit metropolità de Barcelona: naturalesa, gènesi i contingut. |url=https://rdi.dtes.scipedia.com/s/Torre_2010c |language=en-GB |volume=Notícies}}</ref>
|-
|[[Alt Pirineu i Aran|Alt Pirineu]]
|''Upper Pyrenees''
|[[La Seu d'Urgell]]
|63,892
|July 2006
|-
|[[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Barcelona]]
|''Barcelona''
|[[Barcelona]]
|4,916,847
|April 2010
|-
|[[Camp de Tarragona]]
|''Camp of Tarragona''
|[[Tarragona]]
|536,453
|January 2010
|-
|[[Comarques Centrals|Catalunya Central]]
|''Central Catalonia''
|[[Manresa]]
|413,349
|September 2008
|-
|[[Comarques Gironines|Girona]]
|''Girona''
|[[Girona]]
|761,690
|October 2010
|-
|[[Ponent]]
|''Ponent''
|[[Lleida]]
|365,289
|July 2007
|-
|[[Penedès (division)|Penedès]]
|''Penedès''
|[[Vilanova i la Geltrú]]
|497,764
|February 2017<ref name=":4">{{cite web | url=https://www.ara.cat/societat/catalunya-vegueries-parlament-vegueria-penedes_1_1410475.html | title=Catalunya ja té vuit vegueries: El Parlament aprova la creació de la vegueria del Penedès | date=8 February 2017 }}</ref>
|-
|[[Terres de l'Ebre]]
|''Ebre Lands''
|[[Tortosa]]
|182,231
|August 2010
|-
|[[Val d'Aran]]{{efn|The Aran Valley is a "unique territorial entity" and not a comarca, but it is sometimes included into the Alt Pirineu region under the name ''Alt Pirineu i Aran''.}}
|''Aran Valley''
|[[Vielha e Mijaran]]
|10,194
|July 2006
|}


==History==
==History==


===Origins and functions===
===Origins and functions===
The origins of the vegueria go back to the era of the [[Carolingian Empire]], when [[vicar]]s (Latin: ''vicarii'', singular ''vicarius'') were installed beneath the counts in the [[Marca Hispanica]]. The office of a vicar was a vicariate (Latin: ''vicariatus'') and his territory was a ''vicaria''. All these Latin terms of Carolingian administration evolved in the [[Catalan language]] even as they disappeared in the rest of Europe. The Catalan terms were even subsequently Latinised: ''vicarius'' → ''vigerius''.
The origins of the vegueria go back to the era of the [[Carolingian Empire]], when [[vicar]]s ([[Latin]]: ''vicarii'', singular ''vicarius'') were installed beneath the counts in the [[Marca Hispanica]]. The office of a vicar was a vicariate (Latin: ''vicariatus'') and his territory was a ''vicaria''. All these Latin terms of Carolingian administration evolved in the [[Catalan language]] even as they disappeared in the rest of Europe. The Catalan terms were even subsequently [[Latinisation of names|Latinised]]: ''vicarius'' → ''vigerius''.


The original functions of the vigeriate were feudal and it was probably initially hereditary. The veguer was appointed by his feudal lord, the count, and was accountable to him. He was the military commander of his vegueria (and thus keeper of the publicly owned castles), the chief justice of the same district, and the man in charge of the public finances (the [[fisc]]) of the region entrusted to him. As time wore on, the functions of the veguer became more and more judicial in nature. He held a ''cort del veguer'' or ''de la vegueria'' with its own seal. The ''cort'' had authority in all matter save those relating to the feudal aristocracy. It commonly heard pleas of the crown, civil, and criminal cases. The veguer did, however, retain some military functions as well: he was the commander of the militia and the superintendent of royal castles. His job was law and order and the maintenance of the king's peace: in many respects an office analogous to that of the [[sheriff]] in [[England]].
The original functions of the vigeriate were feudal and it was probably initially hereditary. The veguer was appointed by his feudal lord, the count, and was accountable to him. He was the military commander of his vegueria (and thus keeper of the publicly owned castles), the chief justice of the same district, and the man in charge of the public finances (the [[fisc]]) of the region entrusted to him. As time wore on, the functions of the veguer became more and more judicial in nature. He held a ''cort del veguer'' or ''de la vegueria'' with its own seal. The ''cort'' had authority in all matter save those relating to the feudal aristocracy. It commonly heard pleas of the crown, civil, and criminal cases. The veguer did, however, retain some military functions as well: he was the commander of the militia and the superintendent of royal castles. His job was law and order and the maintenance of the king's peace: in many respects an office analogous to that of the [[sheriff]] in [[England]].


===Prime===
=== Historical vegueries ===
[[File:Vegueries Catalunya 1304.svg|thumb|Vegueries of [[Principality of Catalonia|Catalonia]] in 1304 ([[Cerdanya]] and [[County of Roussillon|Rosselló]] had been integrated to the [[Kingdom of Majorca]] in 1276, only to be later reunited to the Principality in 1344)]]
At the end of the twelfth century in Catalonia, there were twelve vegueries. By the end of the reign of [[Peter III of Aragon|Peter the Great]] (1285) there were seventeen, and by the time of [[James II of Aragon|James the Just]] there were twenty one. These administrative divisions remained until 1716. Some of the larger vegueries included one or more ''sotsvegueries'' (subvigueries), which had a large degree of autonomy.
[[File:Administració del Rosselló i la Cerdanya.png|thumb|Vegueries and sotsvegueries of the Counties of [[County of Cerdanya|Cerdanya]] and [[County of Roussillon|Rosselló]] under the [[Kingdom of Majorca]] (1276-1344)]]
At the end of the twelfth century in Catalonia, there were twelve vegueries. By the end of the reign of [[Peter III of Aragon|Peter the Great]] (1285) there were seventeen, and by the time of [[James II of Aragon|James the Just]] there were twenty one. Some of the larger vegueries included one or more ''sotsvegueries'' (subvigueries), which had a large degree of autonomy.


While Catalonia continued to use vegueries as subdivisions of counties, elsewhere in the [[Iberian peninsula]] there were the ''merináticos'' ([[Kingdom of Aragon]]) and the ''[[corregimiento]]s'' ([[Kingdom of Castile]]) whose functions were similar to those of the Catalan vegueries.
While the [[Principality of Catalonia]] continued to use vegueries as subdivisions of counties, elsewhere in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] there were the ''merináticos'' ([[Kingdom of Aragon]]) and the ''[[corregimiento]]s'' ([[Kingdom of Castile]]) whose functions were similar to those of the Catalan vegueries.


When the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] became a Catalan-run state, it was not subdivided into vegueries, since a similar Italian institution was already entrenched there: that of the ''[[captaincy|capitania]]'' and the ''capità''. The ''capità'' had similar to identical functions as the veguer. When the Catalans [[Battle of Halmyros|conquered]] the [[Duchy of Athens]], they subdivided that duchy into three vegueries: Athens, [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], and [[Livadeia|Livadia]].<ref>Setton, Kenneth M. ''Catalan Domination of Athens 1311–1380.'' Revised edition. London: Variorum, 1975.</ref> In the [[Duchy of Neopatras]] which the Catalans conquered in 1319, the institution of the ''capità'' appeared instead of the vigeriate, but the captaincies ([[Siderokastron]], [[Neopatras]], and [[County of Salona|Salona]]) were similar to identical in function to the vegueries of Athens. In Athens, the offices of captain and veguer were often held by the same individual as ''capitaneus seu vigerius'' and variants. Once the Aragonese crown had finally subdued most of the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] to their rule by the end of the fourteenth century, they had subdivided its government into vegueries. All the veguerias of the Catalan possessions were, by the [[Usages of Barcelona]], constrained to be held for only three years by any individual, though in practice some kings ignored this. In Athens, a [[vicar general]] on the Italian model was instituted above the veguers.
When the [[Kingdom of Sicily]] became a Catalan-run state, it was not subdivided into vegueries, since a similar Italian institution was already entrenched there: that of the ''[[captaincy|capitania]]'' and the ''capità''. The ''capità'' had similar to identical functions as the veguer. When the Catalans [[Battle of Halmyros|conquered]] the [[Duchy of Athens]], they subdivided that duchy into three vegueries: Athens, [[Thebes, Greece|Thebes]], and [[Livadeia|Livadia]].<ref>Setton, Kenneth M. ''Catalan Domination of Athens 1311–1380.'' Revised edition. London: Variorum, 1975.</ref> In the [[Duchy of Neopatras]] which the Catalans conquered in 1319, the institution of the ''capità'' appeared instead of the vigeriate, but the captaincies ([[Siderokastron]], [[Neopatras]], and [[County of Salona|Salona]]) were similar to identical in function to the vegueries of Athens. In Athens, the offices of captain and veguer were often held by the same individual as ''capitaneus seu vigerius'' and variants. Once the Aragonese crown had finally subdued most of the [[Kingdom of Sardinia]] to their rule by the end of the fourteenth century, they had subdivided its government into vegueries. All the vegueries of the Catalan possessions were, by the [[Usages of Barcelona]], constrained to be held for only three years by any individual, though in practice some kings ignored this. In Athens, a [[vicar general]] on the Italian model was instituted above the veguers.


[[File:Corregiments de Catalunya..svg|thumb|The twelve Catalan [[corregimiento|''corregimientos'']], from 1716 to 1833]]
==Historical vegueries==
[[File:Províncias Catalunya.svg|thumb|The four Catalan provinces since 1833]]
Catalan vegueries have change their limits along the history and there has not always been the same number of them. Their history was terminated in 1716, when the vegueries were replaced by 12 [[corregimiento]]s, a historical [[Kingdom of Castile|Castilian]] administrative division.
Catalan vegueries have changed their limits along the history and there has not always been the same number of them. The vegueries of Catalonia at the time of [[James II of Aragon|James the Just]] were:<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0216931 l'Enciclopedia], vegueria. {{in lang|ca}}</ref><ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0143722 l'Enciclopedia], sotsveguer. {{in lang|ca}}</ref><ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0143723 l'Enciclopedia], sotsvegueria. {{in lang|ca}}</ref>

The veguerias of Catalonia<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0216931 l'Enciclopedia], vegueria. {{in lang|ca}}</ref><ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0143722 l'Enciclopedia], sotsveguer. {{in lang|ca}}</ref><ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0143723 l'Enciclopedia], sotsvegueria. {{in lang|ca}}</ref> at the time of James the Just were:
*[[Tortosa]]
*[[Tortosa]]
*[[Tarragona]]
*[[Tarragona]]
*[[Montblanc, Tarragona|Montblanc]]
*[[Montblanc, Tarragona|Montblanc]]
*[[Barcelona]] (with [[Vallès]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Barcelona]] (including the [[Vallès]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Osona]]
*[[Osona]]
*[[Berguedà]] (with [[Manresa]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Berguedà]] (including the [[Manresa]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Bages]] (with [[Moianés]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Bages]] (including the [[Moianés]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Vilafranca del Penedès]] (with [[Igualada]] and [[Piera]] sotsvegueries)
*[[Vilafranca del Penedès]] (including the [[Igualada]] and [[Piera]] sotsvegueries)
*[[Girona]]
*[[Girona]]
*[[Besalú]]
*[[Besalú]]
*[[Campodron]]
*[[Camprodon]]
*[[La Ral]]
*[[La Ral]]
*[[Ripollès]]
*[[Ripollès]]
*[[Tàrrega]]
*[[Tàrrega]]
*[[Lleida]] (with [[Balaguer]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Lleida]] (including the [[Balaguer]] sotsvegueria)
*[[Cervera]] (with [[Agramunt]] and [[Prats del Rei]] sotsvegueries)
*[[Cervera]] (including the [[Agramunt]] and [[Els Prats de Rei|Prats del Rei]] sotsvegueries)
*[[Ribagorça]]
*[[Ribagorça]]
*[[County of Pallars|Pallars]]
*[[County of Pallars|Pallars]]
*[[Camarasa]]
*[[Camarasa]]
*[[County of Roussillon|Rosselló]] (with [[Vallespir]] sotsvegueria)
*[[County of Roussillon|Rosselló]] (including the [[Vallespir]] sotsvegueria)
*[[County of Conflent|Conflent]] (with [[Capcir]] sotsvegueria)
*[[County of Conflent|Conflent]] (including the [[Capcir]] sotsvegueria)
*[[County of Cerdagne|Cerdanya]] (with [[Ribes]] and [[Baridà]] sotsvegueries)
*[[County of Cerdagne|Cerdanya]] (including the [[Vall de Ribes|Ribes]] and [[Baridà]] sotsvegueries)


Later, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, a few more vegueries were created:
Later, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, four more vegueries were created:
*[[Vegueria d'Urgell|Urgell]]<ref>[http://www.grec.net/cgibin/ggcc01cl.pgm?USUARI=&SESSIO=&PGMORI=&NDCHEC=0604589 GGCC], Alt Urgell {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Urgell]]<ref>[http://www.grec.net/cgibin/ggcc01cl.pgm?USUARI=&SESSIO=&PGMORI=&NDCHEC=0604589 GGCC], Alt Urgell {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Balaguer]]<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0006893 l'Enciclipedia], vegueria de Balaguer {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Balaguer]]<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0006893 l'Enciclipedia], vegueria de Balaguer {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Agramunt]]<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0001039 l'Enciclopedia], vegueria d'Agramunt {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Agramunt]]<ref>[http://www.enciclopedia.cat/fitxa_v2.jsp?NDCHEC=0001039 l'Enciclopedia], vegueria d'Agramunt {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Lluçanès]]<ref>[http://www.ccbages.cat/santfeliusasserra Consell comarcal del Bages] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Lluçanès]]<ref>[http://www.ccbages.cat/santfeliusasserra Consell comarcal del Bages] {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
Vegueries were officially abolished in 1716, when the vegueries were replaced by 12 [[corregimiento|''corregimientos'']], a historical [[Kingdom of Castile|Castilian]] administrative division.<ref name=":0" /> In 1833, the [[1833 territorial division of Spain|new Spanish territorial division]] divided Spain into provinces, subdividing Catalonia in four ([[Province of Barcelona|Barcelona]], [[Province of Lleida|Lleida]], [[Province of Tarragona|Tarragona]] and [[Province of Girona|Girona]]), which did not adequate to the comarques, but outside of minor differences remains in use today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833 - Wikisource |url=https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Real_Decreto_de_30_de_noviembre_de_1833 |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=es.wikisource.org |language=es}}</ref>


=== Second Spanish Republic ===
==Attempts to reinstate vegueries in Catalonia in modern times==
[[1822 territorial division of Spain|Starting in 1822]] Spain has been distributed into [[provinces of Spain|50 provinces]]. The four Catalan provinces are somewhat bigger than the vegueries organization and, in modern times, there have been a few attempts to implement a smaller subdivision than that of the province, and this has been tried by means of re-instating smaller administration unit which would use the historical name of vegueria.

Despite these attempts, to date the province continues to be the building block in Catalonia.

===Republican Generalitat 1931===
[[File:Regions de Catalunya 1936.svg|thumb|Catalan regions, from 1936 to 1939]]
[[File:Regions de Catalunya 1936.svg|thumb|Catalan regions, from 1936 to 1939]]


During the brief years of the [[Spanish Second Republic]], the Catalan autonomous government divided Catalonia into nine regions, which, in turn, were subdivided into [[Comarques of Catalonia|''comarques'']]. This brief organization (as follows below) is cited as a model for the latter-day attempts to implement a smaller administration unit than that of the province:
During the [[Second Spanish Republic]], after Catalonia [[Autonomous Region of Catalonia (1931-1939)|obtained an autonomous government]], it was divided into nine regions, which, in turn, were subdivided into [[Comarques of Catalonia|comarques]]. The organisation was as follows:


* 1st region, the capital was [[Barcelona]] and comprised the [[comarques]]: [[Baix Llobregat]], el [[Barcelonès]], el [[Maresme]], [[Vallès Occidental]] and el [[Vallès Oriental]].
* Region 1, the capital was [[Barcelona]] and comprised the following [[comarques]]: [[Baix Llobregat]], [[Barcelonès]], [[Maresme]], [[Vallès Occidental]] and [[Vallès Oriental]].
* 2nd region, the capital was [[Girona]] and the comarques: l'[[Alt Empordà]], el [[Baix Empordà]], la [[Garrotxa]], el [[Gironès]], and la [[Selva]] ([[Pla de l'Estany]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
* Region 2, the capital was [[Girona]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Alt Empordà]], [[Baix Empordà]], [[Garrotxa]], [[Gironès]], and [[Selva]] ([[Pla de l'Estany]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
*3rd region, the capital was [[Tarragona]] and the comarques: l'[[Alt Camp]], l'[[Alt Penedès]], el [[Baix Penedès]], el [[Garraf]] and el [[Tarragonès]].
*Region 3, the capital was [[Tarragona]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Alt Camp]], [[Alt Penedès]], [[Baix Penedès]], [[Garraf]] and [[Tarragonès]].
* 4th region, the capital was [[Reus]] and the comarques: [[Baix Camp]], la [[Conca de Barberà]], el [[Priorat]] and la [[Ribera d'Ebre]].
* Region 4, the capital was [[Reus]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Baix Camp]], la [[Conca de Barberà]], [[Priorat]] and [[Ribera d'Ebre]].
* 5th region, the capital was [[Tortosa]] and the comarques: [[Baix Ebre]], el [[Montsià]] and la [[Terra Alta (comarca)|Terra Alta]].
* Region 5, the capital was [[Tortosa]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Baix Ebre]], [[Montsià]] and [[Terra Alta (comarca)|Terra Alta]].
* 6th region, the capital was [[Vic]] and the comarques: [[Baixa Cerdanya]], [[Osona (comarca)|Osona]] and el [[Ripollès]].
* Region 6, the capital was [[Vic, Spain|Vic]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Baixa Cerdanya]], [[Osona (comarca)|Osona]] and el [[Ripollès]].
* 7th region, the capital was [[Manresa]] and the comarques: l'[[Anoia (comarca)|Anoia]], el [[Bages]], el [[Berguedà]] and el [[Solsonès]].
* Region 7, the capital was [[Manresa]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Anoia (comarca)|Anoia]], [[Bages]], [[Berguedà]] and [[Solsonès]].
* 8th region, the capital was [[Lleida]] and the comarques: les [[Garrigues (comarca)|Garrigues]], la [[Noguera (comarca)|Noguera]], l'[[Urgell (comarca)|Urgell]], la [[Segarra]] and el [[Segrià]] (el [[Pla d'Urgell]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
* Region 8, the capital was [[Lleida]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Garrigues (comarca)|Garrigues]], [[Noguera (comarca)|Noguera]], [[Urgell (comarca)|Urgell]], [[Segarra]] and [[Segrià]] ([[Pla d'Urgell]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
* 9th region, the capital was [[Tremp]] and the comarques: l'[[Alt Urgell]], el [[Pallars Jussà]], el [[Pallars Sobirà]] and la [[Vall d'Aran]] (l'[[Alta Ribagorça]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
* Region 9, the capital was [[Tremp]] and comprised the following comarques: [[Alt Urgell]], [[Pallars Jussà]], [[Pallars Sobirà]] and the [[Val d'Aran|Aran Valley]] ([[Alta Ribagorça]], newly created in 1987, was back then included in this region).
In 1937, a government decree reinstated the name of {{Lang|ca|vegueries}}, but they were abolished by the [[Francoist Spain|Francoist regime]] at the end of the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref name=":2" />


=== After the transition to democracy ===
===Current proposals===
[[File:Àmbits de Catalunya 1995.svg|thumb|Catalan regional plan 1995, used as the basis for different vegueries projects.
[[File:Àmbits de Catalunya 1995.svg|thumb|Catalan regional plan of 1995, used as the basis for different vegueries projects.
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|{{legend2|#b3b373|Terres de l'Ebre}}
|{{legend2|#b3b373|Terres de l'Ebre}}
}}]]
}}]]
When Franco died and [[Spanish Transition|Spain returned to a democratic system]], the Spanish regions entered a process of intense devolution, from the central government, but also internally. In Catalonia, the comarcas were reinstated in 1987, although the veguerias have yet to be formally reclaimed.
Following Franco's death and [[Spanish transition to democracy|Spain's return to a democratic system]], the Catalan comarques were reinstated by the [[Generalitat de Catalunya|Catalan government]] in 1987, although the vegueries have yet to be formally recognised by the State.

Under the 2006 [[Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia]], the four ''diputacions provincials'' (provincial government of the provinces) which make up Catalonia are to be superseded by seven ''consells de vegueries'' (veguerial government), which will also take over many of the functions of the ''comarques''.<ref name="RadioBanyoles" /> As of May 2011, the final boundaries of the new vegueries have not been formally approved. They were expected to be similar to the 9 regions of the Republican Generalitat, as follows:

*[[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona]]: former 1st region, Alt Penedès and Garraf.
*[[Alt Pirineu i Aran|Alt Pirineu]]: former 9th region and Cerdanya, without [[Val d'Aran]].
*[[Camp de Tarragona]]: former 3rd region and 4th region.
*[[Comarques Centrals]]: former 7th region and Osona. The proposed boundaries of this vegueria are contested by some.
*[[Comarques Gironines]]: former 2nd and Ripollès. Also contested.<ref name="altter">[http://www.altter.org/home.html Vegueria de l'Alt Ter] (campaign) {{in lang|ca}}</ref>
*[[Ponent|Ponent or Lleida]]: former 8th region.
*[[Terres de l'Ebre]]: former 5th region and Ribera d'Ebre.


Under the 2006 Statute of Autonomy, the four Catalan ''diputacions'', which follow the Spanish province system, were to be superseded by seven ''consells de vegueries'', additionally taking over many of the ''comarques''<nowiki/>' functions. However, in June 2010, the [[Constitutional Court of Spain|Spanish Constitutional Court]] declared any changes to the statewide provinces system as unconstitutional, thus only allowing vegueries as long as the provinces system remained.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> The Vegueries Law was approved on 27 July 2010 in [[Parliament of Catalonia|Parliament]]. The approval provided for the replacement of the provincial councils by their own bodies, the vegueria councils (''consell de vegueria''), formed by the president and the Vegueria councillors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=EP |date=2011-05-10 |title=El Govern paralitza la Llei de Vegueries i impulsa el Penedès |url=https://www.regio7.cat/arreu-catalunya-espanya-mon/2011/05/10/govern-paralitza-llei-vegueries-i-50611402.html |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=Regió7 |language=ca}}</ref> Although the law allows for an inter-municipal government and the organisation of the services of the [[Generalitat de Catalunya]], the unapproved proposal aims to replace the current provincial deputations and to make the administrative structures more efficient.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NacióDigital |title=Mapa de Vegueries de Catalunya: on pertany el teu municipi? |url=https://www.naciodigital.cat/noticia/253850/mapa-vegueries-catalunya |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.naciodigital.cat |language=ca}}</ref>
Some associations and town councils involved have asked for a Penedès vegueria to be created, as it was in the past (13th century — 1716).<ref name="vegueriapropia">[http://www.vegueriapropia.org/ Plataforma per la Vegueria Penedès] (campaign) {{in lang|ca}}</ref> This would include the Alt Penedès, Baix Penedès, Garraf and Anoia, comarcas which the current proposal split between the [[Àmbit metropolità de Barcelona|Àmbit metropolità]], [[Camp de Tarragona]] and [[Comarques Centrals]]. The city of [[Tarragona]]{{who|date=May 2011}} asks the government and the parliament to use the historical and official name [[Vegueria of Tarragona]], used between the 13th century and 1716.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}


The law does not define any vegueria capitals and allows for creating or deleting any.<ref>{{Cite web |last=324cat |date=2010-01-10 |title=La llei de vegueries no defineix capitals i deixa la porta oberta a crear-ne més de 7 o eliminar-ne alguna |url=https://www.ccma.cat/324/la-llei-de-vegueries-no-defineix-capitals-i-deixa-la-porta-oberta-a-crear-ne-mes-de-7-o-eliminar-ne-alguna/noticia/469508/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=CCMA |language=ca}}</ref> After some opposition from some territories, it was made possible for the Aran Valley to retain its government (included in the Regional Plan as ''Alt Pirineu i Aran'', vegueria named ''Alt Pirineu'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=Mapa de Vegueries a Catalunya (2021): On és el teu municipi? |url=https://beteve.cat/mobilitat/mapa-vegueries-catalunya/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=beteve.cat |language=ca}}</ref> and on August 3, 2016, Parliament approved the legislative initiative that advocated the creation of the eighth vegueria, Penedès.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" />
The previous Catalan regional government (2006–2010) hinted plans to formally re-establish the vegueries in 2011<ref name="RadioBanyoles">[http://www.radiobanyoles.cat/noticia.php?id=3882&t=La+Generalitat+vol+que+les+municipals+del+2011+serveixin+tamb%C3%A9+per+decidir+els+dirigents+de+les+vegueries Radio Banyoles], {{in lang|ca}}</ref> and use them as the "building blocks" of the region.


== Notes ==
However, the [[Catalan regional election, 2010|2010 Catalan regional election]] produced a new legislature which has put these plans on hold.<ref>[http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20110123/54105048546/joana-ortega-mi-objetivo-es-pactar-una-ley-electoral-que-ponga-fin-a-las-listas-cerradas.html]</ref>
<references group="lower-alpha" responsive="1"></references>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Medieval Catalonia]]
[[Category:Medieval Catalonia]]
[[Category:Principality of Catalonia]]
[[Category:Principality of Catalonia]]
[[Category:Administrative divisions in Europe]]

Revision as of 23:57, 2 September 2024

Catalonia's current regional plan, with its eight vegueries and the Aran Valley not included in any:
  •   Barcelona (Àmbit metropolità)
  •   Alt Pirineu
  •   Tarragona
  •   Penedès
  •   Central Catalonia (Comarques Centrals)
  •   Girona (Comarques Gironines)
  •   Lleida (Ponent)
  •   Terres de l'Ebre
  •   Aran Valley

Catalonia is internally divided into eight regional divisions, known in Catalan as vegueries (singular vegueria, Catalan pronunciation: [bəɣəˈɾi.ə]), following the regional plan of Catalonia. Each vegueria is further divided into comarques and municipalities, with the exception of the Aran Valley, considered a "unique territorial entity".[1]

The vegueries system is based on the feudal administrative territorial jurisdiction of the Principality of Catalonia, which was abolished with the Nueva Planta decrees of 1716.[2] The current division was established by the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006 with two functions: an inter-municipal government and the arrangement of the services from the Generalitat de Catalunya.[3]

However, although the vegueries are intended to become Catalonia's first-level administrative division and a full replacement for the four diputacions of the official Catalan provinces within the Spanish system in the future and create a council for each vegueria,[4] the latter is currently still used administratively at state level,[5][6] as changes to the statewide provinces system are unconstitutional.[7]

List

Vegueria English name Capital[8][a] Population

(1 Jan 2022)[9]

Date approved[10]
Alt Pirineu Upper Pyrenees La Seu d'Urgell 63,892 July 2006
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona 4,916,847 April 2010
Camp de Tarragona Camp of Tarragona Tarragona 536,453 January 2010
Catalunya Central Central Catalonia Manresa 413,349 September 2008
Girona Girona Girona 761,690 October 2010
Ponent Ponent Lleida 365,289 July 2007
Penedès Penedès Vilanova i la Geltrú 497,764 February 2017[11]
Terres de l'Ebre Ebre Lands Tortosa 182,231 August 2010
Val d'Aran[b] Aran Valley Vielha e Mijaran 10,194 July 2006

History

Origins and functions

The origins of the vegueria go back to the era of the Carolingian Empire, when vicars (Latin: vicarii, singular vicarius) were installed beneath the counts in the Marca Hispanica. The office of a vicar was a vicariate (Latin: vicariatus) and his territory was a vicaria. All these Latin terms of Carolingian administration evolved in the Catalan language even as they disappeared in the rest of Europe. The Catalan terms were even subsequently Latinised: vicariusvigerius.

The original functions of the vigeriate were feudal and it was probably initially hereditary. The veguer was appointed by his feudal lord, the count, and was accountable to him. He was the military commander of his vegueria (and thus keeper of the publicly owned castles), the chief justice of the same district, and the man in charge of the public finances (the fisc) of the region entrusted to him. As time wore on, the functions of the veguer became more and more judicial in nature. He held a cort del veguer or de la vegueria with its own seal. The cort had authority in all matter save those relating to the feudal aristocracy. It commonly heard pleas of the crown, civil, and criminal cases. The veguer did, however, retain some military functions as well: he was the commander of the militia and the superintendent of royal castles. His job was law and order and the maintenance of the king's peace: in many respects an office analogous to that of the sheriff in England.

Historical vegueries

Vegueries of Catalonia in 1304 (Cerdanya and Rosselló had been integrated to the Kingdom of Majorca in 1276, only to be later reunited to the Principality in 1344)
Vegueries and sotsvegueries of the Counties of Cerdanya and Rosselló under the Kingdom of Majorca (1276-1344)

At the end of the twelfth century in Catalonia, there were twelve vegueries. By the end of the reign of Peter the Great (1285) there were seventeen, and by the time of James the Just there were twenty one. Some of the larger vegueries included one or more sotsvegueries (subvigueries), which had a large degree of autonomy.

While the Principality of Catalonia continued to use vegueries as subdivisions of counties, elsewhere in the Iberian Peninsula there were the merináticos (Kingdom of Aragon) and the corregimientos (Kingdom of Castile) whose functions were similar to those of the Catalan vegueries.

When the Kingdom of Sicily became a Catalan-run state, it was not subdivided into vegueries, since a similar Italian institution was already entrenched there: that of the capitania and the capità. The capità had similar to identical functions as the veguer. When the Catalans conquered the Duchy of Athens, they subdivided that duchy into three vegueries: Athens, Thebes, and Livadia.[12] In the Duchy of Neopatras which the Catalans conquered in 1319, the institution of the capità appeared instead of the vigeriate, but the captaincies (Siderokastron, Neopatras, and Salona) were similar to identical in function to the vegueries of Athens. In Athens, the offices of captain and veguer were often held by the same individual as capitaneus seu vigerius and variants. Once the Aragonese crown had finally subdued most of the Kingdom of Sardinia to their rule by the end of the fourteenth century, they had subdivided its government into vegueries. All the vegueries of the Catalan possessions were, by the Usages of Barcelona, constrained to be held for only three years by any individual, though in practice some kings ignored this. In Athens, a vicar general on the Italian model was instituted above the veguers.

The twelve Catalan corregimientos, from 1716 to 1833
The four Catalan provinces since 1833

Catalan vegueries have changed their limits along the history and there has not always been the same number of them. The vegueries of Catalonia at the time of James the Just were:[13][14][15]

Later, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, four more vegueries were created:

Vegueries were officially abolished in 1716, when the vegueries were replaced by 12 corregimientos, a historical Castilian administrative division.[2] In 1833, the new Spanish territorial division divided Spain into provinces, subdividing Catalonia in four (Barcelona, Lleida, Tarragona and Girona), which did not adequate to the comarques, but outside of minor differences remains in use today.[20]

Second Spanish Republic

Catalan regions, from 1936 to 1939

During the Second Spanish Republic, after Catalonia obtained an autonomous government, it was divided into nine regions, which, in turn, were subdivided into comarques. The organisation was as follows:

In 1937, a government decree reinstated the name of vegueries, but they were abolished by the Francoist regime at the end of the Spanish Civil War.[4]

After the transition to democracy

Catalan regional plan of 1995, used as the basis for different vegueries projects.
  •   Àmbit metropolità
  •   Alt Pirineu i Aran
  •   Tarragona
  •   Comarques Centrals
  •   Comarques Gironines
  •   Ponent
  •   Terres de l'Ebre

Following Franco's death and Spain's return to a democratic system, the Catalan comarques were reinstated by the Catalan government in 1987, although the vegueries have yet to be formally recognised by the State.

Under the 2006 Statute of Autonomy, the four Catalan diputacions, which follow the Spanish province system, were to be superseded by seven consells de vegueries, additionally taking over many of the comarques' functions. However, in June 2010, the Spanish Constitutional Court declared any changes to the statewide provinces system as unconstitutional, thus only allowing vegueries as long as the provinces system remained.[7][3] The Vegueries Law was approved on 27 July 2010 in Parliament. The approval provided for the replacement of the provincial councils by their own bodies, the vegueria councils (consell de vegueria), formed by the president and the Vegueria councillors.[21] Although the law allows for an inter-municipal government and the organisation of the services of the Generalitat de Catalunya, the unapproved proposal aims to replace the current provincial deputations and to make the administrative structures more efficient.[22]

The law does not define any vegueria capitals and allows for creating or deleting any.[23] After some opposition from some territories, it was made possible for the Aran Valley to retain its government (included in the Regional Plan as Alt Pirineu i Aran, vegueria named Alt Pirineu)[24] and on August 3, 2016, Parliament approved the legislative initiative that advocated the creation of the eighth vegueria, Penedès.[11][3]

Notes

  1. ^ Following the vegueries law, the regions of Alt Pirineu, Central Catalonia and Penedès have the most populated cities as their de facto capitals until a law determines them.
  2. ^ The Aran Valley is a "unique territorial entity" and not a comarca, but it is sometimes included into the Alt Pirineu region under the name Alt Pirineu i Aran.

References

  1. ^ ACN (2023-06-29). "La Val d'Aran celebra 30 anys d'autogovern - 17 juny 2021". El Punt Avui (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  2. ^ a b "decrets de Nova Planta | enciclopedia.cat". www.enciclopedia.cat. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  3. ^ a b c "vegueria | enciclopedia.cat". www.enciclopedia.cat. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  4. ^ a b palau, òscar. "Traient l'entrellat a les vegueries - 12 març 2010". El Punt Avui (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  5. ^ femVallès (2020-04-28). "La Catalunya de 9 vegueries (en 4 províncies) - femVallès" (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  6. ^ "Se impide crear veguerías alterando los límites provinciales | Barcelona | elmundo.es". www.elmundo.es. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  7. ^ a b 324cat (2010-07-09). "El Constitucional només admet les vegueries si es conserven les províncies". CCMA (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Document".
  9. ^ "Idescat. Anuari estadístic de Catalunya. Població a 1 de gener. Comarques i Aran, àmbits i províncies". www.idescat.cat. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  10. ^ Torre, Marga (2011-01-03). "Pla territorial de l'àmbit metropolità de Barcelona: naturalesa, gènesi i contingut". Notícies. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ a b "Catalunya ja té vuit vegueries: El Parlament aprova la creació de la vegueria del Penedès". 8 February 2017.
  12. ^ Setton, Kenneth M. Catalan Domination of Athens 1311–1380. Revised edition. London: Variorum, 1975.
  13. ^ l'Enciclopedia, vegueria. (in Catalan)
  14. ^ l'Enciclopedia, sotsveguer. (in Catalan)
  15. ^ l'Enciclopedia, sotsvegueria. (in Catalan)
  16. ^ GGCC, Alt Urgell (in Catalan)
  17. ^ l'Enciclipedia, vegueria de Balaguer (in Catalan)
  18. ^ l'Enciclopedia, vegueria d'Agramunt (in Catalan)
  19. ^ Consell comarcal del Bages (in Catalan)
  20. ^ "Real Decreto de 30 de noviembre de 1833 - Wikisource". es.wikisource.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  21. ^ EP (2011-05-10). "El Govern paralitza la Llei de Vegueries i impulsa el Penedès". Regió7 (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  22. ^ NacióDigital. "Mapa de Vegueries de Catalunya: on pertany el teu municipi?". www.naciodigital.cat (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  23. ^ 324cat (2010-01-10). "La llei de vegueries no defineix capitals i deixa la porta oberta a crear-ne més de 7 o eliminar-ne alguna". CCMA (in Catalan). Retrieved 2023-06-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ "Mapa de Vegueries a Catalunya (2021): On és el teu municipi?". beteve.cat (in Catalan). 2021-04-21. Retrieved 2023-06-29.