THE PROVINCE OF THE BIERZO During the Napoleonic Wars (1 ª part) ,
For Xabier Lake Mestre.
For Xabier Lake Mestre.
In previous articles we have seen the impact of the call from the province of El Bierzo in other historical periods. Our province had an important role during the invasion of Napoleon's armies. Recall that due to the occupation of other cities of the kingdom, where de Leon, Astorga, Benavente, Zamora and others, El Bierzo enjoyed periods some autonomy (local boards, Board of the United ...) and resistance (Galician army cantonment, mountainous isolation ...) against the French armies.
YEAR 1808.
The Board of the Kingdom of León organized into 4 zones on the territory for recruitment: Part 1 of El Bierzo, 2 nd Leon Otero, Arguellos, valleys Torío, Bernesga and other, 3 rd fields, land of Cea, Guardo and Saldana, 4 th Astorga, the Bañeza, Cabrera and other aggregates. Tomas Sanchez was appointed commander of the Volunteer Division of El Bierzo, to recruit and organize the province berciana, "The General Board of Governors in whom sovereignty resides in the province of León, following the proposal made by Mr. Don Manuel Castanon, Commanding General of the Army and Military Governor of it, and ascertain the fitness and circumstances related to Vm. has come on behalf of the Army division commander, and special body to be organized in the department of Ponferrada, comprising all known under the name Peoples of the Province of Bierzo (...) "(1808) (AGMS).
The Board of the Kingdom of León organized into 4 zones on the territory for recruitment: Part 1 of El Bierzo, 2 nd Leon Otero, Arguellos, valleys Torío, Bernesga and other, 3 rd fields, land of Cea, Guardo and Saldana, 4 th Astorga, the Bañeza, Cabrera and other aggregates. Tomas Sanchez was appointed commander of the Volunteer Division of El Bierzo, to recruit and organize the province berciana, "The General Board of Governors in whom sovereignty resides in the province of León, following the proposal made by Mr. Don Manuel Castanon, Commanding General of the Army and Military Governor of it, and ascertain the fitness and circumstances related to Vm. has come on behalf of the Army division commander, and special body to be organized in the department of Ponferrada, comprising all known under the name Peoples of the Province of Bierzo (...) "(1808) (AGMS).
The Marquis of La Romana left the 4th Division of the Army of the Left in the province of El Bierzo and ports and Manzanal Foncebadón, commanded by Lieut. Gen. Juan Jose Garcia (January 30).
The Party of War, Juan José García, Chief of the 4th Army Division Galicia in El Bierzo, to the High Board of Galicia indicates that, at the request of its president, Jose Baez, has sent turn to the members of the Board of León, Manuel de Villapadierna, Cabins and Felix Gonzalez Mauricio Merida (March 3, 1808).
In June 1808 there were three local boards in the province of El Bierzo. Arsenio García Fuertes indicates that the Boards of Ponferrada and Villafranca Lope were led by Benito Ron and the mayor Juan Antonio Stem Ponce, respectively, and the third, Cacace.
July 27 Battalion formed by college students literature Santiago Vilafranca stationed in El Bierzo, while the military headquarters established in Manzanal Galician.
Charter Antonio Valdés, Pte Leon Board of General Cuesta, July 28, 1808, which tells of the military organization that carried. "The General Board of the Kingdom in its first move quickly to appoint a Commander of the Army, Division commanders and more junior officers, looking carefully between the Province over the integrity, talent Military and Patriotism, and from then presented to their eyes and others, agreed in these circumstances to lead Don Tomas Sanchez, and was named Commander Major General, with particular application to the Department Bierzo Party, and was responsible for organizing the body that should be those people (...). " However, Boards of Ponferrada and Villafranca were betting on their own candidate, Leandro Osorio Quindós, San Juan de la Mata.
The local board decides Ponferrada create a 5th regiment, August 10, 1808, "The Governing Board, armaments and defense of this town of Ponferrada, capital of his party and the province of Bierzo, made known to the Justices of the People, as a command of Major General the army of the Kingdom of León, are sent to gather all the boys enlisted Party to form a body to Title Volunteers Bierzo, and to take effect the Board agreed to verify its presence in this town, the morning of Thursday 15 of no fault current. "
The Settlement Plan and Training Regiments, which sets the Board of Leon, states that "is composed of five regiments all enrolled in this province, including the Party of Vierzo, each regiment will consist of two battalions, each battalion of four rifle companies, and handles a musketeers (...). "
In the town of Ponferrada is aware of the need to create a military force to defend the province of El Bierzo. "The Governing Board, armaments and defense of this town of Ponferrada, capital of the Party and Bierzo Province: last known to the Justices of the People, for Order of the General Staff of the army of the Kingdom of León, are sent to gather all Party boys enlisted to form a body with the title Volunteer Bierzo, and to take effect, the Board agreed to verify its presentation in this town (...) "(September 9, 1808).
Cuesta
General Decree of 29 August and 8 September, with the support of the City of León and Astorga Board, established the illegality of the proceedings of the Board of the Kingdom in Ponferrada, by incompetence and abuse of power by merging with that of Galicia, going to see it as another subordinate provincial board, ie Armament and Defense Board, prohibiting the disclosure of all her joints under penalty of treason and arrested the president also Antonio Valdes and other junteros "(as Michael J. Garcia.)
By letter of 20 October, "the Board of Governors, Arms and defense of the town of Ponferrada, capital of the Province of Bierzo" recognizes the Central Board. Signed by the mayor of Ponferrada, Lope Benito Ron as Pte Francisco de Castro, CEO, and its secretary Josep Fernández Baeza.
YEAR 1809.
Napoleon in a letter to Secretary of War, Henry Clarke, indicates that "gral. Colbert died in a small rearguard action against the British, as you will see in the 3000 Scottish newsletter who wanted to defend the throats of Pieros near Villafranca, in Galicia, to allow time there will be many, have been defeated (...) "(January 4, 18,099.
From January to March 1809, the province of El Bierzo suffer the French occupation which causes the flight of the El Bierzo in the mountains. The invading armies are installed in the castle of Vilafranca and the convent of the Conception of Ponferrada. In this town holds the position the magistrate, Mr. Ramon Gago, while there is resistance to meet the demands of the occupying army supplies.
March 21 Governing reappears, Armament and Defense of the town of Ponferrada and its province of El Bierzo, while the Marquis de la Romana replaces interim mayor Ramon Gago.
face of popular revolts against the occupying army, the French military governor wrote to the mayor Astorga Ponferradina to restore social order, "procure V. to re-establish the peace of all the inhabitants of Vierzo (...). V. Tell not to consider the French as enemies but as friends. His country magistrate will often pursued by the French troops should not miss him this people, to remain calm at home, or no more voves hear the Lord of La Romana and fewer of his supporters, this obscures the interest of the people (...). Right V. Magistrate that the inhabitants of Vierzo not entertain more than the war itself i currently give regular jobs and industries, is the greatest service to which V. SM can give ia Catholic people, call them V. at home all those who are absent, and V. knowledge of this my letter to the priests and the mayors of these circuits, (...) "(April 9, 1809).
The Marquis of La Romana appoints General Juan José García Velasco, commander of the Fourth Army Division stationed in El Bierzo, and the Orense Manuel Antonio Novoa, mayor of Ponferrada and Vierzo Province (August 23, 1809).
Ponferrada City Council calls for clemency in the payment of contributions, "decline of the people burdened with the continuing accommodation, requisition of bread, meat (...). La Villa annihilated with the (tax) ordinary and extraordinary suffering in times of peace from what many residents are largely determined to leave their homes, the same thing happening all Vierzo Party repeatedly looted and burned to be has added many murders (...) "(27 October).
The November 13, 1809, the mayor of Ponferrada, Mr. Novoa, calls to Members of the jurisdictions of the province of El Bierzo, to discuss economic issues. Including attempts to increase revenue through the sale of the assets of the Sanctuary of La Peña and the monasteries of S. Pedro de Montes and Carracedo. As reported by the historian, Michael J. García González, the Board of United reacted negatively to the previous call, and calls to Members of El Bierzo, this time by people not by courts, its own assembly in Villafranca, ordering the establishment of a military hospital in the convent S. Agustín de Ponferrada, over the protests of the capital city of El Bierzo, which argued for Carracedo Monastery to host hospital.
O Bierzo, maio 2011. Http://sites.google.com/site/obierzoxa
http://www.facebook.com/xabierlagomestre
http://www.blogoteca.com/obierzoxa
http://www.obierzoceibe.blogspot.com/
www.ponferrada.org
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