 |
| A guard with his horse |
The Grandma wants to explain to you a story of an old and traditional guard who has been attacked by The AntiChrist. This is its story:
The essentially rural structure of Catalonia in the 18th century meant that the Esquadres de Catalunya were the ideal police force to meet the needs of public order at the time.
In many Catalan cities there was no other police force apart from the army. Barcelona bore highly different features to the remaining cities in Catalonia, for instance, it was a capital, undergoing demographic growth and it was served by a port.
In Barcelona, the modern precedents of the urban and security police were beginning to take shape.
More information: Services
In 1573, Barcelona had specialised officials who oversaw compliance with the rules of the urban police: the Obreros or workers, the Mostaza – someone who was in charge of checking the weights, measures, and quality of food – and the administrator.
 |
| A guard in 1930 |
The experience of Barcelona spread to other major Catalan communities.
As far as the security police are concerned, in 1579 the Council of Barcelona city approved a proposal from the Provincial Court to divide the city into districts and, in turn, to divide these districts into neighbourhoods in order to ensure public peace of mind.
During the initial stage of French domination in Spain (1812-1814) a Barcelona Police Board was set up, headed by Ramon Casanovas. It replicated the French police system and its goal was to prevent uproar against the invaders.
Napoleon divided Catalonia into four departments, set up the French Civil Regime and the common administration, and additionally reorganised the police of the principality in accordance with his own model.
In 1840 there was a need in Barcelona for an organised surveillance force to ensure compliance with ordinances. Hygiene had been greatly overlooked in neighbourhoods and posed major problems for such a densely populated major city confined within the walls.
More information: Procedures
In spite of this, the 1812 Constitution did not consider the organisation of any local police force. The police scene was composed of regional or countywide police forces that were just an extension of the army.
 |
| A guard in 1960 |
On 21 July 1841, councillor Manuel Torrents suggested the City Council organise a force that would be available around the clock, grouping the various dispersed bodies that were attached to the City Hall. This force would gather the night watchmen, the avenue guards, the street-lamp lighters, the brigade workers, the macebearers and the guards watching the oil tanks for the street lamps. In order to carry out their unusual tasks, these men wore uniforms and some were armed.
The Guardia Municipal was created on 26 November 1843 during the term of mayor Josep Bertran Ros. The Guardia Municipal was directly attached to the major’s office and its regulations stated that one of its missions was to preserve calm in the community. It stated: If disturbances, quarrels or rows break out during surveillance of streets and squares, the peaceful residents shall be protected.
More information: Safe Mobility Education
At the start the Municipales Guards were armed with a sabre and gun, a rifle and even a bayonet. However, the decision was made to disarm them stemming from the events which took place during the tragic week in 1909.
1856 saw the creation of the Mounted Section, which was based on the ground floor of the Town Hall in Plaça Sant Jaume. The first contingent had ten posts. Its goal was to carry out surveillance over the ports of the city, which at the time was still enclosed by the walls; to assist in collecting revenue from consumption; to disperse gangs of dangerous people who loitered at night; and to prevent stone fights, a practice that was popular among groups of children at the time.
 |
| The Mounted Unit in 2016 |
This force first took to the streets on 19 November 1859 on the occasion of the saint’s day of Isabella II. They made a huge impression on the citizens of Barcelona on account of their uniform and the public soon came to grow fond of them.
In addition to their acclaimed involvement in the Carrousel, in which they show off their conquering abilities, the plume guards, as they were commonly known, had specific missions, such as surveillance in the outskirts of the city – particularly in the mountain areas such as Les Planes, the areas of El Laberint, Horta, Torre Baró and Arrabassada; they were active in major gatherings; they carried out surveillance in gardens; they prevented secret constructions and were involved in uncovering criminals’ hide-outs.
In Autumn 2006, celebrations were held marking the 150th anniversary of the Mounted Unit with a show on horseback taking place on La Rambla and a magnificent performance being given by the horsemen and horses at the Palau Sant Jordi. During the events, the citizens of Barcelona demonstrated their feelings of warmth towards this unit.
More information: BTV
Meanwhile The Grandma is writing these lines, The AntiChrist who has no culture, who doesn't respect traditions, who doesn't attend anybody, who confuses authority with imposition, is closing the Musical Section of the Mounted Unit of the Guàrdia Urbana. We can not wait anything good from a person who represents ignorance and sectarism. God saves us!
Five enemies of peace inhabit with us: avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace.
Petrarch
No comments:
Post a Comment