Tragic Week (in Catalan la Setmana Tràgica, in Spanish la Semana Trágica) (July 25 – August 2, 1909) is the name used for a series of bloody confrontations between the army and the working classes of Barcelona and other cities of Catalonia, backed by the anarchists, socialists and republicans, during the last week of July 1909. It was caused by the calling-up of reserve troops by Prime Minister Antonio Maura to be sent as reinforcements when Spai...
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Tragic Week (in Catalan la Setmana Tràgica, in Spanish la Semana Trágica) (July 25 – August 2, 1909) is the name used for a series of bloody confrontations between the army and the working classes of Barcelona and other cities of Catalonia, backed by the anarchists, socialists and republicans, during the last week of July 1909. It was caused by the calling-up of reserve troops by Prime Minister Antonio Maura to be sent as reinforcements when Spain renewed military-colonial activity in Morocco on July 9, in what is known as the Second Rif War.
Minister of War Arsenio Linares y Pombo called up the Third Mixed Brigade of Chasseurs, which was composed of both active and reserve units in Catalonia. Among these were 520 men who had completed active duty six years earlier and who had not anticipated further service. Substitutes could be hired if one did not wish to fight—but this cost 6,000 reales, which was beyond the means of most laborers. (Workers didn't receive more than 20 reales or 5...
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