The 2 May 1808 revolt was one of many nationalist uprisings across Spain against the Bonapartist regime. These revolts marked the beginning of a devastating war of independence against the Napoleonic regime. Further military action by Spanish armies, guerrillas and Wellington's British-Portuguese forces, combined with Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia, led to the ousting of the French imperial armies from Spain in 1814, and the return of King Ferdinand VII.
The Monument to the Heroes of 1809, also known as the Monument to the Martyrs of Independence, depicts a group of five bronze figures, surmounted by a stone relief of two angels. The architectural design is by Pere Benavent de Barberà i Abelló and the Catalan sculptors are Josep Llimona i Bruguera (Barcelona 1864 - Barcelona 1934) and Vicenç Navarro i Romero (Valencia 1888 - Barcelona 1978). Josep Llimona made the bronze group in 1929-30 and it was placed on this location in 1941. The stone angels were made by Vicenç Navarro.
The monument is dedicated to the memory of the locals who lead the insurgency against Napoleon's troops in 1809, in a plot that took place on May 14th and that failed. During the Napoleonic wars, the city was occupied and militarized as a stronghold of the French army, under the command of General Duhesme. The revolt sought to raise all the people against the forces of occupation and liberate Barcelona. Five conspirators were arrested and executed on June 3rd, on the promenade of the Esplanade, as an exemplary punishment. They were Jose Navarro (military lieutenant), Juan Massana and Salvador Aulet (two citizens) and Juan Gallifa and Joaquim Pou (two priests). Three other insurgents, Ramon Mas (carpenter), Julian Portet (trader) and Pedro Lastortras (locksmith) were also arrested and sentenced to death on June 27, 1809.
The plaque reads (Spanish):
El P. Jvan Gallifa : El Dr. Joaqvin Pov
D. Jvan Massana : D. Salvador Avlet
D. Jose navarro : D. Pedro Lastortras
D. Jvlian Portet : y : D. Ramon Mas
Sacrificaron sv vida
Por dios por la patria. y : por el rey
LA CIVDAD AGRADECIDA
Enaltece aqvi perpetvament sv memoria
mcmxxix
Translation:
El P. Juan Gallifa : El Dr. Joaquim Pou
D. Juan Massana : D. Salvador Aulet
D. Jose Navarro : D. Pedro Lastortras
D. Julian Portet : and : D. Ramon Mas
They sacrificed their life
For God, for their country. and : for the King
The Grateful City
In perpetual memory
MCMXXIX
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