3000 B.C. during the
Neolithic period
Small groups of people were living in caves near the Valira river such as
the Balma Margineda. Other groups installed themselves in caves at Cim de
Pal, Roc de Llunsν, La Massana and Arinsal.
The Andosini in the 1st century B.C.
It is precisely in the first century B.C. in the account given by the Greek
historian Polybius of the passage across the Ebro of the Carthaginian
general Hannibal that we find the first historical reference to the future
Andorrans, then going by the name of Andosini.
839 A.D. The first six Andorran parishes
The Arabs had razed the Urgell arca and destroyed the Cathedral at Seu
d’Urgell a few years previously. A new cathedral, dedicated to Our Lady was
being erected and the six parishes of the "Valley of Andorra i.e. Lςria ,
Andorra with Santa Coloma, La Massana, Ordino, Encamp and Canillo,
with all their
churches and possessions great and small" were included in the diocese.
11th and 12th centuries. Romanesque art flourishes.
The Lombard romanesque style of architecture had spread through Andorra
leaving such jewels in its wake as the church of Sant Romΰ de les Bons. The
oldest known writings in Catalan were found in this church.
On 8 September 1278 at Lleida ...
This is the date when the institution of the co-principality took concrete
form with the "pariatge" (agreement) signed between the Bishop of Urgell and
the Count of Foix.
Although the "pariatge" recognized the supremacy of the Church of Urgell, it
also represented a considerable enlargement in the authority of the Counts
of Foix in Andorra and the country gradually became an undivided dominion
with equality of powers and attributes shared by two co-lords.
On 11 February 1419 at Seu d'Urgell ...
The Council of the Land was set up. This consisted of designated individuals
whose function was to represent the people of Andorra and look out for their
interests.
With the Council of the Land, Andorrans became aware of the concept of
nationhood, and for the first time, over and above the parrochial or
municipal authority, they now had a superior authority covering the whole
territory. In this way, Andorra entered the modern age.
16th, 17th and 18th centuries: Andorra
discovers a vocation for neutrality and independence
During the 16th and 17th centuries Andorra obtained a collection
of privileges, both legal and commercial in nature, from the co-princes (episcopal
and French) and also from the Spanish monarchy.
At the beginning of the 18th century Andorra managed to stay neutral in the
War of the Spanish Succession which so affected Catalonia.
1789, the French Revolution
The French Revolution placed Andorra between two powers - France and Spain -
which were hostile to each other and in continuous conflict. Napoleon I
signed a decree reestablishing the offices of French Veguer and Batlle, the
"qόθstia" and the customs exemptions conceded years before by Louis XV.
22 April 1866, the New Reform
The Council of the Land is the origin of the present Andorran parliament,
the General Council. This was set up in 1866, the year of the New Reform,
which modernized the electoral system and began a democratizing process in
Andorra.
20th century
1933 was a year of social and political tension. The criminal court,
Tribunal de Corts, dissolved the General Council and the permanent delegates
of the co-princes called elections and granted the right of vote to all
Andorran men over 25.
Andorrans recognised in the 1970’s that political restructuration was
necessary and this was carried out in 1982, when the first executive
government of Andorra took office.
With the Constitution passed by referendum on 14 March 1993 Andorra
became a democratic and social constitutional state in the form of a
parliamentary co-principality. This new status opened the doors to a
consolidation by Andorra of its presence on the international scene.
So in July 1993, Andorra entered the United Nations as a full member and
thereafter joined other international bodies such as the Council of Europe,
UNESCO, WHO and ECSO. Similarly Andorra has already established diplomatic
relations with 72 countries and has 13 accredited diplomatic representations
with various countries and organizations.
UP
