Introductory essay
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Principality is represented by plans of Gerona (38, 234), Hostalrich (39) and the seaside towns of Rosas (235, 89), Palamós (236, 237), Barcelona and Tarragona, cities that played an irregular role in the Catalan conflict. Rosas fell into the hands of the French-Catalan army in 1645, a serious setback for the Spanish cause; this victory is recreated in two engravings by French and German authors, revealing its importance for the neighbouring country (238, 239). Rosas and a series of coastal ports in Gerona remained under French power until 1659, when they were returned to Spain following the Treaty of the Pyrenees. There are two manuscript plans of Barcelona, one of French and the other of Spanish origin. The former draws the city perimeter from the French army’s perspective (240). The other plan found in Sweden is even more interesting from a military perspective. It shows the siege to which the city was subject in 1652 by Juan José de Austria, which recovered the symbolic city of Barcelona from the rebel forces (241). This victory was one of the most celebrated war exploits of the Spanish monarchy because, together with other major successes of the Spanish army in the same year, it earned Spain a reputation of being invincible. The general conflict came to an end with the conquest of Barcelona, although the war dragged on for a few more years. The case of Tarragona was exactly the opposite of that of Barcelona, because it remained loyal to the royal army throughout the war. From the beginning of the conflict, the port of Tarragona was the principal centre of distribution for troops and military material for both this and the Italian front. The city was therefore attacked on different occasions from land and sea, putting to the test a defence system that is recreated in detail on plans 242 and 85, of French and Spanish origin, respectively.

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