Early History

Andorra, is considered to be founded by the Emperor Charlemagne. As tradition says, five thousand Andorrans, conducted by Marc Almugàver, appeared at the "Vall de Carol" to help the army of Charlemagne, located at "Pimorent" and "Campcardòs" in order to fight Muslims. The emperor thankful to the Andorran army gave his protection to Andorra and declare it as "Sovereign People" (788 A.D.).  "Fiter i Rossell" writes in the "Manual Digest" that the Valleys were recovered to the Arabs by Charlemagne, and so were submitted to his supreme dominion. The emperor give the "dècimes" (tenths) and some other rights to the Bishops of Urgell. There exists a "Bill of Andorra's Foundation", kept by the archive of the Principate; this bill was issued by Charlemagne to his son "Lluís" and it is not accepted by all the historians, because it was written and given in a late period. This document establish that Andorran people, where his tributaries, but however he specifies that they only have to pay "one or two fishes as tribute", this fact is quite peculiar, because is the first reference to the "Valira's trouts".

The year 839 A.D. is the moment to rebuild the territory of the Pyrenees.  Forty six years before, the Arabs have destroyed the cathedral of Urgell. At this time, they set up a new one in the place called "Vicus".  During this century and the next, by means of purchases and permutes, the successors of the counts of Urgell, enlarge their possessions at Andorra. 

The territorial dominion of the bishop of Urgell, was then transformed into a "jurisdictional mastership" and their relations with Andorra will be in the future of "feudal style". So Andorra, converts in an episcopal mastery (mastership).  In 1176 a new agreement was signed by 838 "house heads" from Andorra, and thanks to this data we can establish the existing population at the Valleys at that time (1176), 2.298 inhabitants approx

After a hundred years of petty feuding among Lords and Bishops, matrimonial alliances, enlarge even more the "House of Foix". In 1257, "Roger Bernat III", marries "Margarida de Bearn" and convert himself in one of the mightiest magnates of Southern France, as well as from the kingdom of Catalunya-Aragó. Considering himself that he had no ties and submission to the bishop, initiates a period of struggle in some cases serious and bloody. The situation get worse when "Pere III el Gran" from Aragó, gives support to the rights of the bishop, while his brother "Jaume II" of Mallorca, "Rosselló" and "Cerdanya", married to "Esclarmonda" (sister of "Roger Bernat III) protected his brother in law, the Count of Foix. "Pere II" of Catalunya forced the count of Foix and the bishop of Urgell to reach an agreement, by which the last party gave part of his rights, and both rested as co-sovereigns of Andorra. The signature was done at "Lleida" the 8th of September of 1278 A.D.

This agreement is known as "primer pariatge" (first co sovereignty) being a very important deed in the history of the Principate of Andorra.
 

Several years after, on December the 6th of 1288, both co masters signed a "second pariatge". The Andorran people had the moment two sovereigns. Thanks to this situation, that remain through history, Andorra has maintained its independence if front of powerful nations on both border-lines.  Both co-princeps, living outside Andorra, named their councilors every other year alternatively, receiving the tribute of the "Questia", given by the Andorrans. Andorra, then conforms as the actual co principate. The Andorran people at that time feed normally of bread, milk, and some vegetables, as well as cheese "de llesca" (laminated), used usually to pay tributes.

In year 1419 A.D., they granted the right to the people of Andorra (in this election the only able to vote were the house-heads of the most important "houses or families") to elect several people to represent them in the Council. This Council may be considered one of the oldest Parliaments in Europe.

Modern Age (1.512 A.D.-1.899 A.D.)

Through various transitions of ownership between kings and nobles, the Andorran people, continue being loyal and paying regularly the "Questia" to the kings of Navarre-counts of "Foix" as established in the previous "pariatges".

Fortunately for Andorra, none of its mighty neighbors, never attempted to make revindications that could go further that those established in the medieval "pariatges".  This let Andorra keep its co-sovereignty, and obtain as well a "corpus" of privileges, juridical (citizens of a neutral country, no military service, no war contributions or of a foreign country occupation) as well as commercial (basically, free circulation of goods between both border-lines and very reduced taxes).

The first years of the 18th century, Andorra maintains neutral during the war of Spanish Succession, that affected so much Catalunya.   In 1789, the French Revolution places Andorra between two powerful nations, France and Spain, confronted permanently. Beheaded "Lluís XVI" (1-21st-1793) the "pariatge" was interrupted because the French revolutionaries considered the acceptance of tributes of the "Questia", as simple feudal remnants. So, France decided to renounce to all her master rights on Andorra not accepting the payment of the "Questia", this fact put in a serious risk the neutrality of the Valleys as well as the privileges attained from the French kings in the past.

Years later, on Andorran request, in 1806, "Napoleon Ist" re-established the positions of "Veguer" and "French Batlle", the "Questia" and the custom exemptions given in the past by king "Lluís XVth".  This definite re-establishment of the "co-sovereignty" marked a new period in the history of Andorra. We can say that the Valleys of Andorra get open to the world. The first European travelers, get interested by the beauty of landscapes and their customs.  At the same time, the Andorran neutrality was seriously threatened by the Spanish dynastic conflict, and their associated battles. Frequently, "liberals" and "Charlists" look for shelter in the Valleys, as for example "Dalmau de Baquer" that even wrote a book entitled "History of the Republic of Andorra".  In the year 1866, "Guillem de Plandolit i d'Areny" nobleman and rich landowner, headed the "Nova Reforma", that was accepted by the bishop "Josep Caixal i Estradé" in April 14th 1866. This deep reform of the institutions gives a more active participation of the people in the government of Andorra. The "General Council" is composed by 24 "Consellers", that will be elected by the "síndics". Three years later, the co-prince "Napoleon IIIrd" ratified the reform done.

During the last years of the last century, the economic difficulties, forced many people to migrate, at the same time they inaugurated the first telephone and telegraph lines. At the end of the 19th century, Andorra, was an almost unknown and isolated country, that from time to time was visited by some travelers that frequently wrote down the accounts of their journeys.


Twentieth Century

Starting in 1914, Andorra, begins to break its traditional isolation, by the construction of the first road communicating Andorra and the "Seu d'Urgell". During 1933, this road is continued till the "Pas de la Casa", border-line with France.

In 1928, the Spanish Government creates a postal service between Andorra and Spain, printing stamps on Andorran topics. France will do the same three years later. In 1929, are installed the first electric plants, because up to this point every parish made its own electricity with small electric generators. The concession of this hydroelectric plant attracts workers from outside the Principate.
 

The aspiration of the Andorran people to exercise their universal right to vote (universal suffrage) not restricted, causes during 1933, a great political and social tension. The electoral system, was reformed in July 17th, and from now on every man older than 30 years would be eligible, voting only men 25 years and older.
 

In 1945, the standard of living at the Principate starts being that of a modern state. Population duplicates in 12 years arriving to 12.199 in 1964. At this point begins the commercial and touristic take off, as a consequence of the increase in the standard of living. They developed the first ski resorts to practice winter sports. The ski is declared national sport. New generations of Andorran people educated in foreign countries start to appear. In 1968, is created the "Caixa Andorrana de Seguretat" (CASS), and the automatic telex and telephone service. In 1967, the co-prince "Charles de Gaulle" was received enthusiastically at the Principate. Three years later, during 1970 the electoral law is reformed again, and women are allowed to vote from now on.  Now, men and women older than 21 years are allowed to vote, being eligible as well. In 1973, the first encounter of the co-princes since the 13th century S.S.E.E. "Joan Martí i Alanis" and "George Pompidou".
 

Years after, Andorra enter the "World Tourism Organization"; separate executive and legislative powers, and in January the 14th 1982 establishes the first government of Andorra, with "Mr. Oscar Ribas" as President. During this year, Andorra suffered severe floods, that caused a great number of dead and injured. During 1984, the Head of the Government, resigned and in 1989, the nationalist candidates won the elections. Between 1990 and 1992, Andorra signed an agreement with the European Economic Community, approves the "Penal Code", and the population census increases a great deal.
 

The year 1993, Andorra lived a great moment, approving the "Constitution", and the entry in the United Nations, and all their entities. The representative of the Principate, raises the catalan language to the highest European institutions, using this language (official language of Andorra) in his speech at the U. N.

Today, under the government of the "Molt Honorable Sr. Marc Forné i Molné", consolidates as a great touristic and commercial center, as well as in the practice of winter and mountain sports, as well as an incomparable place to enjoy some days with its thermoludic complex "Caldea".  Meanwhile, the modernization of the Principate continues, as is shown by the concession of new television frequencies that permit the reception of the spanish private televisions, because till now the only public televisions received were the catalans TV3 and C33, spanish (TVE-1 and the "2") and french (TF1, A2 and FR3, actually not all of them are public tv), and the definite consolidation of the Andorra Television (ATV).