Founder

Víctor Balaguer i Cirera (Barcelona 1824- Madrid 1901) is considered to be one of most important Catalonian politicians and writers of the XIX century. From a very young age he would write about emblematic Catalonian places as well as figures. He understood that the construction of a country had to be done simultaneously along with that of all of its landscapes. For that reason his ideas are found incorporated in poetry, theater, prose, premsa, and, of course, in discourses and other political texts. During his first years as a writer (approximately since 1868) his writings would introduce concepts that would help create a collective Catalonian concept and, from that perspective, he has been considered one of the creators of mentality. Many of the traditional Catalonian figures (Montserrat, Ripoll, Serrallonga, Poblet…) were revaluated in his texts of youth and maturity. The same was said about the Trovador de Montserrat. In literary circles, were he excelled as a result of his poetry and legends, his contribution to theatrical renovation amb les Iragedies (18/6) and then in the nineties with the trilogy Los Pirineus (1892) an opera composed by Felip Pedrell.

He was one of the principle instigators of the Renaixença, especially in the reincorporation of the Juegos Florales, in which he lead the most liberal and transformative corrent. He was the first professor in Gay Saber. Annalist for the city of Barcelona he named the streets of the Example with names that correspond to territories, institutions and personalities pertaining to the crown of Aragon which he always wanted to vindicate as a paradigm of liberal and democratic political organization; The book in which he explains this is called Las Calles de Barcelona (1875). He is also responsible for writing La Historia de Cataluña and La Corona de Aragon (1860-1863) which had notable success amongst his readers.

Starting in the middle of the XIX century he progressively incorporated himself into politics were he excelled as the leader of the progressive party. He Participated in a conspiracy to over through the Burbon monarchs for which he was later exiled. Following the revolution he dedicated himself to politics and had great influence in the political and economic benefits of Catalonia. Víctor Balaguer was a very distinguished member of the masonry and, formed part in four occasions (18/1, 18/2, 18/4, 1886-88), in the governments of Madrid were he occupied the ministries of Fomentation and Overseas.