Generalitat

The name goes back to the 13th century, to the medieval courts of the ancient principality of Catalonia and the kingdom of Valencia respectively, that were both abolished in 1715 by the Decreto de Nueva Planta by Philip V of Spain.

The Catalan Generalitat was "restored" in 1932, during the 2nd Spanish Republic[?] with Francesc Macià as president. President Macià died in 1933, and the next president was Lluis Companys. After the Spanish right wing won the elections in 1934, the Catalan Generalitat rebelled against the Spanish authorities, and was suspended from 1934 to 1936.

In 1939, President Companys marched to exile, but in 1940 he was returned to Francoist Spain by German agents, and was shot at the Castle of Montjuïc in Barcelona. The succession of Catalan Generalitat presidents was maintained in exile from 1939 to 1977, when Josep Tarradellas[?] returned to Catalonia and was recognized as the legitimate president by the Spanish government. In 1980, Jordi Pujol[?] was elected the next president of the Catalan Generalitat (and has remained in office ever since, as of 2002).

The Valencian Generalitat was "restored" in 1982 and these have been its presidents: Joan Lerma[?], Eduardo Zaplana[?] (through 2002).

Catalan Generalitat: http://www.gencat.net