Challenge: Iberian Republic and Catalonia

Hey, I've seen a few "challenges" and I want to throw you another one:

What could had happened in order to have an Iberian Republic (Spain and Portugal) but with Catalonia as a independent state in late-20th century??
 
A victory by Princess Joanna and King Afonso V in the War of Castilian Succession would have been a nice start.
 
Mmm. Maybe a few problems with America's discovering. I'm thinking that would be better a continuation of the Felipe II and Felipe III royal marriage with Portugal.
 
Shouldn't this be in the Before 1900 section?

Still, I do feel like contributing. Firstly, I think it would be unlikely that any republic would be named Iberia unless it controlled the whole of Iberia. Spain would be the likely name of a union between Castile and Portugal, just as it was between Castile and Aragon.

Secondly, in my opinion, keeping Aragon independent would be very hard. All Iberian nations used to consider themselves Iberian, the Portuguese were greatly offended when the union of Castile and Aragon decided to call themselves Spain, since they believed themselves to be 'Spanish'. They only began to move away from that when they had their own colonial successes.

For Aragon to remain independent they would need some sort of achievement that sets them apart from the Spanish nation, a sort of 'look at me, I did this all by myself' happening. Without an Atlantic coast, and thus ease of access to the America's, gaining this national pride would be much more difficult than it was for the Portuguese.
 
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But Aragon was more that Catalonia.

What about...:

-With Felipe II of Spain, all the Iberian peninsula get unified.
-At the start of XIXth century, France invades Spain.
--After a Spanish-French war, the Barcelona treaty gives Catalonia to France.
-In middle XIXth century, Catalonia get revolted and reaches independence.

What do you think about that timeline?
 

Goldstein

Banned
But Aragon was more that Catalonia.

What about...:

-With Felipe II of Spain, all the Iberian peninsula get unified.
-At the start of XIXth century, France invades Spain.
--After a Spanish-French war, the Barcelona treaty gives Catalonia to France.
-In middle XIXth century, Catalonia get revolted and reaches independence.

What do you think about that timeline?

It is easier than that. In the 17th century, both Portugal and Catalonia revolted against Spain. Have Catalonia succeeding instead of Portugal, and it's done.
 

Deleted member 5719

It is easier than that. In the 17th century, both Portugal and Catalonia revolted against Spain. Have Catalonia succeeding instead of Portugal, and it's done.

I doubt if Catalonia would have gained independence without Aragon, and kept it. The revolt was not specifically nationalist in character, and even if a short lived Catalonian state had been set up, then France or Spain would have swallowed it whole within a decade.
 

Goldstein

Banned
I doubt if Catalonia would have gained independence without Aragon, and kept it. The revolt was not specifically nationalist in character, and even if a short lived Catalonian state had been set up, then France or Spain would have swallowed it whole within a decade.

So? The challenge asks for a Catalonian state, and the revolt not being nationalist in nature is irrelevant for that matter. As for the survival of the Catalonian state, it could become a French puppet instead of being directly annexed, as it would need to rely in a good alliance anyway.
 

Deleted member 5719

But what sort of state could the Catalan Republic have been? Pau Claris aside, nobody wanted it, and half of Catalonia was actively fighting against it. It's difficult to see how it could have been maintained.
 
A victory by Princess Joanna and King Afonso V in the War of Castilian Succession would have been a nice start.
I think is a good option but an independent Catalonia (of a unified Iberia after Felipe II) in the mid XVII or in the Civil War (1936) would be better. Nevertheless, that would be hard because I imagine Spanish nationalism would be stronger (in Catalonia too) if all Iberia stays together for an extended period
 
New timeline with Goldstein suggestions:

(OTL)
1640 - Portugal and Catalonia revolts
1643 - France invades Northern Catalonia
1644 - Spain wins the Battle of Montijo
1648 - Peace of Westphalia.
(POD)
1659 - Spain wins the Battle of the Lines of Elvas. Treaty of the Pyrenees. Catalonia cedes Rousillon to France and Spain recognizes Catalonia's independence.
1663 - Portugal and England are defeated in the Battle of Ameixial.
1665 - Felipe IV of Spain dies.
1668 - Treaty of Lisboa. Portugal recognizes Carlos II of Spain as king of Portugal.

What do you think?
 
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It is easier than that. In the 17th century, both Portugal and Catalonia revolted against Spain. Have Catalonia succeeding instead of Portugal, and it's done.
It's the easiest way, I think.:)
New timeline with Goldstein suggestions:

(OTL)
1640 - Portugal and Catalonia revolts
1643 - France invades Northern Catalonia
1644 - Spain wins the Battle of Montijo
1648 - Peace of Westphalia.
(POD)
1659 - Spain wins the Battle of the Lines of Elvas. Treaty of the Pyrenees. Catalonia cedes Rousillon to France and Spain recognizes Catalonia's independence.
1663 - Portugal and England are defeated in the Battle of Ameixial.
1665 - Felipe IV of Spain dies.
1668 - Treaty of Lisboa. Portugal recognizes Carlos II of Spain as king of Portugal.

What do you think?
Sounds very realistic to me. :)
 
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