Pareatges
The old Catalan term Pareatges [ pəriˈadʒəs ] (in modern Catalan Pariatges ; French paréage ) refers to two treaties that were signed in 1278 and in an expanded version in 1288 between the Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell Pere d'Urtx and the Count of Foix Roger Bernat III. were signed. These treaties put an end to decades of disputes between the Counts of Foix and Vice- Counts of Béarn on the one hand and the Bishops of Urgell on the other for political supremacy in Andorra and represent the beginning of the condominium or condominium of the Pyrenees. This means that the rule of the two Co-prince , namely the Bishop of Urgell and the Count of Foix, was exercised in equal parts. The implementation of political activities and the passing of new laws always had to be signed by both co-princes.
Word meaning
The Catalan word pareatge / pariatge generally referred to a contract between a secular ruler and a church prince in the Middle Ages . In this context, the term was used very often at the time.
Legal validity
The Andorran Pareatges remained in force until Andorra became independent and the first constitution was implemented in 1993. The status of the condominium was also taken over into the constitution, but today the two co-princes only have a representative function, while the entire legislation is in the hands of the Andorrans.
While the episcopal co-prince is the respective bishop of Seu d'Urgell in Catalonia to this day , the office of the Counts of Foix first passed to the French monarchy and the empire and then to the President of the French Republic . The President of France is therefore co-prince alongside the Bishop of Urgell .
Original fonts
The Pareatges were written on parchment in Latin and were originally available in four copies, only two of which have survived today. It is very likely that these are the episcopal specimens, while the counts have been lost in the course of history. One copy is in the Andorran National Historical Archives, the second in the episcopal archives of Seu d'Urgell .
literature
- Àlvar Valls Oliva: Diccionari Enciclopèdic d'Andorra. Fundació Crèdit Andorrà, Andorra la Vella 2006, ISBN 978-99920-1-629-9 .T