In the heart of Balager, a small town in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, stands Santa Maria de Balaguer, a church with a unique and recognizable silhouette. Built in 1351, this church has been a witness to six centuries of history, narrowly escaped the religious schisms that tore apart the region, and weathered the passing of time. However, look closer, and you'll find a hidden past worth knowing about. This church has a deadly secret that took place in the late 1600s.
Santa Maria de Balaguer became a gathering place for the political elite of the region, a convenient platform for them to assert their dominance. Unfortunately, this politics-heavy atmosphere led to corruption, power struggles, and even murder within the church's walls. One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 1714, during the War of the Spanish Succession. On April 2, Joaquim de Anglesola, the Duke of Palma, was assassinated in the church while attending a service.
His assassins, members of the Orleansist faction, were never caught. This tragic event shocked the region and marked a dark chapter in the history of Santa Maria de Balaguer. The church remained a prison until 1881, when it was restored to its original function as a church. Despite its checkered past, Santa Maria de Balaguer remains a beautiful and significant building in the heart of Balaguer. Its history serves as a reminder of the power struggles, corruption, and violence that have marked the region's past, and the church remains a symbol of resilience and survival in the face of adversity.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nik Frost
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