Revolutionary (1885 - 1936)
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| Blas Infante |
Blas Infante is known as the "father of Andalucia"
having fought for what is today the "Estatuto de Autonomia
de Andalucia." (Self-governing statute for Andalucia.)
Born in Casares (Malaga) he attended school in Malaga and Cordoba,
and went on to obtain a law degree from the University of Granada
where he also studied philosophy. In 1909, he returned to Casares
where he worked as an assistant to his father who was employed as
Secretary to the Municipal Courts.
1913
It was in 1913 during the celebration of an International Congress
in Ronda that Blas Infante presented his famous speech that started
with the words: "The moment has come for the privileged to die."
He carried on to proclaim Andalucia as the most fertile land in
Spain. Blas Infante wrote articles promoting his cause for the magazine
"Betica", and presented a speech at the Ateneo in Seville on "the
Andalucian Ideal". He subsequently wrote a book of the same name.
1916
In 1916, the first Centro Andaluz was established in Seville,
which is today located on O'Donnell street, where the Blas Infante
foundation can also be found.
1918
In 1918, the Assembly of Andalucian Provinces was held in Ronda, this was Andalucia's first ever assembly. The official Green - White - Green equal horizontal bands of the Andalucian flag was unveiled. Variations of it were frequently used and documented from Al Andaluz and the Moorish times. Green being the colour of the Omeya dynasty representing the consensus of the people. The white was frequenty used in Eurpean Heraldry represents peace or parliament. The emblem of Hércules was inspired by Cadiz, Andalucia's oldest city and is called "las insignias de Andalucía". The hymn of Andalucia was also published. The modern Andalucia Constitutions of 1892 and 2007 specifically refer to this event.
1918-19
In 1918-19, Blas Infante was elected Diputado (council representative)
for the district of Gaucin-Casares-Estepona. In 1919 he also married
Angustias Garcia Pradas and eventually fathered three daughters
and a son.
The newlyweds moved to Seville, where Infante founded
the Abante Library. In 1931 he created the Liberal Junta of Andalucia
in Seville.
1936
In 1936, after the February elections, the Andalucian campaign intensified
in favour of the Autonomy Statute. Blas Infante was proclaimed President
of the new Assembly and the following week in Cadiz, the Diputacion
was celebrated with a meeting where all the villages of the province
were represented. The Andalucian flag was subsequently raised at
the Town Hall of Cadiz, Seville.
But Blas Infante's ideals and achievements fell foul of the fascists under General Franco, and he was imprisoned during the Civil War. On the 2nd August 1936 he was arrested in his house in Cora del Rio by various members of the Filange in the early morning of the 11 August, along with two others, he was taken to the side of the Seville - Carmona road where he was shot dead. As he fell to the ground, he shouted out his famous last words: "Long live free Andalucia!" A monument at km4 of the marks the location, A commemorative service takes place here every year on Andalucian Day. (28 February)
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