Mancomunitat de Catalunya

The Commonwealth of Catalonia (Catalan: Mancomunitat de Catalunya, IPA: [məŋkumuniˈtad də kətəˈɫuɲə]) was an institution which grouped the four diputacions (provincial administrations) of Catalonia. It was created on 6 April 1914, although the process of creating the institution had started in 1911, and was disbanded and outlawed in 1925 during Miguel Primo de Rivera's dictatorship.

The Lower House of the Spanish Parliament approved the creation of a Commonwealth with limited powers compared to those originally envisioned for it, however the Spanish Senate never approved the creation of the authority. On 18 December 1913 the king signed the law granting provinces the right to group themselves into associations such as the Catalan Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth was formed by the federation of the four Catalan provincial councils, a long-standing demand on the part of the Catalans. Even though it was restricted to purely administrative functions, and its powers did not go beyond those of the provincial administrations, it acquired great political importance: it represented the first recognition by the Spanish state of the existence and of the unity of Catalonia since the year 1714.

Its first President was Enric Prat de la Riba and afterwards the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch, both of the Lliga Regionalista, who carried out the important task of creating an efficient infrastructure of roads and ports, hydraulic works, railways, telephones, charities and health provision. The Commonwealth also undertook initiatives to increase agricultural and forest yields, introducing technological improvements, the improvement of services and education, and promoting education in technologies necessary for Catalan industry.

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