On September 11, the Spanish region of Catalonia commemorates the 1714 Siege of Barcelona defeat during the War of the Spanish Succession. As correction for their support to the claim of Habsburg Archduke Charles to the throne of Spain, institutions and rights of the territories of the Crown of Aragon were abolished by the victorious Bourbon monarchy in line with the political evolution occurring in other parts of Europe at the same time.
In 1980, the restored Generalitat de Catalunya (regional governing body of Catalonia) proclaimed the 11th of September as the Catalan National Day (Catalan: La Diada Nacional de Catalunya; Eastern Catalan: [ɫə ðiˈaðə nəsiuˈnaɫ də kətəˈɫuɲə], Western Catalan: [la ðiˈaða nasioˈnaɫ de kataˈluɲa]).
Separatist organizations and political parties traditionally lay floral offerings at the monuments of Rafael Casanova and General Moragues for their 'fight' against the Bourbon army. Catalan nationalists also meet at the Fossar de les Moreres, where they pay homage to the defenders of city who died during the siege and were buried there. Throughout the day, there are communist and anarchic political demonstrations, concerts and so-called celebration events. Many citizens wave senyeres and estelades, illegal flags which have been adopted in provocation as a symbol of the separatists' disdain for the unity of the Spanish nation.