Autonomous Region of Catalonia (1931–1939) in the context of History of Catalonia

Barcelona (/ˌbɑːrsəˈloʊnə/ BAR-sə-LOH-nə; Catalan: [bəɾsəˈlonə] ; Spanish: [baɾθeˈlona] ) is a city on the northeastern coast of Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second-most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.7 million within city limits, its urban area extends to numerous neighbouring municipalities within the province of Barcelona and is home to around 5.7 million people, making it the fifth most populous urban area of the European Union after Paris, the Ruhr area, Madrid and Milan. It is one of the largest metropolises on the Mediterranean Sea, located on the coast between the mouths of the rivers Llobregat and Besòs, bounded to the west by the Serra de Collserola mountain range.

According to tradition, Barcelona was founded by either the Phoenicians or the Carthaginians, who had trading posts along the Catalonian coast. In the Middle Ages, Barcelona became the capital of the County of Barcelona. After joining with the Kingdom of Aragon to form the composite monarchy of the Crown of Aragon, Barcelona, which continued to be the capital of the Principality of Catalonia, became the most important city in the Crown of Aragon and its main economic and administrative centre, only to be overtaken by Valencia, wrested from Moorish control by the Catalans, shortly before the dynastic union between the Crown of Castile and the Crown of Aragon in 1516. Barcelona became the centre of Catalan separatism, briefly becoming part of France during the 17th century Reapers' War and again in 1812 until 1814 under Napoleon. Experiencing industrialization and several workers movements during the 19th and early 20th century, it became the capital of autonomous Catalonia in 1931 and it was the epicenter of the revolution experienced by Catalonia during the Spanish Revolution of 1936, until its capture by the fascists in 1939. After the Spanish transition to democracy in the 1970s, Barcelona once again became the capital of an autonomous Catalonia.

The Spanish Republic (Spanish: República Española), commonly known as the Second Spanish Republic (Spanish: Segunda República Española), was the democratic government of Spain from 1931 to 1939. The Republic was proclaimed on 14 April 1931 after the deposition of King Alfonso XIII. It was dissolved on 1 April 1939 after surrendering in the Spanish Civil War to the Nationalists led by General Francisco Franco.

After the proclamation of the Republic, a provisional government was established until December 1931, at which time the 1931 Constitution was approved. Over the next two years of constitutional government, known as the Reformist Biennium, Prime Minister Manuel Azaña initiated numerous reforms. In 1932, religious orders were forbidden control of schools, while the government began a large-scale school-building project. A moderate agrarian reform was carried out. Home rule was granted to Catalonia, with a parliament and a president of its own.

Catalan Republic or Catalan State refers to Catalonia at various times when it was proclaimed or briefly established either an independent republic or as a republic within a Spanish federal republic:

• Catalan Republic (1640–1641), an independent state under French protection during the Reapers' War, but shortly thereafter put in a personal union with the Kingdom of France.
• Catalan State (1873), an attempt to proclaim a federated state within the First Spanish Republic.
• Catalan Republic (1931), a proclaimed state declared in expectations of the imminent formation of an Iberian Confederation of Republics. Within days, the Catalan Republic voluntarily became an autonomous region within the Second Spanish Republic.
• Catalan State (1934), a "Catalan State within the Spanish Federal Republic" proclaimed during the Events of 6 October.
• Catalan Republic (2017), a proposed state declared after the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, and immediately suspended.

Additionally, there were other historical proposals, attempts and ambiguous status regarding a non-monarchical Catalan statehood, among them:

Francesc Macià i Llussà (Catalan: [fɾənˈsɛzɡ məsiˈa j ʎuˈsa]; 21 September 1859 – 25 December 1933) was a Catalan politician who served as the 122nd president of the Generalitat of Catalonia, and formerly an officer in the Spanish Army.

Politically, Macià evolved from an initial regenerationism of Spain to the defense of the Catalan Republic, being appointed as the first president of the restored Generalitat and achieving the first successful establishment of self-government for Catalonia of modern history.