Catalan separatists burn effigies of Spanish kings

Catalan separatists burned an effigy of Spain's King Felipe VI and 18th century King Charles III in Barcelona on Friday.

During the War of the Spanish Succession, Barcelona surrendered to a Bourbon army on 11 September 1714, which eventually led to a centralised Spanish government.

The date has been remembered by Catalan separatists ever since.

King Charles III, a Bourbon king, led Spain from 1759 to 1788.

Effigies of the current king, Felipe VI, are burned by separatists who denounce his authority over their region.

The burning came on the day supporters of Catalonia's secession from the rest of Spain gathered in small groups around the northeast region Friday under orders from event organizers to maintain social distancing amid a spike in coronavirus infections.

The rallies were held on Catalonia’s main regional holiday. Separatists have gathered on Sept. 11 by the hundreds of thousands and packed downtown Barcelona for several years.

This year's small, well-spaced rallies were organized to start at the same time across the region, with people clapping in unison and chanting “liberty” through face masks while staying several meters away from each other in public squares and open spaces.