Andorra is the last independent survivor of the Marca Hispanica, the buffer states created by Charlemagne to keep the Islamic Moors from advancing into Christian France. Tradition holds that Charlemagne granted a charter to the Andorran people in return for their fighting the Moors. In the 800s, Charlemagne's grandson, Charles the Bald, named the Count of Urgell as overlord of Andorra. A descendant of the count later gave the lands to the Diocese of Urgell, headed by Bishop of Urgell. The Marca Hispanica (Spanish Mark or March) was a buffer zone beyond the province of Septimania, first set up by Charlemagne in 795 as a defensive barrier to keep the Muslim Moors out of the Frankish Kingdom. ... A buffer state is a country lying between two rival or potentially hostile greater powers, which by its sheer existence is thought to prevent conflict between them. ... Charlemagne (742 or 747 – 28 January 814) (also Charles the Great[1]; from Latin, Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus), son of King Pippin the Short and Bertrada of Laon, was the king of the Franks from 768 to 814 and king of the Lombards from 774 to 814. ... Islam(Arabic: ; ) is a monotheistic religion based on the Quran. ... Copyrighted Image Photo courtesy of Wayne B. Chandler Moorish Ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I The Moors were the medieval Muslim inhabitants of al-Andalus (the Iberian Peninsula including the present day Spain and Portugal) and the Maghreb and western Africa, whose culture is often called Moorish. ... Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as recounted in the New Testament. ... Centuries: 8th century - 9th century - 10th century Decades: 750s 760s 770s 780s 790s - 800s - 810s 820s 830s 840s 850s Years: 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 Significant Events and Trends Swedish town of Birka founded as a centre of trade on the island of Björk... Charles the Bald - Detail from a painting in the First Bible of Charles the Bald, painted ca. ... This is a list of the counts of Urgell. ... The Bishop of Urgell is the Roman Catholic bishop for Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and also the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. ... The Bishop of Urgell is the Roman Catholic bishop for Urgell in Catalonia, Spain and also the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. ...

In the 11th century, fearing military action by neighboring lords, the bishop placed himself under the protection of the Lord of Caboet, a Catalan nobleman. Later, the Count of Foix became heir to the Lord of Caboet through marriage, and a dispute arose between the French Count and the Catalan bishop over Andorra. As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century was that century which lasted from 1001 to 1100. ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Spanish,Catalan language,Aranese Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 6th  32 114 km²  6,3% Population  â€“ Total (2005)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 2nd  6 995 206  15,9%  217,82/km² GDP Total (2004) GDP: €157,124 billion GDP per /capita: $26,550 (4nd) Demonym  â€“ English... The Lords and Barons prove their Nobility by hanging their Banners and exposing their Coats-of-arms at the Windows of the Lodge of the Heralds. ... County of Foix coat of arms The independent counts of Foix, with their castle overlooking the town of Foix, now in southernmost France, governed their county of Foix, which corresponded roughly to the eastern part of the modern département of Ariège (the western part being Couserans). ...

In 1278, the conflict was resolved by the signing of a pareage (pariatges), which provided that Andorra's sovereignty be shared between the Count of Foix and the Bishop of La Seu d'Urgell (Catalonia, Spain). The pareage, a feudal institution recognizing the principle of equality of rights shared by two rulers, gave the small state its territory and political form. In return, Andorra pays an annual tribute or questia to the co-rulers consisting of four hams, forty loaves of bread, and some wine. For broader historical context, see 1270s and 13th century. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... La Seu dUrgell is the capital of the comarca of Alt Urgell, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. ... Capital Barcelona Official languages Spanish,Catalan language,Aranese Area  â€“ Total  â€“ % of Spain Ranked 6th  32 114 km²  6,3% Population  â€“ Total (2005)  â€“ % of Spain  â€“ Density Ranked 2nd  6 995 206  15,9%  217,82/km² GDP Total (2004) GDP: €157,124 billion GDP per /capita: $26,550 (4nd) Demonym  â€“ English... Template:Other uses Ham with cloves Technically, ham is the thigh and buttock of any animal that is slaughtered for meat, but the term is usually restricted to a cut of pork, the haunch of a pig or boar. ... European sweetbread (strucla) Four loaves French bread has a somewhat rigid crust Breads and Bread Rolls at a bakery Continental Italian Bread Tin Vienna Bread Bread in a traditional oven, in Portugal, with hot coal in front Pre-sliced bread has become more common in many countries Bread rolls Pain... Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by the fermentation of fruit, typically grapes though a number of other fruits are also quite popular - such as plum, elderberry and blackcurrant. ...

Over the years the title passed to the kings of Navarre, and under the king of France Henry IV, an edict in 1607 established the head of the French state and the Bishop of Urgell as co-princes of Andorra. Navarre (Spanish Navarra, Basque Nafarroa) is an autonomous community in Spain. ... Henry IV (French: Henri IV; April 1, 1553 – May 14, 1610), was the first monarch of the Bourbon dynasty in France. ... Events January 20 - Tidal wave swept along the Bristol Channel, killing 2000 people. ...

In 1933, there was serious political and social unrest related to a popular movement to expand the electoral franchise. 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

From 1936 to 1940, a French detachment was garrisoned in Andorra to prevent influences of the Spanish Civil War and Franco's Spain. The Franco troops reached the Andorran border in the later stages of the war. Combatants Second Spanish Republic Foreign volunteers Nationalist Spain Fascist Italy Nazi Germany Commanders Manuel Azaña Francisco Largo Caballero Juan Negrín Francisco Franco The Spanish Civil War, which lasted from July 18, 1936 to April 1, 1939, was a conflict in which the incumbent Second Spanish Republic and political...

During the Second World War, Andorra remained neutral and was an important smuggling route between Vichy France and Spain. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Presidential flag of Vichy France For other uses of Vichy, see Vichy (disambiguation). ...

In 1958 Andorra declared peace with Germany, having been forgotten on the Treaty of Versailles that ended the First World War and remaining legally at war.^[1] The Treaty of Versailles (1919) was the peace treaty which officially ended World War I between the Allied and Associated Powers and Germany. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

The pareage was recently abolished, along with the ancient tribute paid annually to the country's two neighbours. In a referendum in 2003, the Andorrans opted for total independence. This has been recognized by France, Spain and the world at large. The anomalous name Principat d'Andorra has been retained, though - a princedom with princes no longer.

Given its relative isolation, Andorra has existed outside the mainstream of European history, with few ties to countries other than France and Spain. In recent times, however, its thriving tourist industry along with developments in transport and communications have removed the country from its isolation. A tourist boat travels the River Seine in Paris, France Tourism can be defined as the act of travel for the purpose of recreation, and the provision of services for this act. ... BlackBerry 7100t Telecommunication refers to the communication of information at a distance. ...

See also: List of Co-Princes of Andorra This is a list of Co-Princes of Andorra. ...

References

1. ^ "World War I Ends in Andorra", UPI story in the New York Times, Sep 25, 1958. p. 66

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2000
• This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2003