Princeps namque
Princeps namque was one of the Usages of Barcelona which regulate the defense of the prince and Principality of Catalonia, and the organising of its military forces. Included in the first Usages of the 11th Century, it was explicitly included in the Usages until the end of the 16th Century. It was repealed with the Nueva Planta decrees promulgated by Philip V, following the defeat of the Catalan supporters of Charles VI, [Holy Roman Emperor|Archduke Charles] in the War of the Spanish Succession, one of the effects of which was the suppression of the army led by General Moragues i Mas|Moragues] during the war, the sometent, an institution with the philosophy of national defense which despite this temporary suppression, was reestablished in 1794 by the Count of the Union during the Roussillon War, mainly due to the poor situation of the army, and was used again during the Spanish War of Independence, against the French Army in Roses, Barcelona and Tarragona.
History
The term Princeps namque is derived from the first two words, in Latin, of Usatge 68 :Princeps namque si quolibet casu obsessus fuerit, uel ipse ídem suos inimicos obsessos tenuerit, uel audierit quemlibet regem uel principem
If the prince for any reason is besieged, or has his enemies besieged, or hears of a coming king or prince... ).
The prince had the power to call to arms the noble feudal lords and all men useful for defense in the event of a threat to his person or an invasion of the territory. The assistance had to be as fast as possible, otherwise they were considered guilty of breach of duty, since "no one can fail the prince in such an important matter". It could only be invoked if the prince was present. It was not valid outside the Principality, and implied the right and duty of the Catalans to possess arms, which became an obligation with Pere the Ceremonious.
In the Courts of Barcelona in 1368, the call was regulated with the contribution of a servant for every 15 fires, passing the responsibility of mobilization to the councilors of the commune. In 1374 it was agreed to exchange the service for an amount of money with which the most fit men were hired for combat, so that it became a fogage or war tax. However, the general mobilization was maintained by invoking the princeps namque through the sometent. The institution of princeps namque transcended feudal ties and constituted a commitment between the prince and the entire population. It promoted the notion of self-defense, the formation of militias, the possession and display of weapons, and the refusal to participate in armies and foreign wars.
Invocation
The usage was activated by Peter II the Great during the Crusade against the Crown of Aragon, by Peter III the Ceremonious during the Confiscation of the Kingdom of Mallorca and the War of the Two Peters, by John the Faithless during Siege of Perpignan in 1474 and by Ferdinand I of Antequera during the Revolt of the Count of Urgell.The second half of the 14th century was the period in which the usage was most often invoked.
In 1640 the princeps namque acquired political significance. The Catalan Courts repeatedly rejected the institution of the Union of Arms of the Duke of Olivares, as it was intended for foreign wars.
During the Reapers' War the population was mobilized alongside the General's Deputation, and to raise an Army of the Principality against the troops of Philip IV of Spain.