Did you know that a street vendor once defied the most powerful empire in Europe? That is how the rebellion against Napoleon began in Valencia.
In short: on 23 May 1808, a Valencian street vendor named Vicent Doménech, known as El Palleter, led the popular uprising against Napoleon in Valencia — forcing the authorities to break their neutrality and proclaim Ferdinand VII king. Little else is known of his life, but his figure lives on in statues, paintings and miniatures such as the one at Museo L’Iber.
Vicent Doménech is a name many people do not recognise, but Valencians know him as El Palleter, the humble street vendor who declared war on the most powerful man in the world.
Born in the town of Paiporta in 1783 into a family of humble market gardeners, he moved at the age of 8 to what was then the town of Patraix. It was on 25 May 1808 that this Valencian would enter definitively into the history of our city.
On the morning of 23 May, the first news reached the city of the abdication of Ferdinand VII in favour of Joseph Bonaparte. The people, outraged at the news, took to the streets shouting “Long live Ferdinand VII, death to Napoleon!” The situation led the Captain General to summon several notable figures of the city to the Audiencia building (today the Palace of the Generalitat) to convene the Acuerdo, the city’s consultative assembly.
The crowd gathered at the door and, seeing that the authorities did not appear willing to declare war, sent a representative with demands: that men aged 16 to 40 be called up, that the Real Señera (declaration of war) be brought out, that the paper stamped by Murat be burned, and that a declaration be signed in the name of the legitimate king, Ferdinand VII.
While the authorities argued indecisively, “El Palleter,” outside among the crowd, unwound the red sash he wore at his waist, tore it into pieces and handed them out among his companions, keeping the largest piece for himself and fastening it to the tip of a cane; on either side he placed a print, on one our “Mare de Déu dels Desamparats” (Our Lady of the Forsaken), which he himself owned, and on the other, one of Ferdinand VII that he had taken from a shop.
With his improvised flag held high, Vicente Doménech made his way to the Plaza del Mercado, surrounded by the acclaim and shouts of the crowd that followed him. They reached the house where stamped paper was sold, and Vicente demanded it all be handed over; taking a sheet, he climbed onto a chair, tore it up before the crowd, and proclaimed aloud the words that would catapult him to the height of Valencian popular history:
UN POBRE PALLETER LI DECLARA LA GUERRA Á NAPOLEÓN: ¡VIVA FERNANDO VII, Y MUIGUEN ELS TRAÏDORS!
(A poor straw-seller declares war on Napoleon: long live Ferdinand VII, and death to the traitors!)
On 23 May 1808, the Acuerdo declared war on Napoleon and proclaimed Ferdinand VII king of Spain and the Indies. This decision, which included immediate conscription, was the result of the Valencian uprising led by El Palleter, which forced the authorities to break their neutrality.
Vicente Doménech leaves the historical spotlight, and the Valencian people in arms against Napoleon take centre stage. Little else is known about this historical figure, but his memory is honoured by Valencians in statues, paintings and lead figurines such as the one in our museum.
Now you know the story… it’s your turn to experience it. His figure is part of the history of Valencia, a city you can explore by visiting the Palace of the Marquises of Malferit, home of the museum. Buy your ticket and discover it for yourself.
We tell the story of the Spanish monarchy that followed the Napoleonic era in our article on Alfonso XIII.
About the author
Alejandro Noguera Borel — Director of Museo L’Iber and of Fundación Libertas 7. In the world of miniature soldiers since the 1970s.
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