Andorra, located in the heart of the
Pyrenees Mountains, is the highest inhabited country in
Europe.
Tradition holds that the country was presented a charter by Charlemagne after fighting against the Moors, and was managed first by the Count of Urgell, before being passed to the bishop of Diocese of Urgell in exchange for territory in Cerdanya in 988 AD.
Knowing that the Count of Urgell wanted the Andorran territory back, the Bishop of Urgell sought military protection from the Lord of Caboet in 1095, and a declaration was signed between the two affirming their co-ruling of Andorra.
A dispute emerged in the 11th century between the
French Count, Foix, and the Lord of Caboet, as the Count of Foix was made an heir to the Lord of Caboet through marriage. This conflict was resolved in 1278 with the signing of the Pareage of Andorra, that stated the country be shared between the two, and since then Andorra's borders have remained unchanged.
Andorra was brought under
Spanish rule in 1505 when Germaine of Foix married Ferdinand V, and was then taken over in 1519 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.
By the early 1600's Andorra fell under
French ruling, as Henry IV ascended the throne, and remained as such until 1793 when the
French revolutionary government renounced its reign over the territory amidst feudalism speculations.
After remaining neutral during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 1800's, Andorra petitioned Napoleon to restore the
French title to the co-principality, and they were subsequently passed to the president of
France. However, by 1813 Andorra was annexed and placed into the
Spanish district of Puigcerda.
Although they didn't follow through with fighting during World War I, Andorra declared war on
Germany, and then remained neutral during World War II (yet remained an important smuggling route between
France and
Spain).
In 1993 the country became a member of the United Nations followed shortly by the Council of Europe.
Postage stamp size and about 1/5 the size of the
U.S. State of
Rhode Island, Andorra has no formal constitution, no income tax and no army.
With duty-free shopping, gorgeous scenery and great skiing, it attracts thousands of worldwide visitors on an annual basis.
