Drummer of El Bruc

The Drummer of El Bruc is a Catalan legend derived from what happened during the Battle of El Bruc between French and Spanish forces in the Peninsular War. According to the legend, the French defeat was due to a young boy who played the drums during the battle, the sound of which, echoing in the surrounding mountains, convinced the French troops that the number of their enemies was actually much larger than it really was.^[1] The name of the drummer is said to have been Isidro Llusá y Casanovas^[2] (1791–1809), a peasant born in the nearby Santpedor.^[3]

Monument to the Drummer of El Bruc

Monuments have been erected to the drummer in El Bruc and Barcelona.

References

1. "The legend of the drummer from El Bruc. Why Montserrat Mountains are so important in Catalonia". legendenglishupf. 7 February 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
2. Celestino Pujol y Camps. "El tambor del Bruch". Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes. De los libros parroquiales obtuvo, que el futuro tambor fué bautizado con los nombres de Isidro, José y Juan, Llusá y Casanovas, nacido el 15 de Marzo de 1791.
3. "Isidre Lluçà i Casanoves". Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana. Retrieved 3 June 2014.