Amidst a backdrop of discontent among the Catalan peasantry, the Corpus de Sang event unfolded in Barcelona. As the Spanish monarchy imposed heavy taxes and sought to draft soldiers in the ongoing Thirty Years' War, the reapers began to organize against these pressures. The situation escalated during a religious procession, when soldiers attempted to enforce order, prompting the reapers to retaliate. In the turmoil, Dalmau de Queralt, the Viceroy of Catalonia, was killed, symbolizing a significant rebellion against royal authority. Despite the initial motivations surrounding tax grievances, the uprising became a larger expression of Catalan nationalism against Spanish centralism.

In the wake of the riot, the Catalan elite, who were often caught between the monarchy and their constituents, faced pressures to respond. The assassination of Queralt not only ignited further uprisings but also galvanized support for the reapers' cause throughout local communities. An emerging desire for autonomy began to manifest, leading to the creation of militias and a more structured resistance movement. Tensions between Catalonia and the Spanish monarchy continued to escalate, setting the stage for the subsequent Reapers' War. This conflict saw both sides entrenched in a struggle over power, territory, and rights, intensifying the centuries-old conflict between Catalan aspirations and Spanish governance.