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BASQUE COUNTRY Information: A BRIEF HISTORY |
 Basque history has always been marked by the development of local institutions, thus the Basque Country joined the kingdom of Castile while maintaining its own charters and organisation in the shape of its general assemblies, or Juntas Generales. Modern nationalism had already been born when the provincial system was dismantled following the Carlist wars. Basque politics entered a new stage after the Civil War, when the first Basque Government had been brought to an abrupt end, with the Estatuto de Gernika. The abundance of prehistoric remains confirms the early presence of man on Basque soil. The first Basques, descendants of the Cro-Magnon, gradually developed their own language, Basque or Euskara, which is considered to be even older than the Indo-European languages. By the time the Romans started moving further afield, the local population had already organised itself into a number of tribes with the names of: Vascones, Aquitanos, Vardulos, Caristios and Autrigones, who had very little contact with one or another, or for that matter with other peoples. The mountainous, wooded orography contributed to the north of the Basque Country remaining somewhat isolated. But not so the south, in Alava, where the Romans established a number of settlements. This area was subsequently to become a passing place for the Barbarians and served to hinder the expansion of the Moors. The Basque territories depended on the kingdom of Navarre, although it was really the powerful feudal lords, or jauntxos who ruled the roost from their impressive tower-houses.  Swearing allegiance to the Basque chapters The Road to Santiago, with its constant pilgrim comings and goings, helped to end this isolation. Throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, the Basque territories broke their traditional links with Navarre to join the Castilian crown, maintaining their autonomy by means of chapters to which the Castilian kings had to swear allegiance. Each territory was responsible for its own administration under the respective Juntas Generales, and the customs post separating the area from Castile was established on the river Ebro. Thanks to the issuing of charters by the Castilian kings permitting the foundation of towns, a number of boroughs were erected beyond the control of the feudal lords who dominated the rural areas. There were continuous confrontations between the jauntxos, the heads of the different clans, and particularly between the leaders of the irreconcilable Oñacino and Gamboíno clans. Skilled fisherman and excellent shipbuilders, the Basques played an important part in Spain's expansion throughout America. The shipping trade, iron mining and fishing boosted economic development in the 16th century, before the overexploitation of American wealth, piracy and epidemics gave rise to an economic crisis. The 18th century saw the establishment of borders separating the Basques on either side of the river Bidasoa. The new economic boom and spirit of learning gave rise to the appearance of companies including the Real Companra Guipuzcoana de Caracas or the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del Pars. There were also occasional popular uprisings, or matxinadas, such as the one that put paid to the attempts of Felipe V to dismantle the customs post on the river Ebro. Two opposing views The Basque Country was intensely involved in the 19th century Carlist Wars, which, set around a dynastic conflict, brought a provincial vision, then related to the nobility and peasantry of the Ancient Regime, into conflict with an incipient national vision associated to the new liberal bourgeoisie. In 1876, at the end of the Third Carlist War, charters were abolished and the customs posts were transferred to the coast and the border with France. Despite the loss of sovereignty, a system of economic concerts was established between the different county councils and the state, according to which the former would take in taxes and acquire a number of powers, while paying a yearly sum to the latter for its services. The industrial revolution, together with economic liberalisation and strong immigration, had a radical effect on the Basque landscape. The late 19th century saw the birth of modern nationalism, which in the Second Republic succeeded in promoting a Statute of Autonomy, though approved once the Civil War had already broken out, thus putting paid to the new expectations. Franco's dictatorship abolished economic concerts and endeavoured to repress all of the Basque signs of identity. On Franco's death, in 1979, the Estatuto de Gernika was passed, hence granting the Basque Autonomous Government its own Parliament and Government with authority in basic matters. The provinces of Alava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa maintained the right to collect taxes through their regional governments and recovered their Juntas Generales. |
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