High Middle Ages History of the Basques

the kingdom of pamplone in 10th century



the navarrese territories circa 1179

under sancho iii great, pamplona controlled entire southern basque country. actually, power extended burgos , santander northern aragon. through marriage sancho became acting earl of castile , held protectorate on gascony , león. however, in 1058, former vasconia turned gascony, merged personal union aquitaine (william viii). william viii intervened on dynastic struggles taking place in aragón , other peninsular kingdoms, gascony progressively moved away basque political sphere, own ethnic make-up: basque people increasingly turned gascon on plains north of central , west pyrenees.

following sancho iii s death, castile , aragon became separate kingdoms ruled sons, responsible first partitioning of pamplona (1076). pamplona, main basque kingdom (to renamed navarre), absorbed , dwindled benefit of aragón. kingdom of aragón expanded pyrenean stronghold ebro valley (saragossa , tudela conquered in 1118), shifting power base lowlands , urban areas, basque language , culture receding @ pressure of stronger urban population , latin (and arabic) civilization s prestige encountered @ ebro valley. basque ceased main language of communication in many areas of central pyrenees, , romance, navarro-aragonese, took on instead. colonizers of lands conquered andalusian kingdoms brought new language along, , not basque.

the kingdom of navarre restored in 1157 under garcía ramírez restorer, fought castile control on western lands of realm (la rioja, Álava, , parts of old castile; see map). in mid-12th century, navarrese kings sancho wise , successor sancho vii asserted navarrese authority on central Álava in contest castile granting various town charters, i.e. treviño (1161), laguardia (1164), vitoria-gasteiz (1181), bernedo, antoñana (1182), la puebla de arganzón (1191). peace treaty signed in 1179 ceded la rioja , northeastern part of present-day old castile castilian crown. in return, pact acknowledged central Álava, biscay , gipuzkoa belonged navarre.

in 1199, while navarre s king sancho vi wise away on diplomatic mission in tlemcen, castile invaded , annexed western basque country, leaving navarre landlocked. king alfonso viii of castile promised give durangaldea, gipuzkoa , Álava back, did not happen. however, castilian king went on ratify navarrese rights , garner loyalty. managed retain large degree of self-government , native laws, castilian (and later, spanish) monarchs, or viceroys, swear uphold on oath until 19th century. during following decades, castilian kings reinforced position on navarre s borders , secured new commercial routes, notably tunnel route, chartering new towns, e.g. treviño (1254, rechartered), agurain, campezo/kanpezu, corres, contrasta, segura, tolosa, orduña (rechartered), mondragon (arrasate; 1260, rechartered), bergara (1268, rechartered), villafranca (1268), artziniega (1272), etc.