Revolution and war History of the Basques

ebro river winding down la rioja of Álava , on ribera of navarre, both fertile grounds vineyards , cereal crops



battle of nivelle, follow-up donostia s destruction (1813)

self-government in northern basque country came abrupt end when french revolution centralized government , abolished region specific powers recognized ancien régime. french political design intently pursued dissolution of basque identity new french nation, , in 1793 french national ideal enforced terror on population. during period of french convention (up 1795), labourd (sara, itxassou, biriatu, ascain, etc.) went on shaken indiscriminate mass deportation of civilians landes of gascony, confiscations, , death of hundreds. has been argued despite fraternal intent, intervention of french revolution destroyed highly participatory political culture, based on provincial assemblies (the democratic biltzar, , other estates).

the southern basque country mired in constant disputes royal spanish authority—breach of fueros—and talks came deadlock on accession of manuel godoy office. central government started enforce decisions single-handedly, e.g. regional quotas in military mobilization, different basque autonomous governments—navarre, gipuzkoa, biscay, Álava—felt disenfranchised. during war of pyrenees , peninsular war, impending threat self-government on part of spanish royal authority critical war events , alliances—cf. bon-adrien jeannot de moncey s letters, , political developments in gipuzkoa. liberal class supporting self-government quelled spanish authorities following war of pyrenees—court-martial in pamplona of 1796.

manuel godoy s attempt establish in bilbao parallel harbour under direct royal control perceived blatant interference considered internal affairs of basques, , met zamacolada uprising in bilbao, broad-based riot including several cross-class interests, violently quashed intervention of spanish military (1804). offensive on ground accompanied attempt discredit sources of basque self-government castile granted privileges, notably juan antonio llorente s noticias históricas de las tres provincias vascongadas... (1806-1808), commissioned spanish government, praised godoy, , contested native scholars own works—p.p. astarloa, j.j. loizaga castaños, etc. napoleon, stationed in bayonne (castle of marracq), took note of basque dissatisfaction.

while traumatic war developments above pushed basques counter-revolutionary positions, others saw option through. project drafted input of basque revolutionary d.j. garat establish basque principality not implemented in 1808 bayonne statute, different identities acknowledged within crown of spain , framework (of little certitude) basque specificity provided on wording. peninsular war in full swing, 2 short-lived civil constituencies created directly answerable france: biscay (present-day basque autonomous community) , navarre, along other territories north of ebro. napoleonic army, allowed in spain ally in 1808, @ start encountered little difficulty in keeping southern basque districts loyal occupier, tide started turn when became apparent french attitude self-serving. meanwhile, spanish constitution of cádiz (march 1812) ignored basque institutional reality , talked of sole nation within spanish crown, spanish, in turn sparked basque reluctance , opposition. on 18 october 1812, acting biscayan regional council called in bilbao basque militia commander gabriel mendizabal, assembly agreeing on submission of deputies cádiz negotiation request.

not did demand fall on deaf ears, council of cádiz submitted military commander francisco javier castaños bilbao purpose of restoring order. pamplona refused give blank check, navarre s deputy in cádiz asked permission discuss matter , call parliament of navarre (the cortes)—the jurisdictional organ of kingdom. again plea rejected, native commander francisco espoz y mina strong in navarre deciding in turn forbid men pledge oath new constitution.

by end of peninsular war, devastation of maritime commerce of labourd started in war of pyrenees complete, while across bidasoa, san sebastian reduced rubble (september 1813). restoration of ferdinand vii , formal comeback of basque institutions (may–august 1814) saw overturn of liberal stipulations approved on 1812 constitution of cádiz, serial breach of basic fueros provisions (contrafueros) came shake foundations of basque legal framework, such fiscal sovereignty , specificity of military draft. end of trienio liberal in spain brought prominence staunchly catholic, traditionalists, , absolutists in navarre, attempted restore inquisition , established in 1823 so-called comisiones militares, aimed @ orthodoxy , scrutiny of inconvenient individuals. ironically , ferdinand vii ended implementing centralizing agenda of spanish liberals, without of benefits.