Basque Country, Also called Basque Provinces, it is a term associated with the Basque Country and the provinces of Álava, Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa (later Navarra was added), which are currently part of Spain. Likewise, some authors relate the word to everything related to Basque (language spoken in these regions).
The term Vascongadas is also linked to the place of origin of the people who were born in the aforementioned territories. There was talk of Vascongadas since the s. XVII until almost the end of the s. XX, when the term was replaced by "Basque Country".
In fact, its use is little currently, except by Basque nationalists who continue to use the term to highlight the independent and autonomous state of the region. It should be mentioned that these territories are not only limited to Spain.
There is also a French Basque Country, which has a council and a president. These provinces are separated from Spain because they could not be annexed to the Crown of Castile..
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According to some authors, Vascongadas is actually one of the many terms that were coined to what is known today as the Basque Country. Specifically, the word includes the aforementioned regions of Álava, Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa.
Subsequently, according to the Statute of Autonomy and in the fourth Constitution of Spain, the possibility of annexing Navarra to the region was opened.
In medieval times these regions were incorporated into the Crown of Castile, so they were integrated into Spain. In the 1930s, the provinces enacted autonomous policies that were repealed during the Francisco Franco dictatorship. However, he was able to recover that condition that remains today.
This term was used until 1975, when from that point the “Basque Country” began to normalize. However, it is still used only in the following contexts:
-By Basque nationalists who highlight only the regions of Álava, Guipúzcoa and Vizcaya.
-In a derogatory way towards the region and towards those who come from it, especially those who are against the autonomy of these provinces.
-As a substitute for the words "Euskadi" or "Basque Country", due to the rejection they generate.
-To refer to those regions where the first Basques settled and expanded in the territory.
It is important to highlight the role of migratory movements and settlements that took place in the area, which were the origin of the formation of these territories..
According to some historians, the exact origin of the Basques is unknown. One of the most accepted theories consists of the survival and settlement of the Basques (one of the oldest ethnic groups in Europe) in present-day Navarre and in the French Basque Country..
With the later arrival of the Goths, these inhabitants of these lands were forced to flee to Celtic regions that were in the vicinity.
These were "vasconadas" by force; that is to say, conquered by these groups. Subsequently, each territory gained a certain degree of autonomy.
At this point some important events can be highlighted:
-During the Middle Ages, the territories voluntarily joined the Crown of Castile, but on the condition that they would not pay tribute and their citizens would not do compulsory military service. In a way, this allowed these regions to have their own economic system and structure..
-A text from 1672 has been found, in which the regions that made up the reign of Navarra are repeated: "Vizcaya, Provinces of Guipúzcoa and Álava", called the Bascongada Nation.
-The annex of the territories was called Vizcaya, until in the s. XVIII, the Royal Basque Society of Friends of the Country was formed, as an institution for the promotion of the modernization of science and culture in the region.
-In 1812 the name of the regions was known as Basque Provinces, and according to the 1884 bill by Segismundo Moret, the word “Vascongadas” referred to the regions of Vizcaya, Álava and Guipúzcoa..
-Although the word fell into disuse, it is still used depending on the context in which it is found. In addition, the masculine of the term is an expression associated with the Basque language and related to the Basque lands before its formation, from the political and geographical point of view.
-Also, some use it to differentiate it from the expression "Basque Country" since, apparently, this includes Navarra and other areas in the region.
Due to the autonomous nature of the regions despite their adherence to Spain, movements have arisen in favor of the defense of the culture, tradition and history of this territory, focusing on the importance of being an independent state..
However, it is important to note that this conception varies depending on the provinces. For example, there is a homogeneous trend in favor of separatism in Vizcaya and Guipúzcoa, evidenced through the support of nationalist parties.
Therefore, certain characteristics can be highlighted:
-Some nationalist currents not only include the Basque Country, but also the regions of the French Basque Country (Labort, Baja Navarra and Sola).
-The movement has different nuances regarding the actions that the region should take. Some contemplate the separation from Spain and others focus on maintaining the autonomous and independent trait that they could experience to some extent during the Middle Ages..
-It is believed that the first references to the autonomy of the region date from between the s. VII and s. XVI.
-At this same time, the province of Guipúzcoa requested its accession to France, but its application was rejected.
-At the end of the s. XIX publications were made in favor of the exaltation of the autonomy of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa and Álava, which indicated that the nationalist movement was more or less consolidated.
-At the beginning of the s. XX Basque nationalism had gained enough ground, but it was in the 1930s when they were able to opt for their autonomy, which was only in force for a short time..
-After the Franco dictatorship, thanks to the establishment of a democratic and decentralized system, the Basque Country was formed with the aforementioned regions and with a certain degree of sovereignty.
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