Navarre Kingdom & Basque Territories: A Historical Timeline

Key Events: Navarre & Basque Lands (11th-16th C.)

11th Century

• 1076: The Kingdom of Navarre was divided between Castile and Aragon. Castile acquired Alava, Bizkaia, and western Gipuzkoa, while Aragon took eastern Gipuzkoa and the remainder of Navarre.
• 1096: The First Crusade began.

12th Century

• 1134: The Kingdom of Pamplona regained independence. García Ramírez was proclaimed King, recovering Navarre, Biscay (Bizkaia), Gipuzkoa, and Araba (Alava).
• 1150: Sancho VI, known as 'the Wise', adopted the title King of Navarre instead of King of Pamplona.
• 1180: Sancho VI 'the Wise' granted a charter (fuero) for the foundation of the city of San Sebastián in Gipuzkoa.
• 1181: Sancho VI 'the Wise' granted a foundation charter (fuero) to the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz.
• 1199: Vitoria-Gasteiz surrendered to Alfonso VIII of Castile after a siege lasting nearly a year.

13th Century

• 1200: Alfonso VIII of Castile conquered Alava, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa from the Kingdom of Navarre.
• 1204: In his will, Alfonso VIII expressed the intention to return Araba (Alava), Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa to the King of Navarre, though this did not ultimately occur.
• 1212: The Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa saw Christian kingdoms unite against the Almohad Caliphate, marking a turning point in the Reconquista. Diego López II de Haro, Lord of Biscay, participated, and Alfonso VIII confirmed his lordship (señorío) over Biscay.
• 1234: The French House of Champagne began its rule over the Kingdom of Navarre.

15th Century

• c. 1400: The War of the Bands (Basque: Bando gerrak), a period of conflict between noble factions (e.g., Oñacinos and Gamboinos), began in the Basque territories.
• 1445: Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press with movable type.
• 1451-1461: The Navarrese Civil War took place, primarily between the Agramont (Agramontarrak) and Beaumont (Beamontarrak) factions.
• 1479: Ferdinand II became King of Aragon. Through his marriage to Isabella I of Castile (the Catholic Monarchs), the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united. The Treaty of Alcáçovas was signed between Castile and Portugal. The House of Foix ruled Navarre during this period.
• 1499: Armament workers in Markina (Markina-Xemein) conducted a strike.

16th Century

• 1512: The southern part of the Kingdom of Navarre (Upper Navarre) was conquered by Castile under Ferdinand II.
• 1514: The Biltzar (assembly) of Labourd (Lapurdiko Biltzarra) was formally established or recognized.
• 1520: The Courts of Soule (Zuberoa) were established or recognized.
• 1521: Henry II of Navarre made a final, unsuccessful attempt to recover Upper Navarre.
• 1526: The 'Pase Foral' (Regional Permit) system was established or reinforced in the Basque provinces under Castilian rule, requiring royal decrees to be sworn in accordance with local fueros (charters).