Basques are a Southwestern European ethnic group known for the Basque language, a shared culture, and a common genetic link to the ancient Vascones and Aquitanians. They are considered some of the last direct descendants of Neolithic European populations. Basques are native to and mainly live in an area called the Basque Country (Basque: Euskal Herria), which is located near the western end of the Pyrenees mountains along the coast of the Bay of Biscay. This region spans parts of northern Spain and southern France.
Etymology
The English word "Basque" can be pronounced /bɑːsk/ or /bæsk/. It comes from the French word "Basque" ([bask]), which is based on the Gascon word "Basco" ([ˈbasku]). This is similar to the Spanish word "Vasco" ([ˈbasko]). These words are linked to the Latin word "Vascō" ([ˈwaskoː]), which had a plural form "Vascōnēs." The Latin /w/ sound usually changed into /b/ and /β̞/ in Gascon and Spanish, possibly because of the influence of Basque and the related Aquitanian language. In French, Italian, and other Romance languages, the Latin /w/ became /v/.
Coins from the 2nd and 1st centuries BC found in the Basque Country have the word "barscunes" written on them. It is not certain where these coins were made, but they may have come from near Pamplona, in an area believed to have been home to the Vascones. Some scholars think "barscunes" might have a Celtic origin, possibly meaning "summit," "point," or "leaves," which could suggest "the mountain people," "the tall ones," or "the proud ones." Others believe it may be connected to a Proto-Indo-European root *bar-, meaning "border" or "frontier."
In Basque, people refer to themselves as "euskaldunak," with "euskaldun" meaning someone who speaks Basque. This word is made from "euskal-" (meaning "Basque language") and "-dun" (meaning "one who has"). Not all Basques speak the language, so in the 19th century, a new word "euskotar" was created to describe any Basque person, regardless of whether they speak Basque. Alfonso Irigoyen suggested that "euskara" comes from the ancient Basque verb "enautsi" (meaning "to say") and the suffix "-(k)ara" (meaning "way of doing something"). This would make "euskara" mean "way of speaking." One piece of evidence for this idea is found in a 1571 book by Esteban de Garibay, who wrote the Basque language as "enusquera." However, this may have been a mistake in writing.
In the 19th century, Sabino Arana, a Basque nationalist, proposed that the word "euzko" was the original root, linked to "eguzkiko" (meaning "of the sun"). Based on this, he created the name "Euzkadi" for an independent Basque nation, including seven historical regions. Arana's term "Euzkadi" (now spelled "Euskadi") is still widely used today as the official name of the Basque Autonomous Community in both Basque and Spanish.
Genetic origins
Studies of genetic traits, such as blood groups, and the Basque language, which is older than the Indo-European languages, have led many to believe that Basques are "living fossils" — people who have changed little over time — and may be descendants of the earliest modern humans who lived in Europe. This idea was supported by research from the early and late 20th century, which suggested that Basques might be related to the original Cro-Magnons, an early human group.
However, while Basques have some genetic differences due to their long period of isolation, their DNA is still similar to that of other Europeans. Their Y-DNA and mtDNA, which are types of genetic material passed down through families, match those found in many people across western Europe, particularly near the western edge of the continent. These same genetic patterns are common in other parts of western Europe as well.
History
Basque tribes were recorded by Roman writers like Strabo and Pliny during ancient times. These groups included the Vascones, Aquitani, and others. Evidence suggests that these people spoke early forms of the Basque language, which is still used today.
During the Early Middle Ages, the area between the Ebro and Garonne rivers was called Vasconia. This region was a loosely defined area with a shared culture and political structure. It faced challenges from the Visigothic kingdom and Arab rulers to the south, as well as from the Franks to the north. By the start of the first millennium, Vasconia had broken into smaller feudal areas, such as Soule and Labourd. To the south of the Pyrenees, regions like Castile, Pamplona, and the Pyrenean counties of Aragon, Sobrarbe, Ribagorça (later the Kingdom of Aragon), and Pallars became important areas with Basque populations in the 9th and 10th centuries.
The Kingdom of Pamplona, a central Basque region later known as Navarre, became a feudal society and was influenced by its larger neighbors, including Aragon, Castile, and France. Castile took control of western territories between 1199 and 1201, removing Navarre’s coastline and making the kingdom landlocked. The Basques suffered from the War of the Bands, which were violent conflicts between local leaders. Weakened by civil war, Navarre eventually fell to Spanish forces between 1512 and 1524. However, the northern part of Navarre, across the Pyrenees, remained independent of Spain. Lower Navarre became part of France in 1620.
Until the French Revolution (1790) and the Carlist Wars (1839, 1876), the Basques had significant self-government. During these events, many Basques supported Carlos V and his descendants. On both sides of the Pyrenees, Basques lost their traditional laws and institutions from the Ancien Régime. Today, the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre have limited self-governance as outlined in the Spanish Constitution. Some Basques have sought greater independence, sometimes through violent actions. In France, Labourd, Lower Navarre, and Soule were organized into French departments starting in 1790. Efforts to create a unified political region for Basques in France have not succeeded. However, in January 2017, a single community was formed to represent the Basque region in France.
Geography
The Basque region is divided into at least three administrative areas. In Spain, these include the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre. In France, the areas are the arrondissement of Bayonne and the cantons of Mauléon-Licharre and Tardets-Sorholus in the département of Pyrénées Atlantiques.
The Basque Autonomous Community, created by Spain’s 1978 Constitution, is known as Euskal Autonomia Erkidegoa (EAE) in Basque and Comunidad Autónoma Vasca (CAV) in Spanish. It includes three Spanish provinces: Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa. These provinces are also called Araba, Bizkaia, and Gipuzkoa in Basque, and Álava, Vizcaya, and Guipúzcoa in Spanish.
The Basque Autonomous Community covers only three of the seven provinces in the historical Basque region. Some people refer to it as "the Basque Country" or "Euskadi," but this term can cause confusion because it may include other areas. Others prefer to use the full name, "Basque Autonomous Community," to avoid misunderstandings. Terms like "the Basque Government" are often used to describe the government of the Basque Autonomous Community, though not everyone agrees on this usage. In France, the term "Pays Basque" (Basque Country) can refer to the entire region or just the northern part of it.
Under Spain’s current constitution, Navarre is a separate region. It is called Nafarroako Foru Erkidegoa in Basque and Comunidad Foral de Navarra in Spanish. Navarre’s government is called the Government of Navarre. Historically, Navarre covered a larger area, and parts of modern-day Lower Navarre may still be referred to as Nafarroa. The term "High Navarre" is also used to describe the area of the modern-day autonomous community.
Other parts of the Basque region include Labourd, Lower Navarre, and Soule. These areas are called Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea, and Zuberoa in Basque, and Labourd, Basse-Navarre, and Soule in French. They do not have official political status in France today and have limited support for Basque nationalism. Some people have tried to create a new Basque département in France, but these efforts have not been accepted by the French government.
The Basque Autonomous Community has a population of 2,123,000 people. Álava has 279,000, Biscay has 1,160,000, and Gipuzkoa has 684,000. The main cities are Bilbao (in Biscay), San Sebastián (in Gipuzkoa), and Vitoria-Gasteiz (in Álava). The official languages are Basque and Spanish. Spanish is required by law, and Basque is protected by the region’s autonomy laws. Most people speak Spanish, and about 33% of the population also speaks Basque. After declining during the Franco dictatorship, Basque is now increasing again due to government support and public interest.
Navarre has a population of 601,000. Its capital is Pamplona, which many Basque nationalists consider the historical capital of the Basque region. Spanish is the only official language in Navarre, though Basque is also recognized in the northern part of the province, where most Basque speakers live.
About 250,000 people live in the French Basque Country. Basque speakers call this area "Iparralde" (North) and the Spanish provinces "Hegoalde" (South). Many people in this region live near the Bayonne-Anglet-Biarritz (BAB) urban area, which includes the cities of Bayonne, Anglet, and Biarritz. Basque was once widely spoken outside the BAB area, but it is now being replaced by French. The French Basque Country does not have self-government, and the Basque language is not officially recognized. Attempts to use both languages in local government have been rejected by French officials.
Basque diaspora
Many Basques have moved from the Basque Country to live in other parts of Spain, France, or other countries throughout history. They often left for economic or political reasons. In the past, Basques who lived outside their homeland were often shepherds, ranchers, or worked in fishing and trade. Millions of Basque descendants now live in North America (the United States and Canada, especially in Newfoundland and Quebec), Latin America, South Africa, and Australia.
Spanish writer Miguel de Unamuno once said, "At least two things are clearly connected to Basques: the Society of Jesus and the Republic of Chile." Chilean historian Luis Thayer Ojeda estimated that 48% of immigrants to Chile during the 17th and 18th centuries were Basque. It is believed that between 2.5 and 5 million Basque descendants live in Chile today. Basques have played a major role in shaping Chile’s culture and economy.
In Bolivia, the War of the Vicuñas and Basques was a conflict in Charcas Province from June 1622 to March 1625. It was fought between Basques and "Vicuñas," a term used for non-Basque Spaniards in Upper Peru. The conflict began because of competition over silver mines in Potosí, Lípez, and Chichas. At first, the Vicuñas tried to stop Basques from taking control of local government and mining operations. The war caused tension within the government, with some officials supporting Basque claims and others trying to help the Vicuña rebels. Important people involved included leaders of the Royal Audiencia of Charcas, treasury officials, and the corregidor of Potosí.
Basque names appear in places in the Americas, such as Nueva Vizcaya (now Chihuahua and Durango, Mexico), New Navarre (now Sonora and Sinaloa, Mexico), Biscayne Bay (United States), and Aguereberry Point (United States). Nueva Vizcaya was the first area in northern Mexico to be explored and settled by Spanish colonists. It covered parts of modern-day Chihuahua and Durango, including the original city of Durango in Biscay.
In Mexico, many Basque descendants live in cities like Monterrey, Saltillo, Reynosa, Camargo, and in states such as Jalisco, Durango, Nuevo León, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Sonora. Basques were important in mining, ranching, and working as vaqueros (cowboys). Others opened small shops in cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Puebla. In Guatemala, Basques have lived in Sacatepéquez Department, Antigua Guatemala, and Jalapa for six generations. Some have moved to Guatemala City. It is estimated that 2.5 million Mexicans have Basque ancestry.
In Colombia, many Basques settled in Antioquia and the Coffee Axis. In 1955, Joaquín Ospina said, "Is there something more similar to the Basque people than the 'antioqueños'?" Writer Arturo Escobar Uribe wrote in his book Mitos de Antioquia (1950) that Antioquia inherited the qualities of Basque ancestors. Bambuco, a type of traditional Colombian music, has Basque roots.
In the United States, the largest Basque community is around Boise, Idaho, home to the Basque Museum and Cultural Center and an annual Basque festival. Reno, Nevada, has the Center for Basque Studies and the Basque Studies Library at the University of Nevada. Elko, Nevada, hosts an annual festival celebrating Basque dance, food, and culture.
Texas has many Hispanics with Basque ancestry who helped conquer New Spain. Some Tejanos, or early Texas residents, had Basque heritage, including those who fought in the Battle of the Alamo. Basque surnames are common along the Mexican-Texan border. Many Basques who settled in northeastern Mexico also lived along Texas’ Rio Grande. Some of the largest ranches in the region were established through land grants given by Spain and Mexico.
California has a large Basque population, especially in the San Joaquin Valley between Stockton, Fresno, and Bakersfield. Bakersfield has many Basque restaurants, including Noriega’s, which won an award in 2011. Chino, California, hosts two annual Basque festivals celebrating dance, food, and culture. Many Basque descendants in San Bernardino County are from Spanish and Mexican settlers. These people are part of a group called Californios.
Basques from Spain, France, and Latin America also settled in other parts of the United States, including Louisiana, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Culture
The language spoken by the Basques is called Basque or Euskara. Today, about 25 to 30 percent of the region’s people speak it. The Basques often call themselves euskaldun and refer to their homeland as Euskal Herria, which means “Basque speaker” and “Country of the Basque Language.” The language has become a political topic because Spanish and French governments have historically or currently limited its use. However, many Basques continue to teach, speak, write, and preserve the language, which is becoming more widely used.
This connection between Basque identity and the language is not unique. Many Basques also identify with Spanish or French cultures, especially in the French Basque region. In the Spanish Basque region, many Basques do not feel strongly connected to Spanish identity. Like in many European countries, a regional identity (such as Basque) does not always conflict with a national identity (such as Spanish or French). For example, Imanol Harinordoquy, a French rugby player of Basque heritage, said, “I am French and Basque. There is no conflict. I am proud of both… My only interest is the culture, the Euskera language, the people, our history and ways.”
Because of government policies, schools, media, and migration, most Basques (except for very young children) now speak the official language of their country (Spanish or French). Very few Basques speak only Basque; most are bilingual, speaking both Basque and Spanish or French. Spanish or French is often the first language of people who are not from the Basque region, and many Basques also speak Spanish or French first. This keeps Spanish and French as the dominant languages in both France and Spain. Recent efforts by the Basque government aim to increase the use of Basque, as its decline is seen as a threat to the language.
The Basque language is unique because it is a language isolate, meaning it does not belong to any larger language family, unlike most European languages, which are part of the Indo-European family. It is also believed to have been spoken in the same area for a very long time, unlike many other European languages, which were introduced later through migrations or cultural exchanges. However, some common beliefs about Basque, such as it being the “oldest language in Europe” or “unique among all languages,” are not entirely accurate. Over time, Basque has shared many features with neighboring languages, and it is now a modern language used in writing, publishing, and many social and cultural settings.
Basques have a strong connection to their homes (etxe(a)), especially traditional family-run farms called baserri(a). These homes are tied to family history. Some Basque surnames come from old farm or village names, such as Bengoetxea (“the house further down”) or Goikoetxea (“the house above”). These names help Basques who no longer live in rural areas stay connected to their origins.
In the past, Basque inheritance laws, called fueros, allowed land to be passed down to the oldest child, whether male or female. Wealthy families often provided for all children, while poorer families might give land to only one child. This child would support the rest of the family, unlike in England, where the oldest son inherited everything. After industrialization, many Basques left rural areas for jobs in Spain, France, or the Americas. This led to many successful Basque individuals, such as conquistadors Lope de Aguirre and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, and missionaries like Francis Xavier.
Some people believe Basque society was originally matriarchal, but today’s Basque society follows a patrilineal system, where family names and inheritance are passed through the father’s side. Scholars suggest this may be a later development. In both old and modern times, Basque women have had more influence in family decisions than in neighboring cultures. Some women also played important roles in traditional ceremonies and folklore.
Basque food is central to Basque culture, using ingredients from the land and sea. In the 20th century, men-only food clubs called txoko became popular, where members cook and share meals. Women were only allowed to join once a year until recently. Cider houses (Sagardotegiak) are also popular in Gipuzkoa, open only during the cider season.
By the end of the 20th century, the Basque region had recovered economically, even after violence from ETA (which ended in 2010) and the decline of heavy industries. After leaving the Franco regime, the Basque language and culture grew stronger, especially in cities like Pamplona, Bilbao, and Bayonne, where it had nearly disappeared before. Today, the number of Basque speakers is stable or slightly increasing.
Most Basques have been Catholic for a long time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, they were very religious. However, church attendance has decreased in recent years, like in much of Western Europe. The region has produced many missionaries, including Francis Xavier and Michel Garicoïts. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, was a Basque. Fermín Lasuén, born in Vitoria, was a Basque missionary who helped establish nine California missions.
A small number of Basques have followed Protestantism, but this is not widespread.
Sports in the Basque Country
The family of ball games includes special types from the Basque region, known as pilota (Spanish: pelota). Some versions of this game are played in the United States and Macau under the name Jai Alai.
Many sports in the Basque region were created from daily tasks. Workers often competed in these activities, and people placed bets on the outcomes. One example is the encierro, or bull run, during the Sanfermines festival in Pamplona. This event began as a way to move bulls to the arena. These bull-related events are not only found in Pamplona but are also traditions in many towns and villages across the Basque Country.
Several clubs are based in the Basque region, including Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, Deportivo Alavés, SD Eibar, and CA Osasuna (a Navarre-based club). CA Osasuna is the only La Liga team with a Basque name—osasuna means "health." In the 2016–17 season, these five clubs played in La Liga together, the first time five Basque teams reached this level at the same time. Athletic Bilbao only signs players who are Basque, defined as either ethnic Basques or players trained by Basque clubs. Real Sociedad previously followed a similar rule.
The Basque region has professional basketball teams, including Saski Baskonia from Vitoria-Gasteiz. This team is one of 11 clubs that own shares in Euroleague Basketball, the company that manages the EuroLeague and EuroCup competitions. Saski Baskonia plays in Spain’s top basketball league, Liga ACB, alongside Bilbao Basket, with whom they have a long-standing rivalry. Another team, Gipuzkoa Basket from San Sebastián, currently plays in the second-level LEB Oro league.
Rugby is a popular sport among French Basques. Major teams like Biarritz Olympique and Aviron Bayonnais are strong competitors in France’s top rugby league, the Top 14. Biarritz often plays Champions Cup matches, especially important knockout games, at Estadio Anoeta in San Sebastián. Matches between Basque teams and the Catalan team USA Perpignan are always intense.
Cycling is widely enjoyed in the Basque region. The professional team Euskaltel–Euskadi, partly funded by the Basque Government, participated in the UCI World Tour until 2014. Known for their orange uniforms and skill on hills, their fans supported the team during famous climbs in the Tour de France.
Each April, the week-long Tour of the Basque Country highlights the scenic rolling hills of the region. Miguel Indurain, born in Villava-Atarrabia, is one of the most famous cyclists in the world. He won five consecutive Tours de France.
Politics
The Basque Country in Spain is an autonomous region that includes the provinces of Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa. It was created because the people there wanted more self-governance. Navarre has its own special agreement for self-governance, which was decided during Spain's move to democracy. This agreement, called the Amejoramiento, refers to Navarre's historical status as a kingdom and its traditional laws. Basque, the main language of Navarre until the late 18th century, is still spoken in some areas, especially in the north. However, Navarre's government has limited the use of Basque, leading to concerns about its survival. Political, language, and cultural issues in Navarre are complex, with some Basque nationalists wanting to join the Basque Autonomous Community.
The French Basque Country is not an official political region but is part of the French department of Pyrénées Atlantiques, centered in Béarn. In recent years, about 63.87% of mayors in the area have supported creating a separate Basque department, but these efforts have not succeeded.
Both Spain and France have, at times, limited Basque language and culture. France, as a nation-state, has historically tried to absorb minority cultures. Spain has granted some autonomy to the Basques, but under Francisco Franco, Basque culture was restricted to folk traditions and religious activities. Today, the southern part of the Basque Country in Spain has strong cultural and political autonomy, with many schools using Basque as the main language. In contrast, the northern Basque Country in France does not officially recognize Basque, and French-only schools make it harder for the language to survive.
In Navarre, Basque is considered an endangered language because of policies that limited its use. Basque is also spoken by immigrants in major cities in Spain and France, as well as in Australia, Latin America, and the United States, especially in Nevada, Idaho, and California.
Since the late 19th century, some Basque nationalists have demanded self-determination or independence. Others view the Basque Country as part of Spain. In 2002 and 2006, the Basque Parliament supported the right to self-determination, but this was not recognized in Spain's 1978 Constitution. Most Basques did not vote on this issue, and some opposed it. However, the majority of Spaniards approved the Constitution. The Basque Country's autonomy was approved in a 1979 referendum, but Navarre's special status was decided by its parliament, not through a referendum.
Classification
The Basques are a unique cultural group in their region. They believe they are different from their neighbors, especially in language. Some Basques see themselves only as Basques, while others also identify as Spanish. Many Basques feel the term "cultural minority" does not fully describe them, preferring instead to be called a nation, a label widely used before the creation of modern nation-states and defined by the 1812 Spanish Constitution.
Today, as a European people living in an industrialized area, some cultural differences with the rest of Europe are less clear. However, Basques still strongly value their identity as a people or nation. This sense of belonging to their homeland remains strong, even among those who have moved to other parts of Spain, France, or other countries.
The most important difference between the Basques and their traditional neighbors is their language. Surrounded by speakers of Romance languages, the Basques traditionally used (and many still use) a language that is neither Romance nor Indo-European. Many Basques believe their language has been spoken by people living in the region since before the Roman and Celtic periods, even dating back to the Stone Age.
Notable Basques
Among the most well-known Basque people are Juan Sebastián Elcano, who led the first successful journey to travel around the world after Ferdinand Magellan died during the trip; Sancho III of Navarre; and Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier, who started the Society of Jesus.
Don Diego María de Gardoqui y Arriquibar (1735–1798) was also Basque. He became Spain's first Ambassador to the United States. Miguel de Unamuno was a famous novelist and philosopher from the late 19th and 20th centuries. He was also Basque.
Another well-known Basque was Father Alberto Hurtado, S.J. (1901–1952), a Jesuit priest who created the charitable housing system Hogar de Cristo, which means "hearth, or home, of Christ," in Chile. El Hogar provided a home-like environment for people without homes. Hurtado also started the Chilean Trade Union Association to support a movement based on the teachings of the Catholic Church about how people should treat each other. He helped many poor and homeless people. Pope John Paul II declared him beatified on 16 October 1994. Pope Benedict XVI declared him a saint on 23 October 2005.