Iparralde
("North-side") is the
Basque word that refers to the three historical regions that lie
north of the Pyrenees Mountains that serve as the border between
Spain and France.
Related link:
www.eke.org
IPARRALDE (“the North Side”) is the Basque name for the three
historical regions that lie north of the Pyrenees Mountains:
Lapurdi, Benafarroa and Zuberoa. These three are in what today
is France; the Hegoalde or Southern side of the Basque Country
is comprised of four historical regions (Araba, Bizkaia,
Gipuzkoa & Nafarroa) that are today in Spain. The historical
origins of this division reaches back centuries.
With different names in Spanish
or French (French versions above), the Iparralde provincials
capitals are Baiona, Lapurdi; Donibane-Garazi, Benafarroa &
Maule, Zuberoa
For a time the Basque region was at least nominally unified by
the Kingdom of Navarre, but in 1512 the southern part of this
kingdom was conquered by the Crown of Castile and thus became part
of newly emerging Spanish state. (See
www.nabarralde.com).
This is a recent introductory video clip;
click on:
http://www.eke.org/en/partaideak/blogak/iparraldea21/bideoa/
The northern part (“Iparralde”)
remained independent a few more generations until it was joined
with France in
a personal union in 1589 when King Henry III of Navarre
inherited the French throne as Henry IV of France, and in 1620
it was merged into the Kingdom of France. These
northern regions continued to enjoy enjoyed autonomy until the powerful
centralizing influences of the French Revolution consolidated
France.
