Kingdom of Navarre

The Kingdom of Navarre was a historical Iberian polity that existed on both sides of the western Pyrenees. At its largest, it reached the Atlantic Ocean in the north, spanning areas of present-day Spain and France. The kingdom began around the city of Pamplona during the early days of the Reconquista, forming as a buffer zone between the powerful Carolingian Empire and the Ummayad Emirate of Córdoba.

The kingdom started when Íñigo Arista became its first ruler in about 824, leading a region mainly inhabited by Vasconic people who spoke Basque. Over time, Navarre faced many changes, including being ruled by kings from Aragon and France. In the 1500s, most of Navarre was taken over by the Crown of Castile, though it kept some special rights.

The northern part of Navarre eventually joined France in 1589 when its king, Henry IV of France, became the ruler of both countries. It became fully part of France in 1620. Even after this, French kings continued to call themselves "King of France and Navarre" until the French Revolution. Today, the lands once part of Navarre include parts of modern Spain, such as the autonomous communities of Navarre, Basque Country, and La Rioja, as well as Lower Navarre in France.

Etymology

The name "Navarre" first appeared in old records from chronicles about Charles the Great. Different writings from that time used names like nabarros or nabarri. There are two main ideas about where the name Navarra comes from.

One idea is that it comes from a Basque word nabar, meaning "brownish" or "multicolor," which might have been used to describe the land compared to the green mountains nearby. Another idea is that it combines Basque naba (meaning "valley") and herri (meaning "people" or "land"). A linguist named Joan Coromines thought naba might not be purely Basque but could be from older languages that were there before Rome.

Early historic background

See also: Duchy of Vasconia

The Kingdom of Navarre began near the city of Pamplona in the flatlands south of the western Pyrenees. Ancient writers like Pliny the Elder and Livy wrote about people called the Vascones who lived there. These people spoke an early form of the Basque language, called Proto-Basque.

The Romans controlled the area by 74 BC. They built cities and roads, and brought new ideas. One city they founded was Pompaelo, which is now Pamplona. After the Roman Empire weakened, the Vascones were influenced by both nearby Frankish kingdom rulers and the Umayyad caliphate from Córdoba.

Later, leaders from the Frankish kingdom tried to control the region. In 778, a famous battle happened at the Roncevaux Pass where the Frankish soldier Roland was killed by local Basque tribes. This event made the area even more important in the struggles between Frankish and Córdoban powers.

Nascent state and kingdom

The Kingdom of Navarre began around the city of Pamplona in the early years of the Iberian Reconquista. It formed in a region between the Carolingian Empire and the Ummayad Emirate of Córdoba. The Basque chieftain Íñigo Arista became the first king of Pamplona in 824, starting a dynasty that lasted for eighty years. Though the city of Pamplona remained Christian and self-governed, it paid taxes to Córdoba.

Later kings expanded the kingdom through alliances and military campaigns. Sancho Garcés, who ruled from 905 to 925, extended the kingdom’s lands and formed alliances with neighboring kingdoms. The kingdom grew under leaders like García Sánchez and Sancho II, who also faced attacks from rulers like Almanzor of Al Andalus. By the time of Sancho III’s death in 1035, the kingdom reached its largest size and he divided it among his sons in his will. During this time, the religious centers of the kingdom also grew, with new dioceses being established.

Dismemberment

The Kingdom of Navarre once covered many lands, including parts of modern-day Spain and France. When King Sancho the Great died, he divided his kingdom among his four sons. Each son ruled a different part of the land.

Later, the brothers often fought over control. One brother, García Sánchez III, faced off against his brother Ferdinand, who took some lands from Navarre. After García died in battle, his son Sancho IV took over but was later killed in a plot. This led to more changes in leadership and territory, with parts of Navarre coming under control of other kingdoms.

Eventually, Navarre faced pressure from nearby kingdoms, especially Castile, which took over some coastal areas. Despite these challenges, Navarre managed to keep much of its core territory and its own laws and traditions.

Navarre in the Late Middle Ages

The Kingdom of Navarre saw many changes in leadership and faced challenges from neighboring powers. Under the rule of families from Champagne and France, Navarre experienced periods of peace and cultural growth. Kings like Theobald I fostered the arts and poetry, while others, such as Henry I and Joan I, dealt with invasions and political marriages that brought Navarre under French influence.

Later, Navarre faced internal conflicts over succession, especially after the death of Blanche I. Disputes between royal families and local nobles led to civil unrest and struggles for power. Despite these challenges, Navarre managed to maintain its independence for a time, though it often had to navigate complex relationships with larger kingdoms like France and Aragon.

Eventually, in 1512, Navarre was conquered by Spanish forces under Ferdinand of Aragon. This marked the end of Navarre’s independence in the southern part of its territory, though a small part north of the Pyrenees remained independent for a longer period. The kingdom’s history reflects its resilience and the intricate political landscape of medieval Europe.

Main article: Navarrese Civil War (1451–1455)

Main article: Spanish conquest of Iberian Navarre

The crown and the kingdom: A constitutional foundation

Further information: Fuero § Basque and Pyrenean fueros

The Kingdom of Navarre was organized into special districts called merindades, each governed by a representative called a merino. These districts included places like Pamplona, Estella, Tudela, and Sangüesa. In 1407, another district called Olite was added. Over time, the Cortes of Navarre grew from just church leaders and nobles to also include representatives from towns that were directly under the king's rule.

The Cortes became an important group where church leaders, nobles, and town representatives met. They had a special rule that each group needed to agree before decisions could be made, which helped protect the towns' rights. Navarre kept many of its own special rules and systems until the 19th century, even having its own taxes and trade laws different from the rest of Spain. Important leaders like García de Medrano and Pedro Antonio de Medrano served as regents of Navarre in the 1600s.

Later history and the end of the fueros

Further information: End of Basque home rule in Spain

During the War of the Pyrenees and the Peninsular War, Navarre faced big changes. The Spanish government, led by Manuel Godoy, wanted to take away the special rights of the Basque region, including Navarre. This caused many problems and made the people of Navarre unhappy.

Later, during the Napoleonic Wars, many people in Navarre tried to avoid unfair taxes and protect their homes from soldiers. After these wars, Navarre became a strong support for the Carlist cause, which wanted to keep traditional ways of governing. In 1833, Navarre joined the Carlist movement, but in 1837, Spain declared a new constitution and Isabella II became queen. This led to the end of Navarre's special status. By 1841, Navarre lost its kingdom status and became just another province of Spain, though it kept some special rights through the Compromise Act (Spanish: Ley Paccionada).

Province of Spain

Main article: Navarre § Province of Spain

After treaties in 1839–1841, disagreements with Madrid's government led to the Third Carlist War between 1872 and 1876, mainly in the Basque districts. Different groups in Navarre wanted to bring back old local laws and traditions, with religion and tradition playing big roles in politics.

During the Spanish Civil War in 1936, the Church in Navarre supported the Nationalists against the Second Spanish Republic. Later, as a reward for its support, Franco allowed Navarre to keep some prerogatives similar to its ancient freedoms. This special status helped create the modern Chartered Community of Navarre in 1982.

Territory today

The land that was once the Kingdom of Navarre is now split between two countries: Spain and France. If the land is south of the Western Pyrenees mountains, it belongs to Spain. If it is north of the mountains, it belongs to France. People in many of these areas still speak the Basque language. Today, Navarre is its own autonomous community within Spain, and a part called Basse-Navarre is part of France's Pyrénées-Atlantiques département. Some other lands that were once part of Navarre now belong to other regions of Spain, including the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, La Rioja, Aragon, and Castile and León.

Historical symbols

The Kingdom of Navarre had many important symbols that represented its rulers and the kingdom itself. One famous symbol was the Coat of Arms used during the time of King Sancho VI. There were also special signs and seals used by King Sancho VII, including a seal used on the reverse side of documents. Later, between the years 1234 and 1580, a new Coat of Arms was created. Kings and queens of Navarre also used royal badges and standards, with one standard dating back to the year 1212. These symbols were important for showing the power and history of the kingdom.