Archeological and ethnographic findings indicate that Basque [people] evolved from Cro-Magnon in this area over a period dating from about 40,000 years ago until distinct features were acquired approximately 7,000 years ago. Two thousand years later the sheep, not native to these lands, was introduced and horse and cattle farming came into being. These circumstances made it necessary for the people to travel periodically and cultural contacts were thus made. The Basque banner was made in 1894 by Sabino Arana. The name of the banner is ikurrina. In spite of the fact that the importance of this word is a banner, it is really used just for the Basque banner; Basque individuals like to use the Spanish word Bandera for different banners.
The ikurrina was originally created only for Bizkaia (the main region of Euskadi), but it became very popular and the rest of the Basque regions (4 regions in Spain and 3 in France) accepted it as the flag for all of Euskadi. In the beginning, only the Basque Nationalist Party (founded by Sabino Arana on July 31st, 1895) used it, but during the 2nd Spanish Republic (1931-1939) all of the democratic parties accepted it. In 1936, the Basque Autonomous Government was created (it's Lehendakari (president) was Jose Antonio Agirre) with the representation of all the democratic parties, and the ikurrina was declared, by law, the Basque flag.
After the Spanish war, the dictatorship declared the ikurrina illegal, and it was completely forbidden and declared as a separatist symbol. During the 2nd World War, there was a Basque brigade in the French free army, and the ikurrina of the brigade was decorated ( because of the battle of Point de Grave, near Bordeaux). After the last Spanish dictatorship, and with the approval of the Basque autonomy, the ikurrina was declared again by law as the official Basque flag.
In the Basque-French country, it has always been allowed and after World War II it was officially used in the town halls together with the French flag. Historically, the flag of Bizkaia was red. When Sabino Arana created the ikurrina, he wanted to give it the meaning Bizkaia, independence, and God, so the red color of the field represents Bizkaia or Euskadi, the green St. Andrew's cross stands for the independence, of the Basque Country. It is green because it also symbolizes the oak tree of Gernika, the symbol of Basque freedom. The white cross represents God.
In the Middles Ages, there was a fight between the Basques and the Spaniards in a spot called Padura. This fight was on St. Andrew's day. The stones of the spot were recolored with blood and since that day, that place has been called Arrigorriaga.
It is not clear if this fight is recorded or unbelievable, however, the St. Andrew's cross has regularly been used as a part of Basque banners, similar to those of the Consulate of Bilbao, The Naval banner of Biscay, and in some Carlists banners amid the Carlists wars. For the special events, the Flag Company Inc invented beautiful decals and flags for the history support.
The ikurrina was originally created only for Bizkaia (the main region of Euskadi), but it became very popular and the rest of the Basque regions (4 regions in Spain and 3 in France) accepted it as the flag for all of Euskadi. In the beginning, only the Basque Nationalist Party (founded by Sabino Arana on July 31st, 1895) used it, but during the 2nd Spanish Republic (1931-1939) all of the democratic parties accepted it. In 1936, the Basque Autonomous Government was created (it's Lehendakari (president) was Jose Antonio Agirre) with the representation of all the democratic parties, and the ikurrina was declared, by law, the Basque flag.
After the Spanish war, the dictatorship declared the ikurrina illegal, and it was completely forbidden and declared as a separatist symbol. During the 2nd World War, there was a Basque brigade in the French free army, and the ikurrina of the brigade was decorated ( because of the battle of Point de Grave, near Bordeaux). After the last Spanish dictatorship, and with the approval of the Basque autonomy, the ikurrina was declared again by law as the official Basque flag.
In the Basque-French country, it has always been allowed and after World War II it was officially used in the town halls together with the French flag. Historically, the flag of Bizkaia was red. When Sabino Arana created the ikurrina, he wanted to give it the meaning Bizkaia, independence, and God, so the red color of the field represents Bizkaia or Euskadi, the green St. Andrew's cross stands for the independence, of the Basque Country. It is green because it also symbolizes the oak tree of Gernika, the symbol of Basque freedom. The white cross represents God.
In the Middles Ages, there was a fight between the Basques and the Spaniards in a spot called Padura. This fight was on St. Andrew's day. The stones of the spot were recolored with blood and since that day, that place has been called Arrigorriaga.
It is not clear if this fight is recorded or unbelievable, however, the St. Andrew's cross has regularly been used as a part of Basque banners, similar to those of the Consulate of Bilbao, The Naval banner of Biscay, and in some Carlists banners amid the Carlists wars. For the special events, the Flag Company Inc invented beautiful decals and flags for the history support.
