TheCounty of Durango(Basque:Durangoko Merinaldea), also known asLand of DurangoandMerindad of Durango,was the ancient political administration of the territory that is now known asDurangaldea,in theBasqueregion ofBiscay.This political administration included all the towns andelizatesthat existed within its territory. The elizates were all governed by theForal law,while the towns had their own law. The county of Durango was avassal stateof theKingdom of Pamplona(later,Navarre), and in the 13th century it became a constituent part of theLordship of Biscay.[1]It has been part of the territory of Biscay since then. Its capital city was the town ofDurango.
County of Durango Durangoko Merinaldea Merindad de Durango | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 1050–1212 | |||||||||
 Elizates and town that composed the County of Durango | |||||||||
| Status | Part of theKingdom of Pamplona,then incorporated into theLordship of Biscay | ||||||||
| Capital | Durango | ||||||||
| Government | County | ||||||||
| Historical era | Middle Ages | ||||||||
• Established | c. 1050 | ||||||||
• Annexation to theLordship of Biscay | 1212 | ||||||||
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History
editThe first known reference of the existence of a political organization in the territory of Durango was in the year 1050, when Eneco Lupiz is appointed regent of "the territories ofBiscayand Durango ". It appears again in the record of a committee that took place in the church of San Agustin-Etxebarria in the year 1053, this time with the nameDuranko.[2]The County of Durango is also mentioned along theCounty of Álavain relation to its close relationship with theKingdom of Navarre.During the 11th century the lands of Durango, along with theLordship of Biscay,moved back and forward between the kingdoms ofCastileand Navarre, that kept losing and reconquering the land. In the year 1200,Alfonso VIII of Castileinvades the county of Alava and lays siege to the city ofVitoria.[3]Alava and Durango are then ultimately conquered by Castile. In the year 1212, Castilian king Alfonso VIII merges the County of Durango into theLordship of Biscay,which is awarded toDiego López II de Harofor his war efforts in theBattle of Las Navas de Tolosa.However, Durango maintained its economical and political autonomy, despite being now part of the Lordship.
Territory
editThe County of Durango was formed by twelveelizatesand four towns or cities that occupy the same territory that today doesDurangaldea,a region of the province ofBiscayand successor of this county. The elizates wereAbadiño,Berriz,Mallabia,Mañaria,Iurreta,Garai,Zaldibar,Arrazola, Axpe, Apatamonasterio,Izurtzaand San Agustin-Etxebarria, while the four towns wereDurango(also the capital),Elorrio,ErmuaandOtxandio.
In 1630 Elorrio annexed the elizate of San Augstin-Etxebarria, and in present time the elizates of Axpe, Arrazola and Apatamonasterio are joined together forming the municipality ofAtxondo.
Political institutions
editAudience House
edit
The ordinary meetings between the representatives of theelizatesand towns took place in the called the Audience House. The first documented Audience House was located in the neighborhood of Kurutzesaga inDurango,which was known as "the Old Audience" and it is known that there were issues about its ownership between the county and the administration of the town of Durango.
In 1578, long after the incorporation of the county into theLordship of Biscay,the House of Astola is acquired and the meetings start taking place there. This house dates the year 1570 and takes place of a previous one, destroyed in a fire. In the House of Astola lived some of the authorities of the county and was also the location of the county's prison.
The Foral Field
editThe extraordinary meetings between the representatives of the county were held in a field between the hermitages of San Salvador and San Clemente in the neighborhood of Gerediaga,Abadiño,under an oak and seated on stones positioned on a semicircle. The building still stands on its original location and has been recently reformed by the Government ofBiscay.The oak was lost around the 18th century.
References
edit- ^Incorporation to the Lordshipat the Auñamendi Entziklopedia (in Spanish)
- ^History of Durangaldea: early historyentry at the Auñamendi Entziklopedia (in Spanish)
- ^History of Durangaldea: Year 1200entry at the Auñamendi Entziklopedia (in Spanish)