The Basque flag represents so much that it is difficult to put it into words. There is a sense of pride and conviction that emanates from the flag. This representation of the Basque people, their culture, and history soars proudly and will always remain unsilenced.
The Basque flag not only represents who the Basque people are but is also a symbol of all they have endured. Franco diminished the importance of Basque culture. The purpose, destruction. Basques survived Spain’s version of Mussolini and is now thriving with much pride and vigor.
Design of the Basque Flag
The Ikurriña is a red flag with two crosses. The first is a green saltire that goes diagonal from the four corners. The second is a white cross that goes vertical and horizontal and covers the green in the centre. It is the official flag of the Basque Country Autonomous Community.
The red background of the Ikurrina derives from the provincial flag of Biscay (Bizkaia). The Ikurrina flag symbolizes not just the Basque land but also the blood of its people. Initially created for Bizkaia, it gained popularity in all seven provinces of the Basque Country, comprising four in Spain and three in France.
Sabino Arana – The Man Behind The Basque Flag
Sabino Arana, the Father of Basque nationalism, designed the Basque flag in 1894. The flag, known as Ikurrina in Basque, represents the Basque identity. Other flags are referred to as “bandera” in Spanish, only the Basque flag is called “Ikurrina.” The regard for Ikurrina is of the utmost and unwavering.
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Sabino Arana’s invention was to create a flag that promoted “Biscay, Independence and God.”
The green saltire is meant to represent St. Andrew’s cross and is a calling for independence. It is green instead of the traditional blue to symbolize the Gernika oak tree. The Gernika is another symbol of Basque independence. The white cross represent God.
Franco Years
When the Spanish civil war ended, Francisco Franco came to power. The war inflicted brutality upon Basque Country. It found itself in dire straits. To make matters worse Franco began to try and destroy all things Basque. The Ikurrina was banned. Flying it was a criminal offense throughout Spain. In Basque Country provinces in France however still used the flag as they were out of the reach of Franco.
Franco censored and suppressed anything that didn’t promote a unified Spanish national identity. He stripped Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa of fiscal privileges and labeled them traitor regions. Franco revoked state language recognition for all languages except Spanish. Basque government documentation became null and void. Schools, religious ceremonies, and advertising in other languages were prohibited.
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Persecution of the Basque people, their language and culture continued throughout the reign of Franco which ended upon his death in 1975. Following the death of this dictator, Spain slowly transitioned towards a democracy.
After The Derby
More than a year after the death of Franco the Ikurrina was still illegal. However, momentum for legislation to legalize the flag was about to take a major step forward. On December 5, 1976 there was a derby between the two largest Basque soccer clubs Athletic Club Bilbao and Real Sociedad.
Players for the Real Sociedad team were able to get a hold of the illegal contraband and sneak it into the Atotxa Stadium. Although there were searches of the players before entering the facilities the police never found this Ikurrina. Once inside the locker rooms the captain of Real Sociedad, Inaxio Kortabarria, was given the flag and the responsibility to act.
Inaxio sought out the goalkeeper and Captain of Athletic Bilbao José Ángel Iribar to ask if Athletic’s players would like to participate in their moment of action. José agreed to go ahead with the plan as long as it was a unanimous decision among his teammates. In an example of true unity all the players on both teams unanimously agreed that now was the time to act.
Risking serious consequences and repercussion the two sides walked onto the field together carrying the Ikurrina proudly. It was placed in the center circle of the field for all to see. Amazingly, the authorities in the stadium did nothing and this illegal act went unpunished. This gesture put forward by the players of these historic teams ended up being a major step in the direction of legalization.
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Legalization of the Basque Flag
The democratic shift away from Franco’s regime led to the legalization of the Basque flag in 1977, through Article 5 of the 1979 Statutes of Autonomy legislation. Just two years later, the Autonomous Community of Basque Country officially adopted the Ikurriña as its flag.
The history of the Ikurrina cannot be summarized or written about in full in any article. It means so much to so many and that meaning is not static. Created as a proclamation that the Basques are their own people and won’t be denied it. It represents what the Basque people have been through and yet endured. It is a symbol of loyalty to oneself and solidarity in struggle and survival. One people, one flag, the Ikurrina.