Gernikako Arbola

Lore & Background

In the Middle Ages, representatives of the villages of Biscay would hold assemblies under local big trees. As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica Assembly in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the current building dates from 1833). Queen Isabella II herself was the last Spanish monarch to swear an oath to the charters under the iconic oak in 1866. The known specimens form a dynasty: 'the father', planted in the 14th century, lasted roughly 400 years (until around 1742); the 'old tree' (1742–1892), re-planted in 1811 (the trunk now is held in a templet in the surrounding garden); the third (1858–2004), re-planted in 1860, survived the Bombing of Guernica in 1937 but had to be replaced because of a fungus; the fourth (1986–2015) was replanted on the site of its father on 25 February 2005 and died of a fungal infection (Armillaria mellea) on 15 January 2015; the fifth was planted in March 2015, aged 14. The Tree of Gernika came to prominence during the First and Third Carlist Wars as a symbol of Basque liberties, with its renown and appreciation spreading throughout the Basque diaspora in the late 19th and mid-20th centuries, thanks to the popularity of José María Iparragirre's namesake anthem. Maria Christina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, regent during her daughter Isabella II's minority in the First Carlist War, swore to uphold the Basque charters under the oak in 1839. The tree's significance is illustrated by an event which occurred shortly after the Guernica bombings: when the Francoist troops took the town, the Tercio of Begoña, formed by Carlist volunteers from Biscay, put an armed guard around the tree to protect it against their Falangist allies, who had wanted to fell this symbol of Basque nationalism. On 26 June 1950, Xavier of Bourbon-Parma, Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne during Franco's dictatorial regime, swore the Basque charters in the Oak of Guernica.

Reader's Guide

The tree is located in Gernika, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain. The trunk of the 'Old Tree' is held in a templet in the surrounding garden. The gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree's acorns. The Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities.

Did You Know?

• An oak leaf logo is used by the local government of Biscay.
• The logo of the Basque nationalist party Eusko Alkartasuna has one half red and the other green, the colors of the Basque flag.
• An old version of the logo of the Basque nationalist youth organisation Jarrai also display oak leaves.