Gernikako Arbola

Verified Timeline

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 As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica Assembly in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the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). The Lords of Biscay (including kings of Castile and Carlist pretenders to the throne) swore to respect the Biscayan liberties under it, and the modern Lehendakari of the Basque Country swears his charge there. King Alfonso XIII was the last Spanish monarch to swear an oath to the charters under the iconic oak, doing so in 1904 and again in 1906. 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. When the Francoist troops took the town after the Bombing of Guernica, 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.

In Their Own Story

During the First Carlist War, María Cristina of Savoy swore to uphold Basque charters under the oak in 1839, marking her as the last Spanish monarch to do so alongside her infant daughter Queen Isabella II. The tree gained prominence during the First and Third Carlist Wars, spreading its renown through the diaspora thanks to José María Iparragirre's anthem. After the 1937 Bombing of Guernica, Francoist troops took the town, but the Tercio of Begoña (Carlist volunteers from Biscay) placed an armed guard around the tree to protect it from Falangist allies who wanted to fell this symbol of Basque nationalism. On 26 June 1950, Xavier of Bourbon-Parma, the Carlist claimant to the Spanish throne during Franco's regime, swore the Basque charters at the site.

Reader's Guide

The known specimens form a dynasty: 'the father', planted in the 14th century, lasted 450 years; 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 gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree's acorns); the fourth (1986–2015) was replanted on the site of its father on 25 February 2005, and died of a humidity related disease on 15 January 2015; the fifth was planted in March 2015, aged 14. An oak tree is depicted on the heraldic arms of Biscay and subsequently on the arms of many of the towns of Biscay. 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. The Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities. Other fuero trees in Biscay include: in Luiaondo, another tree of special significance for the Basques; the Abellaneda oak for the Encartaciones Juntas; the Gerediaga oak for the Durango area; the Aretxabalagana oak, where Biscaynes had to receive their lord when he came to put his oath on the fuero under the Gernika oak.

Did You Know?

• The 'father' tree was planted in the 14th century and lasted 450 years.
• The third tree survived the Bombing of Guernica in 1937 but later had to be replaced due to a fungus.
• The fourth tree died of a humidity related disease on 15 January 2015.
• The fifth tree was planted in March 2015, aged 14.