Consideraciones históricas en torno al Euskera en Álava. Nuevos testimonios

Abstract

The territory of present-day Álava comprises two historically differing areas: one which depending on the Kingdom of Navarra -Rioja alavesa and the Upper Basin of the River Ega- and the other which passed into the dominion of the Castilian Crown between 1076 and 1200. Linguistically, the first area was mainly Romance speaking, while the second was Basque-Romance. It is probable that towards 1500 the southern limit of Basque-speakers reached to the south Nanclares de Oca and the Ribera Alta, and to the east The Sierra de Cuartango. Vitoria, the capital of the territory, would have been bilingual. The texts of the Minutes of Las Juntas Generales (the General Council Meetings) reflect this situation, as shown by these of 1576, 1682, 1794 and 1819. The reference to 1682 should be highlighted because it ordered that the procurator who “did not know Romance” should be excluded from the meetings.