Spanish Basque Country

The Southern Basque Country (Basque: Hegoalde or Hego Euskal Herria; Spanish: Hegoalde, País Vasco y Navarra or País Vasco peninsular) is a term used to refer to the Basque territories within Spain as a unified whole.

In Basque language, natives have referred to the Basque districts as Euskal Herria(k). During history, it has been named in a variety of ways in languages other than Basque (basically Spanish):

Spanish Basque Country can refer to this same territory, but is ambiguous as it may or may not include Navarre; whereas the Basque-derived term "Southern Basque Country" invariably includes Navarre and the enclaves.

It does not exist as a political unit but includes the three provinces (Álava, Biscay, Gipuzkoa) and two enclaves (Enclave of Treviño and Valle de Villaverde) of the Basque Autonomous Community in the west, as well as the Chartered Community of Navarre to the east.

The Basque districts had managed to retain a virtually independent status (the fueros, or charters) within the Crown of Castile up until the period of the War of the Pyrenees and the Peninsular War (1793–1813). Traditionally the Basques in Spain ("Kingdom of the Spains") renewed their separate status in a ceremony by which the king of Castile or his viceroy/royal deputy (regidor) pledged obedience to the native institutions and laws, with the representatives of each district vowing in turn loyalty to him (or her).

The Basques of each district kept their own defence provision, with men being drafted for the militias exclusively in defence of each specific district. However, voluntary military contribution to the king could go beyond district boundaries in exchange for a sum of money. The four districts kept a strong municipality based governmental structure, as well as minor customs on their boundaries and major ones on the Ebro river. Mineral extraction was concerted for communal exploitation, usually undertaken when required by neighbouring inhabitants and/or manufacturers (ironworks).

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