The Basque language, euskara or euskera, is unique in that its origins are still unknown. Scholars have concluded thata it predates the migrations from the East, which brought the Indo-European languages into Europe some 3,000 years ago. Some studies have concluded that the Basques are the last surviving representatives of Europe's aboriginal population. This fact further strengthens their cause for independence, since many of the movements for self-depencence throughout the world are by indigenous populations seeking liberation from their "conquerors."

The first written records for the Basques are from the Romans. At that time there were four tribes int he Basque country, the Vascones, the Vardulos, the Caristios, and the Autrigones. The Romans loosely ruled the region, yet with persistent rebellion. The Visigoths engaged in repeated wars against the Basques, and never actually ruled them expect for brief periods. Thus, the Basques resisted domination from the beginning of their history.

The Kings of Castile and Leon divided the rebellion cotinued as the region. It was the last area of Southern and Western Europe to be converted to Christianity, sometimes during the ninth or tenth centuries. The notable of Guipuzcoa in the 13th century and the Alava in the 14th both voted to become part of Castile. Biscay on the other hand, was inheritance in 1379 by the kinf of Castile.

Navarre was and independent state that in big parts is Basque and that stayed independent until 1512 when Fernando king of Aragon (Catalonia) and regent of Castile invaded and annexed it. However, the Basque Provinces and Navarre always kept special privileges (fueros).

Until the 19th century those privileges remain to the people of the Basques provinces. However, after the invasion of Spain for Napoleon the Spanish throne spread in two heads Carlos and Fernando both sons of Carlos IV. The follows of Carlos were more conservatives, and therefore defenders of the traditional state structure. The follows of Fernando were more liberals with the idea of a central state. The end of these wars won by the liberals avoided those priveleges.

After a turmoil 19th century that ended with the lost of the last Americans colonies, Spain started the 20th century with a brutal dictatorship under Primo de Rivera general. The dictatorship ended with a republic where the parties are very radicals and not for more that two years the parties' spread the power undoing what it has done. The civil start in 1936 and Navarre fight in the national (Franco) side while the other three Basque Provinces fight in the republican side.

During the Franco's dictatorship the Basque nationalist expressions are repress and persecute. In 1979, the Basque Country got to be autonomy with in Spain. Navarre voted to be a separated autonomy different from the Basque Country. Today the Basque Country is autonomy, has the own tax system, police, parliament, regional government and Basque language is taught in schools.