Gernikako Arbola is an oak

Oak

An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...

 tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms

Fuero

Fuero , Furs , Foro and Foru is a Spanish legal term and concept.The word comes from Latin forum, an open space used as market, tribunal and meeting place...

 for the Biscay

Biscay

Biscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...

an people, and by extension for the Basque people

Basque people

The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...

 as a whole. The Lords of Biscay

Lord of Biscay

Lord of Biscay is a historical title of the head of state of the autonomous territory of Biscay, Basque Country.- History :The first known Lord of Biscay , Íñigo López "Ezkerra" was a lieutenant of the Kingdom of Pamplona , and this was until the Castilian conquest of Gipuzkoa in 1200...

 (including kings of Castile and Carlist pretenders to the throne) swore to respect the Biscayan liberties under it, and the modern Lehendakari

Lehendakari

The President of the Basque Government , usually known in English as the Basque regional president, is the head of government of Basque Country. The president leads the executive branch of the regional government....

 of the Basque Country

Basque Country (autonomous community)

The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....

 swears his charge there.

The tree

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As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica assembly in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the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 is from 1833).

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
  Bombing of Guernica
  The bombing of Guernica was an aerial attack on the Basque town of Guernica, Spain, causing widespread destruction and civilian deaths, during the Spanish Civil War...
  
   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 current one (from 1986) was replanted on the site of its father on the 25th of February 2005.

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

Tercio

The tercio was a Renaissance era military formation made up of a mixed infantry formation of about 3,000 pikemen, swordsmen and arquebusiers or musketeers in a mutually supportive formation. It was also sometimes referred to as the Spanish Square...

 of Begoña

Begoña

Begoña or more puristically but also more rarely spelled Begoina, meaning "the lower foot" , is a historical municipality of Biscay that was incorporated to Bilbao in 1925....

, formed by Carlist volunteers from Biscay, put an armed guard around the tree to protect it against the Falangists, who had wanted to fell this symbol of Basque nationalism.

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 being used by the local government of Biscay.


The logo of the Basque nationalist party Eusko Alkartasuna

Eusko Alkartasuna

Eusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...

 has one half red and the other green, the colors of the Basque flag. An old version of the logo of the nationalist youth organisation Jarrai

Batasuna

Batasuna was a Basque nationalist political party based mainly in Spain, where it was outlawed in 2003, after a court ruling declared proven that the party was financing ETA with public money. Batasuna is included in the "European Union list of terrorist persons and organizations" as a component...

 also display oak leaves.
The Basque authorities present descendants of the tree as a symbol of friendship to Basque diaspora groups and related cities.

The anthem

Gernikako arbola is also the title of a song (in bertso form) presented in Madrid (1853) and by the shrine of both Saint Anthonies at Urkiola

Urkiola

Urkiola is a mountain range of the Basque mountains in Biscay near Durango, in the western Basque Country, Spain. The range's highest mountain is Anboto...

 (1854) by the Basque bard

Bard

In medieval Gaelic and British culture a bard was a professional poet, employed by a patron, such as a monarch or nobleman, to commemorate the patron's ancestors and to praise the patron's own activities.Originally a specific class of poet, contrasting with another class known as fili in Ireland...

 José María Iparraguirre, celebrating the tree and Basque freedom. The song is an unofficial anthem of the Basques, besides the official Eusko Abendaren Ereserkia

Eusko Abendaren Ereserkia

Euzko Abendaren Ereserkia is the official anthem of the Basque Country . The original title uses the orthography Euzko....

. It has been called the "Marseillaise of the Basques".

The tree has also inspired a passage of La prudencia en la mujer by the Spanish playwright Tirso de Molina

Tirso de Molina

Tirso de Molina was a Spanish Baroque dramatist, poet and a Roman Catholic monk.Originally Gabriel Téllez, he was born in Madrid. He studied at Alcalá de Henares, joined the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy on November 4, 1600, and entered the Monastery of San Antolín at Guadalajara,...

 and a sonnet of William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth

William Wordsworth was a major English Romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped to launch the Romantic Age in English literature with the 1798 joint publication Lyrical Ballads....

.

Lyrics

There are versions with four, eight or twelve stanzas.
Besides, Iparragirre as a bertsolari

Bertsolari

A bertsolari is a singer of bertso, a musical verse in Basque tradition. The bertolaris are often found in pairs, in which a topic is sung extemporaneously in verses alternatively, but they can stage solo or group verse sessions too. It is usually sung to a slow tempo with long or short verses and...

 would introduce changes during his performances.

Original Gipuzkoan Gipuzkoan Gipuzkoan is a dialect of the Basque language spoken mainly in the province of Gipuzkoa in Basque Country but also in a small part of Navarre. It is a central dialect, spoken in the central and eastern part of Gipuzkoa...  text	Text in Standard Basque Batua Standard Basque is a standardised version of the Basque language, developed by the Basque Language Academy in the late 1960s, which nowadays is the most widely and commonly spoken Basque-language version throughout the Basque Country...	English
Guernicaco arbola Da bedeincatuba Euscaldunen artean Guztiz maitatuba: Eman ta zabaltzazu Munduban frutuba, Adoratzen zaitugu Arbola santuba.	Gernikako arbola Da bedeinkatua Euskaldunen artean Guztiz maitatua: Eman ta zabal zazu Munduan frutua, Adoratzen zaitugu Arbola santua.	The Tree of Guernica is blessed among the Basques; absolutely loved. Give and deliver the fruit unto the world. We adore you, holy tree.
Milla urte inguruda Esaten dutela Jaincoac jarrizubela Guernicaco arbola: Saude bada zutican Orain da dembora, Eroritzen bacera Arras galduguera.	Mila urte inguru da Esaten dutela Jainkoak jarri zuela Gernikako arbola: Zaude bada zutikan Orain da denbora, Eroritzen bazera Erraz galdu gera.	About one thousand years, they say, since God planted it, the Guernica tree: Stand, so, now is the time If you fall we will perish easily.
Etzera erorico Arbola maitea, Baldin portatzen bada Vizcaico juntia: Lauroc artuco degu Surequin partia Paquian bici dedin Euscaldun gendia.	Ez zara eroriko Arbola maitea, Baldin portatzen bada Bizkaiko juntua: Laurok hartuko dugu Zurekin partea Bakean bizi dedin Euskaldun jentea.	You will not fall, dear tree, if the Biscay assembly Biltzar Biltzar is a Basque word meaning, "parliament", "assembly" or "meeting".The Biltzar Ttipia was the governing organ of the party Euskadiko Ezkerra.... behaves: We four will take your party so that the Basque people live in peace.
Betico bicidedin Jaunari escatzeco Jarri gaitecen danoc Laster belaunico: Eta biotzetican Escatu esquero Arbola bicico da Orain eta guero.	Betiko bizi dedin Jaunari eskatzeko Jarri gaitezen denok Laster belauniko: Eta bihotzetikan Eskatu ez gero Arbola biziko da Orain eta gero.	So that it lives forever, to ask the Lord, let us all kneel down quickly: and from the heart, by asking, the tree will live now and forever.
Arbola botatzia Dutela pentzatu Euscal erri guztiyan Denac badakigu: Ea bada gendia Dembora orain degu, Erori gabetanic Iruqui biagu.	Arbola botatzea Dutela pentsatu Euskal Herri guztian Denak badakigu: Ea bada jentea Denbora orain dugu, Erori gabedanik Iruki biagu.	That they have thought to fell the tree in the Basque Country Basque Country (historical territory) The Basque Country is the name given to the home of the Basque people in the western Pyrenees that spans the border between France and Spain on the Atlantic coast.... we all know. So, people, now is the time! We have to hold it up and not let it fall.
Beti egongocera Uda berricua, Lore ainciñetaco Mancha gabecoa: Erruquisaitez bada Biotz gurecoa, Dembora galdu gabe Emanic frutuba.	Beti egongo zara Udaberrikoa, Lore aintzinetako Mantxa gabekoa: Erruki zaitez bada Bihotz gurekoa, Denbora galdu gabe Emanik frutua.	You will always be of spring, without the stain of the flowers of old. Have mercy, you of our heart, losing no time, give fruit.
Arbolac erantzun du Contuz bicitzeko, Eta biotzetican Jaunari escatzeco: Guerraric nai ez degu Paquea betico, Gure legue zuzenac Emen maitatzeco.	Arbolak erantzun du Kontuz bizitzeko, Eta bihotzetikan Jaunari eskatzeko: Gerrarik nahi ez dugu Bakea betiko, Gure lege zuzenak Emen maitatzeko.	The tree answered that we should live carefully and in our hearts ask the Lord: We do not want wars [but] peace forever, to love here our fair laws.
Erregutu diogun Jaungoico jaunari Paquea emateco Orain eta beti: Bay eta indarrare Cedorren lurrari Eta bendiciyoa Euscal erriyari.	Erregutu diogun Jaungoiko jaunari Bakea emateko Orain eta beti: Bai eta indarra ere Zetorren lurrari Eta benedizioa Euskal Herriari.	We ask of the Lord God that he gives us peace, now and forever: and strength as well to His land and the blessing for the Basque land.
Orain cantaditzagun Laubat bertzo berri Gure provinciaren Alabantzagarri: Alabac esaten du Su garrez beteric Nere biotzecua Eutzico diat nic.	Orain kanta ditzagun Laubat bertso berri Gure probintziaren Alabantzagarri: Arabak esaten du Sukarriz beterik Nere bihotzekoa Eutsiko diat nik.	Now let us sing four new verses in praise of our province: Alava Álava Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...  says full of fever the one of my heart I will keep.
Guipúzcoa urrena Arras sentituric Asi da deadarrez Ama Guernicari: Erori etzeitzen Arrimatu neri Zure cendogarriya Emen nacazu ni.	Gipuzkoa hurrena Arras sentiturik Hasi da deiadarrez Ama Gernikari: Erori etzeitzen Arrimatu niri Zure zendogarria Hemen nazazu ni.	Guipuscoa Guipuscoa Gipuzkoa is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. It limits with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques at the northeast, with the province and autonomous community of Navarre at east, Biscay at west, Álava at...  next, very moved, has started with the call to mother Guernica: Do not fall: come near me! Your strengthener you have in me!
Ostoa verdia eta Zañac ere fresco, Nere seme maiteac Ez naiz erorico: Beartzen banaiz ere Egon beti pronto Nigandican etzayac Itzurerazoco.	Hostoa berdea eta Zainak ere fresko, Nere seme maiteak Ez naiz eroriko: Behartzen banaiz ere Egon beti pronto Nigandikan etsaiak Itzularaziko.	The green leaf and the fresh veins, my dear sons, I will not let fall: If I need it too be always ready the enemies around me to force into retreat.
Guztiz maitagarria Eta oestarguiña Beguiratu gaitzasu Ceruco erreguiña Guerraric gabetanic Bici albaguiña. Oraindaño izandegu Guretzaco diña."	Guztiz maitagarria Eta ostargina Begiratu gaitzazu Zeruko erregina Gerrarik gabedanik Bizi ahal bagina. Oraindaño izan dugu Guretzako diña."	Always lovable and sky light, look at us, Queen of Heaven Queen of Heaven Queen of Heaven is a title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary by Christians, mainly of the Roman Catholic Church, and also, to some extent, in the Anglican, Lutheran, and Eastern Orthodox churches, to whom the title is a consequence of the Council of Ephesus in the fifth century, where the Virgin... without war so that we can. She has been until now good to us.

Other Fuero trees in Biscay

• Malato
  Malato
  Malato is a surname of Italian origin. People with the surname Malato include:*Charles Malato, a French anarchist*Giusy Malato, an Italian water polo player*José Carlos Malato, a Portuguese television presenter...
  
   in Luiando, another tree important for Basque nationalism
  Basque nationalism
  Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
  
  .
• 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.

External links

• Arbol de Gernika in the Spanish-language Auñamendi Encyclopedia.
• Page on the tree at the site of the General Assemblies of Biscay (English, Basque, Spanish and French).
• L'arbre de Guernica, a 1975 Surrealist film by Fernando Arrabal
  Fernando Arrabal
  Fernando Arrabal Terán is a Spanish playwright, screenwriter, film director, novelist and poet. He settled in France in 1955, he describes himself as “desterrado,” or “half-expatriate, half-exiled.”...
  
  .