Basque Chilean
Encyclopedia
Many Basques arrived in Chile in the 16th,17th,18th and 19th century from their homeland in northern Spain
(see Basque Provinces
) and parts of southwestern France
, as conquistadors, soldiers, sailors
, merchants, priests and labourers. Due to their traditional hard work and entrepreneurship, many of them rose to the top of the social scale and intermarried into the Chilean elites formed by Basque
s, giving birth to the new Basque-Chilean aristocracy in Chile. This union is the basis of the Chilean elite of today. But also, they immensely contributed to the ethnic make up of the bulk of the Chilean population
.
Many years after the first waves of settlers, thousands of Basque refugees fleeing Spanish Civil War
in 1939 also settled and have many descendants in the country and have even intermarried with Spanish ethnic groups other than Castilians, and other European ethnic groups
. An estimated range of Basque-Chileans from 10% (1,600,000) to as high as 27% (4,500,000).
To describe the Basque-Chilean relationship, we cite Miguel de Unamuno
, who said: "There are at least two things that clearly can be attributed to the Basques: the Society of Jesus
and the Republic of Chile."
began in the conquista
period,
for in the armies of the first colonizers came a contingent important soldiers from the Basque Provinces and from Navarra. In the 16th century, of the 157 Peninsular families that settled in Chile, 39 had Basque surnames. This number progressively grew, as reflected in the number of governors of Basque origin.
Forms a regional immigration
corridor between Spain
and Chile, one that is large, visible, and continues over time. Basque immigration
can be divided into historical periods: discovery
, foundation, and colonial period
; the wave of immigration of the 18th century; and the recent immigrants (19th and 20th centuries).
During the 18th century, the country experimented a mass immigration coming from the Basque provinces and Navarra, by the end of the 18th century represents 27% of the Chilean population
. This raised the Basques to being the most important regional group in the population, displacing the natives and descendants of those born in New Castile
, Old Castile
, and Andalucía. These immigrant families initially dedicated themselves to their preferred form of business, and in successive years produced many alliances with families of Castilian origin possessing lands and titles, giving birth to a new social group known in Chilean history as the "Castilian-Basque Aristocracy."
In the second half of the 19th century came a new wave of Basque immigration
, this time as much from the Spanish regions as the French
. This migratory flood are extended until the end of the Spanish Civil War
.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
(see Basque Provinces
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....
) and parts of southwestern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, as conquistadors, soldiers, sailors
Sailors
Sailors is the plural form of Sailor, or mariner.Sailors may also refer to:*Sailors , a 1964 Swedish film*Ken Sailors , American basketball playerSports teams*Erie Sailors, baseball teams in Pennsylvania, USA...
, merchants, priests and labourers. Due to their traditional hard work and entrepreneurship, many of them rose to the top of the social scale and intermarried into the Chilean elites formed by Basque
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...
s, giving birth to the new Basque-Chilean aristocracy in Chile. This union is the basis of the Chilean elite of today. But also, they immensely contributed to the ethnic make up of the bulk of the Chilean population
Chilean people
Chilean people, or simply Chileans, are the native citizens and long-term immigrants of Chile. Chileans are mainly of Spanish and Amerindian descent, with small but significant traces of 19th and 20th century European immigrant origin...
.
Many years after the first waves of settlers, thousands of Basque refugees fleeing Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
in 1939 also settled and have many descendants in the country and have even intermarried with Spanish ethnic groups other than Castilians, and other European ethnic groups
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
. An estimated range of Basque-Chileans from 10% (1,600,000) to as high as 27% (4,500,000).
To describe the Basque-Chilean relationship, we cite Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno
Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.-Biography:...
, who said: "There are at least two things that clearly can be attributed to the Basques: the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
and the Republic of Chile."
History
The Basque presence in ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
began in the conquista
Conquista
Conquista may refer to:*La Conquista: Spanish colonization of the Americas*Conquista, Minas Gerais, city in Brazil*Conquista, Andalusia, town in Spain...
period,
for in the armies of the first colonizers came a contingent important soldiers from the Basque Provinces and from Navarra. In the 16th century, of the 157 Peninsular families that settled in Chile, 39 had Basque surnames. This number progressively grew, as reflected in the number of governors of Basque origin.
Forms a regional immigration
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
corridor between Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Chile, one that is large, visible, and continues over time. Basque immigration
Basque diaspora
The Basque diaspora is the name given to describe people of Basque origin living outside their traditional homeland on the borders between Spain and France...
can be divided into historical periods: discovery
Discovery (observation)
Discovery is the act of detecting something new, or something "old" that had been unknown. With reference to science and academic disciplines, discovery is the observation of new phenomena, new actions, or new events and providing new reasoning to explain the knowledge gathered through such...
, foundation, and colonial period
Colonial Period
Colonial Period may generally refer to any period in a country's history when it was subject to administration by a colonial power.*Korea under Japanese rule*Colonial history of the United States...
; the wave of immigration of the 18th century; and the recent immigrants (19th and 20th centuries).
During the 18th century, the country experimented a mass immigration coming from the Basque provinces and Navarra, by the end of the 18th century represents 27% of the Chilean population
Demographics of Chile
This article is about the demographic features of Chile, including population density, ethnicity, economic status and other aspects of the population....
. This raised the Basques to being the most important regional group in the population, displacing the natives and descendants of those born in New Castile
New Castile
New Castile is a historic region of Spain. It roughly corresponds to the southern part of the Castile, taken during the Reconquista of the peninsula by Christian kings from Muslim rulers. Some notable achievements in this reconquest were the capture of Toledo in 1085, ending the Taifa's Kingdom of...
, Old Castile
Old Castile
Old Castile is a historic region of Spain, which included territory that later corresponded to the provinces of Santander , Burgos, Logroño , Soria, Segovia, Ávila, Valladolid, Palencia....
, and Andalucía. These immigrant families initially dedicated themselves to their preferred form of business, and in successive years produced many alliances with families of Castilian origin possessing lands and titles, giving birth to a new social group known in Chilean history as the "Castilian-Basque Aristocracy."
In the second half of the 19th century came a new wave of Basque immigration
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...
, this time as much from the Spanish regions as the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. This migratory flood are extended until the end of the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
.
Notable Basque-Chileans
- Pedro Aguirre CerdaPedro Aguirre CerdaPedro Aguirre Cerda was a Chilean political figure. A member of the Radical Party, he was chosen as the Popular Front's candidate for the 1938 presidential election, and was triumphally elected. He governed Chile until his death in 1941...
, President of Chile (1938-1941) - Isabel AllendeIsabel AllendeIsabel Allende Llona is a Chilean writer with American citizenship. Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is famous for novels such as The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts , which have been commercially successful...
, writer - Salvador AllendeSalvador AllendeSalvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
, President of Chile (1970-1973) - Maricarmen ArrigorriagaMaricarmen ArrigorriagaMaricarmen Arrigorriaga Aguirre is a popular Chilean film and soap opera actress.- Films :* Amnesia * Valparaíso * Tuve un Sueño Contigo - Luisa* Te Amo - Isabel's mother...
, actress - José Manuel BalmacedaJosé Manuel BalmacedaJosé Manuel Emiliano Balmaceda Fernández was the 11th President of Chile from September 18, 1886 to August 29, 1891. Balmaceda was part of the Castilian-Basque aristocracy in Chile...
, President of Chile (1886-1891) - Alberto Blest GanaAlberto Blest GanaAlberto Blest Gana was a Chilean novelist and diplomat, considered the father of Chilean novel. Blest Gana was of Irish and Basque descent....
, writer and diplomat - Felipe CamiroagaFelipe CamiroagaFelipe Humberto Camiroaga Fernández was a Chilean TV presenter and occasional actor. He was co-host of TVN's morning talk show Buenos días a todos since 2005. He also presented the late-night talk show Animal nocturno on the same station...
, actor and TV host - Javiera CarreraJaviera CarreraFrancisca Xaviera Eudoxia Rudecinda Carmen de los Dolores de la Carrera y Verdugo , better known as Javiera Carrera, was a member of one of the most aristocratic Chilean families, the Carrera family of Basque origin, who actively participated in the Chilean War of Independence...
, patriot - José Miguel CarreraJosé Miguel CarreraJosé Miguel Carrera Verdugo was a Chilean general, member of the prominent Carrera family, and considered one of the founders of independent Chile. Carrera was the most important leader of the Chilean War of Independence during the period of the Patria Vieja...
, Army general, President of the Government Junta and hero of the War of Chilean Independence - Federico Errázuriz ZañartuFederico Errázuriz ZañartuFederico Marcos del Rosario Errázuriz Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1871 and 1876. He was born in Santiago in 1825 and died there in 1877. Errázuriz was of Basque descent....
, President of Chile (1871-1876) - Domingo EyzaguirreDomingo EyzaguirreDomingo de Eyzaguirre y Arechavala was a Chilean politician and philanthropist.He was born in Santiago, Chile, the son of the Basque Domingo Eyzaguirre Escutasolo and of María Rosa de Aretxabala y Alday. He studied in the seminary of his native City, and showed remarkable aptitude for mathematics...
, politician - Alejandro GorostiagaAlejandro GorostiagaAlejandro Gorostiaga Orrego , was a Chilean military officer born in La Serena. He joined the Escuela Militar de Chile in 1857 till his retirement in 1878. Alejandro Gorostiaga was of Basque descent....
, Army officer - Lucía Hiriart, former First Lady of Chile (1973-1990)
- Alberto Hurtado CruchagaAlberto HurtadoSaint Alberto Hurtado Cruchaga , popularly known in Chile as Padre Hurtado , was a Chilean Jesuit priest, lawyer, social worker and writer of Basque origin, founder of the Hogar de Cristo foundation...
, Jesuit priest and saint - Marta LarraecheaMarta LarraecheaMarta Larraechea Bolívar is a social orientator, politician and wife of Chilean President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. She was a council member of the Santiago municipality and First Lady of Chile . She is of Basque descent...
, former First Lady of Chile (1994-2000) - Alberto LarraguibelAlberto LarraguibelColonel Alberto Larraguibel Morales was a Chilean Army officer of Basque descent born in Angol, Chile. He remains the record holder for Puissance on Horseback, one of the longest-running unbroken sport records in history -- years as of .Then-Captain Larraguibel broke the record for the...
, Army officer and equestrian - Fernando LarraínFernando LarraínFernando José Larraín de Toro is a Chilean comedian and film/television actor. He is of Basque descent.Fernando started his career with the humoristic trio "Fresco y Natural después del postre", along with his brother Nicolás Larraín and Felipe Izquierdo. He also recorded a CD with his musical...
, actor - Hernán LarraínHernán LarraínHernán Larraín Fernández is a conservative Chilean lawyer, university lecturer, and politician; he is a current Senator and former President of the Senate, and is also currently serving as the president of the Independent Democrat Union. Larraín was elected to the Senate representing the 11th...
, politician - María Eugenia LarraínMaría Eugenia LarraínMaría Eugenia Larraín Calderón , known as Kenita Larraín, is a Chilean model and socialite, well known for her romance and with Iván Zamorano and get married and break-up with Marcelo Ríos....
, model - Roberto Matta EchaurrenRoberto MattaRoberto Sebastián Antonio Matta Echaurren , better known as Roberto Matta, was one of Chile's best-known painters and a seminal figure in 20th century abstract expressionist and surrealist art....
, painter - Pablo NerudaPablo NerudaPablo Neruda was the pen name and, later, legal name of the Chilean poet, diplomat and politician Neftalí Ricardo Reyes Basoalto. He chose his pen name after Czech poet Jan Neruda....
, poet and Nobel laureate - Bernardo O'HigginsBernardo O'HigginsBernardo O'Higgins Riquelme was a Chilean independence leader who, together with José de San Martín, freed Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. Although he was the second Supreme Director of Chile , he is considered one of Chile's founding fathers, as he was the first holder...
, Army general, Supreme Director and hero of the War of Chilean Independence - Augusto Pinochet UgarteAugusto PinochetAugusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
, Army General and military dictator (1973-1990) - Sebastián Piñera EcheniqueSebastián PiñeraMiguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...
, President of Chile (2010-) - Manuel Rodríguez Erdoiza, guerrilla fighter and hero of the War of Chilean Independence
- Fernando SolabarrietaFernando SolabarrietaFernando Javier Solabarrieta Chelech is a Chilean television journalist, known for his participations in sports transmissions on TVN, like "Zoom Deportivo". He is of Basque descent. Is married to the journalist and television presenter Ivette Vergara and they have three children, Nicolás, Iñaki...
, journalist and sports commentator - Benjamín Vicuña MackennaBenjamín Vicuña MackennaBenjamín Vicuña Mackenna was a Chilean writer, journalist, historian and politician. Vicuña Mackenna was of Irish and Basque descent.-Biography:...
, politician, historian and writer - Paz YrarrázavalPaz YrarrázavalPaz Eufrasia Yrarrázaval Donoso was a Chilean actress, best known for her work in television series during the 1980s and 1990s...
, actress - Adolfo ZaldívarAdolfo ZaldívarMiguel Adolfo Gerardo Zaldívar Larraín is a Chilean politician and lawyer. He is currently senator for Aisén and since March 2008 he has been President of the Senate. He was a historic member of the Christian Democratic Party until his expulsion in December 2007.Zaldívar is married to María Alicia...
, politician - Andrés ZaldívarAndrés ZaldívarJosé Andrés Rafael Zaldívar Larraín, popularly known as El Chico Zaldívar , is a prominent Chilean Christian Democrat politician. Andrés Zaldívar is of Basque descent.-Early years:...
, politician - Aníbal ZañartuAníbal ZañartuAníbal Zañartu Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served several times as minister and as Vice President in 1901....
, politician
Notable Basque-Chilean families
- Allende familyAllende familyThe Allende family is a Chilean family of Basque descent. They became well known during the 19th century and are based in Valparaíso. They have played a very significant role in Chilean politics.-Prominent members:...
- Balmaceda familyBalmaceda familyThe Balmaceda family of Chile became politically influential during the 19th century, and played a very significant role in Chilean politics The Balmaceda family is of Basque descent...
- Carrera familyCarrera familyThe Carrera family of Chile became politically influential during the colonial period, and played a significant role in Chilean Independence. They remained politically important throughout the 19th century...
- Errázuriz familyErrázuriz familyThe Errázuriz family of Chile became politically influential since the beginning of the 19th century, and played a very significant role in Chilean politics. Francisco Errazuriz, an immigrant of Basque origin, was the first member of this family to arrive in Chile in 1735...
- Larraín familyLarraín familyThe Larraín family is a rich, powerful and influential Chilean family of Basque origin. Their members include prominent politicians and businessmen...