List of Basques
Encyclopedia
This is a list of famous Basque people
. For this purpose, people considered are those hailing from the extended Basque Country (includes Navarre
and the French Basque Country).
In particular
This list does not contain people outside the Basque Country who happen to have one or more Basque surnames
. For people of Basque ancestry in general, please see People with Basque ancestors.
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...
. For this purpose, people considered are those hailing from the extended Basque Country (includes Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
and the French Basque Country).
In particular
- born or resident in the Basque Country, unless self-identifying as not Basque (e.g. people self-identifying as Galician or French rather than Basque.)
- people born outside the Basque Country of Basque ancestry that either speak Basque or self-identify as being of Basque stock.
This list does not contain people outside the Basque Country who happen to have one or more Basque surnames
Basque surnames
Basque surnames on the whole are easily identifiable, reasonably well documented and follow a small number of set patterns. The vast majority of all Basque surnames are not patronymic , or based on personal features but refer to the family's etxea, the historically all important family home.When a...
. For people of Basque ancestry in general, please see People with Basque ancestors.
Artists
- Montxo ArmendárizMontxo ArmendárizMontxo Armendariz, born Ramón Armendariz Barrios, in Olleta, Orbaibar, in Navarra , Spain 1949, is an awarded Spanish screenwriter and film director....
, filmmaker. - Bernardo AtxagaBernardo AtxagaBernardo Atxaga is a Basque writer and self-translator.-Biography:Atxaga was born in Asteasu, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), in 1951. He received a diploma in economics from the University of Bilbao, and studied philosophy at the University of Barcelona...
, writer. - Juanma Bajo UlloaJuanma Bajo UlloaJuan Manuel Bajo Ulloa is a Spanish Basque film director.- Biography :Juanma Bajo Ulloa was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain in 1967. He mortgage his house to obtain the money to produce his first film in 35mm, Alas de Mariposa...
, filmmaker. - Pío BarojaPío BarojaPío Baroja y Nessi was a Spanish Basque writer, one of the key novelists of the Generation of '98. He was a member of an illustrious family, his brother Ricardo was a painter, writer and engraver, and his nephew Julio Caro Baroja, son of his younger sister Carmen, was a well known...
, writer. - Eduardo ChillidaEduardo ChillidaEduardo Chillida Juantegui, or Eduardo Txillida Juantegi in Basque, was a Spanish Basque sculptor notable for his monumental abstract works.-Early life and career:...
, sculptor. - Marie DarrieussecqMarie DarrieussecqMarie Darrieussecq is a French Basque writer.-Biography:Marie Darrieussecq was born on January 3, 1969...
, writer. - Agustín IbarrolaAgustín IbarrolaAgustín Ibarrola is a Spanish Basque painter and sculptor.He was born in Basauri , Spain.In 1948, the Delegation of Biscay and the city council of Bilbao granted him a scholarship to study in Madrid, where he lived until 1955....
, painter. - Álex de la IglesiaÁlex de la IglesiaAlejandro "Álex" de la Iglesia Mendoza is a Spanish film director, screenwriter, film producer and former comic book artist.Most of De La Iglesia's films reached cult status due to their weird sense of humour.- Biography :...
, filmmaker. - Alfredo LandaAlfredo LandaAlfredo Landa Areitio is a Spanish actor.- Biography :He was born in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. He finished his pre-university studies in San Sebastián. He then began university studies on Law, where he began to work with university school groups...
, actor. - Robert LaxaltRobert LaxaltRobert Laxalt was a Basque-American writer from Nevada.-Biography:Sweet Promised Land , Laxalt's first and possibly best-known book, was based on the history of his father, Dominique, and his return to the homeland after forty-seven years as an immigrant sheepherder in Nevada...
, writer. - Jesús Mari LazkanoJesús Mari LazkanoJesús Mari Lazkano is a Spanish Basque painter. He graduated in fine arts from the University of the Basque Country and has had exhitions in Europe, America and Asia.-References:...
, painter. - Julio MédemJulio MedemJulio Médem is a Spanish writer and film director.Medem was born in San Sebastián, Basque Country, Spain and showed an interest in movies since childhood, when he would take his father's Super 8 camera and shoot at night, while nobody was paying attention...
, filmmaker. - Jorge OteizaJorge OteizaJorge Oteiza Enbil , was a Basque Spanish sculptor, painter, designer and writer, renowned for being one of the main theorists on Spanish modern art....
, sculptor. - Jenaro de Urrutia OlaranJenaro de Urrutia OlaranJenaro de Urrutia Olaran was a painter born in Plencia/Plentzia in 1893 and who died in Bilbao on January 2, 1965 . He studied his art in Bilbao, Paris and Rome...
, painter. - Ignacio ZuloagaIgnacio ZuloagaIgnacio Zuloaga y Zabaleta was a Basque Spanish painter, born in Eibar, near the monastery of Loyola. He was the son of metalworker and damascener Plácido Zuloaga and grandson of the organizer and director of the royal armoury in Madrid.-Biography:In his youth, he drew and worked in his father's...
, painter. - Rafael MoneoRafael MoneoJosé Rafael Moneo Vallés is a Spanish architect. He was born in Tudela, Spain, and won the Pritzker Prize for architecture in 1996. He studied at the ETSAM, Technical University of Madrid from which he received his architectural degree in 1961. From 1958 to 1961 he worked in the office in Madrid...
, architect. - Paco RabannePaco RabanneFrancisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, more commonly known as Paco Rabanne is a Franco-Spanish fashion designer. He fled Spain for France with his mother when the Spanish Civil War broke out...
, fashion designer. - Cristobal BalenciagaCristóbal BalenciagaCristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre was a Spanish Basque fashion designer and the founder of the Balenciaga fashion house....
, fashion designer.
Astronauts
- Léopold EyhartsLéopold EyhartsLéopold Eyharts is a Brigadier General in the French Air Force and an ESA astronaut.-Background:Eyharts was born April 28, 1957, in Biarritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France...
, astronaut.
Athletes
- Luis ArconadaLuis ArconadaLuis Miguel Arconada Etxarri is a retired Spanish footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.Having played solely for Real Sociedad for nearly 20 professional years, helping the team to two La Liga titles, amongst other domestic accolades, he also collected 68 national team caps.-Club career:Arconada...
, footballer. - Xabi AlonsoXabi AlonsoXabier "Xabi" Alonso Olano is a Spanish World Cup-winning footballer who plays for Real Madrid as a midfielder.Alonso began his career at Real Sociedad, the main team of his home region Gipuzkoa. After a brief loan period at Eibar he returned to Sociedad where then manager John Toshack appointed...
, footballer. - AmezolaAmezolaJosé de Amézola y Aspizúa was a Spanish pelotari who competed at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.Amezola competed in the only official pelota contest in Olympic history, the Basque pelota at the 1900 Summer Olympics two-man teams event...
, pelotaPelotaPelota can refer to the popular and shortened names for a number of ball games:* Baseball* Basque pelota* Bocce* Jai alai* Valencian pilota...
player. - Mikel ArtetaMikel ArtetaMikel Arteta Amatriain is a Spanish footballer who plays for Arsenal as a midfielder.Arteta started out as a trainee with FC Barcelona but could not break his way into the first team and was eventually loaned to Paris Saint-Germain in the French league...
, footballer. - Rodolfo ArruabarrenaRodolfo ArruabarrenaRodolfo Martín Arruabarrena is a former Argentine football left back. His last club was Universidad Católica in the Primera División de Chile...
, footballer. - Igor AstarloaIgor AstarloaIgor Astarloa Askasibar is a retired cyclist from Spain.-Career:Astarloa turned professional with the Italian cycling team and enjoyed his best season in 2003 with team when he won the Flèche Wallonne and the road race title at the World Cycling Championships at Hamilton, Canada...
, cyclist - Txiki BeguiristainTxiki BeguiristainAitor 'Txiki' Begiristain Mújica is a retired Spanish footballer who played professionally during the 1980s and 1990s....
, footballer. - Joseba BelokiJoseba BelokiJoseba Beloki Dorronsoro is a Spanish former professional road bicycle racer.-Biography:Beloki turned professional in 1998 with Euskaltel-Euskadi, joined Festina in 2000, and then Team ONCE in 2001...
, cyclist. - Alberto BerasateguiAlberto BerasateguiAlberto Berasategui is a former professional tennis player from Spain. He reached the men's singles final at the French Open in 1994....
, tennis player. - Virginia BerasateguiVirginia BerasateguiVirginia Berasategui Luna is a Basque triathlete who represents Spain in international competition. In 2009, Berasategui took third place at the Ironman World Championships.- Results :-External links:* *...
, triathlete. - Josune BereziartuJosune BereziartuJosune Bereziartu is a Basque rock climber. She has been climbing since 1989.*She is the first female to have climbed the grade 9a/5.14d . Bain de Sang in St Loup, Switzerland, had its first ascent by Fred Nicole and was the third 9a route in the world...
, rock climber. - Serge BlancoSerge BlancoSerge Blanco is a former rugby union footballer who played fullback for Biarritz Olympique and the French national side, gaining 93 caps, 81 of them at fullback. His alternative position was wing....
, rugby player. - Jean BorotraJean BorotraJean Robert Borotra was a French champion tennis player. He was one of the famous "Four Musketeers" from his country who dominated tennis in the late 1920s and early 1930s.-Career:...
, tennis player. - Didier DeschampsDidier DeschampsDidier Claude Deschamps is a retired French footballer and current manager of Marseille. He played as a defensive midfielder. As an international, he assisted France with victories in the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000...
, footballer. - Anthony DupuisAnthony DupuisAntony Dupuis is a French tennis player. In 2006 he tested positive for the banned drug Salbutamol, and was suspended for two and a half months.-Personal life:...
, tennis player. - Jean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeJean-Baptiste ÉlissaldeJean-Baptiste Élissalde is a former French rugby union player, playing either as a scrum-half or as a fly-half, and current backs coach of the Stade Toulousain.-Early life:...
, rugby player. - Pierre EtchebasterPierre EtchebasterPierre Etchebaster is widely considered history's greatest player of real tennis , the original racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended.Born in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France, a Basque fishing village, he served in the French Army during World War I before...
, real tennisReal tennisReal tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
player. - Jean EtcheberryJean EtcheberryJean Etcheberry was a French rugby union player who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics.He was born in Vieux-Boucau-les-Bains and died in Les Côtes-d'Arey, Isère....
, rugby player. - Pierre Etchegaray, pelotaPelotaPelota can refer to the popular and shortened names for a number of ball games:* Baseball* Basque pelota* Bocce* Jai alai* Valencian pilota...
player. - Joseba EtxeberriaJoseba EtxeberríaJoseba Andoni Etxeberria Lizardi is a retired Spanish footballer who played mostly as a winger.After starting his professional career at only 17, with Real Sociedad, he quickly switched to Basque neighbours Athletic de Bilbao, going on to spend the rest of his extensive career there.Exteberria...
, footballer. - Xabier Fernandez Gaztañaga, sailor.
- José Eulogio GárateJosé Eulogio GárateJosé Eulogio Gárate Ormaechea is a former Argentine-Spanish footballer who played as a forward for SD Eibar, SD Indautxu, Atlético Madrid and Spain.-Club career:...
, footballer. - Andoni Goikoetxea, footballer.
- Julen GoikoetxeaJulen GoikoetxeaJulen Goikoetxea was a Basque cyclist from Ondarroa.Goikoetxea started his international career in 2004 as a member of the Alfus Tedes Garbialdi team. In his first two seasons he won five races. UCI ProTour team Euskaltel-Euskadi acknowledged his talent and contracted him for the 2007 season...
, cyclist. - Imanol HarinordoquyImanol HarinordoquyImanol Harinordoquy is a French rugby union player who typically plays as a number 8 for Biarritz at club level in the Top 14 and for France internationally...
, rugby player. - Raphaël IbañezRaphaël IbanezRaphaël Ibañez is a retired French rugby union footballer. A hooker, he was also a former captain of the France national team.-Club career:...
, rugby player. - Miguel IndurainMiguel IndurainMiguel Ángel Indurain Larraya is a retired Spanish road racing cyclist. He won five consecutive Tour de Frances from 1991 and 1995, the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win five times. He won the Giro d'Italia twice, becoming one of only seven people in history to achieve the Giro Tour...
, cyclist. - Alberto IñurrategiAlberto IñurrategiAlberto Iñurrategi is an Spanish mountaineer born in Arechavaleta, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco , 3 November 1968. In the year 2002, he became the second Spaniard and 10th person to climb the 14 eight-thousanders....
, mountaineer. - José Ángel IribarJosé Ángel IribarJosé Ángel Iribar Cortajarena, nicknamed El Chopo , is a retired Spanish football goalkeeper and manager....
, footballer. - Luis María LasúrteguiLuis María LasúrteguiLuis Mari Lasurtegui Berridi is a Spanish competition rower and Olympic champion.He won a silver medal in coxless pairs at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, together with Fernando Climent.-References:*...
Berridi, rowing. - Marino LejarretaMarino LejarretaMarino Lejarreta Arrizabalaga is a retired Spanish professional road racing cyclist. His biggest victory was capturing the 1982 Vuelta a España, a Grand Tour stage race, and he is the inaugural and record three-time winner of the Clásica de San Sebastián , which is now considered a one-day classic...
, cyclist. - Bixente LizarazuBixente LizarazuBixente Lizarazu is a former football left defender who played most notably for Girondins de Bordeaux and Bayern Munich, as well as the French national team.-Football career:...
, footballer. - Iker Martínez de LizarduyIker MartinezIker Martinez de Lizarduy Lizarribar is a Spanish sailor and olympic champion...
, sailor. - Iban MayoIban MayoIban Mayo Diez is a professional road bicycle racer. His successes have been overshadowed by doping....
, cyclist - Leire OlaberriaLeire OlaberriaLeire Olaberria Dorronsoro ; born 17 February 1977 in Ikaztegieta, Gipuzkoais a Spanish Basque racing cyclist. She won the Bronze medal in the Women's points race at the 2008 Summer Olympics, finishing behind Marianne Vos and Yoanka González .-References:...
, cyclist. - Abraham OlanoÁbraham OlanoAbraham Olano Manzano is a Spanish Basque former professional road racing cyclist. His crowning achievement came in 1995 when he became World Road Champion...
, cyclist. - Juanito OiarzabalJuanito OiarzabalJuan Eusebio Oiarzabal Urteaga commonly known as Juanito Oiarzabal is a noted Spanish Basque mountaineer and has written four books on the subject. He was the sixth man to reach all 14 eight-thousander summits, and the fourth in reaching them without supplementary oxygen...
, mountaineer.
- José María OlazábalJosé María OlazábalJosé María Olazábal Manterola is a Spanish professional golfer who has enjoyed success on both the European Tour and the PGA Tour, and has won two major championships.-Career outline:...
, golfer. - Javier Otxoa PalaciosJavier OtxoaJavier Otxoa Palacios is a Spanish cyclist, formerly of the Kelme cycling team. His name is sometimes spelled Javier Ochoa in media reports....
, cyclist. - Edurne PasabanEdurne PasabanEdurne Pasaban Lizarribar is a Basque Spanish mountaineer, from the province of Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country. On May 17, 2010, she became the 21st person and the first woman to climb all of the fourteen eight-thousander peaks in the World...
, mountaineer. - Julián RetegiJulián RetegiJulián Retegui Barbería, also known as Retegi II is an ex-player of Basque pelota. He is also called "El mago de Eratsun" , since he is considered one of the best Basque pelota players of all time...
, pelotaPelotaPelota can refer to the popular and shortened names for a number of ball games:* Baseball* Basque pelota* Bocce* Jai alai* Valencian pilota...
player. - Joane SomarribaJoane SomarribaJoane Somarriba Arrola is a former Spanish cyclist.She won the Grande Boucle, at the time the most prestigious stage race for women, in 2000, 2001 and 2003. She also achieved a time trial victory at the 2003 World Championships in Hamilton, Canada...
, cyclist. - Iñaki UrdangarínIñaki Urdangarin-References:-External links:*...
, handballer. - Ismael UrzaizIsmael UrzaizIsmael Urzaiz Aranda is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a centre forward.Best known for his physical strength and aerial ability, the unsuccessful youth graduate at Real Madrid went on to represent seven other teams during his extensive professional career, mainly Athletic Bilbao...
, footballer. - Paulino UzcudunPaulino UzcudunPaulino Uzcudun Eizmendi was a Basque heavyweight boxer, who is considered to be the greatest heavyweight from Spain. Uzkudun is another variation on the spelling of his last name. He was the youngest of 9 siblings. In his youth, he became an Aizkolari or traditional competitive Basque wood chopper...
, boxer. - Pichichi, footballer.
- Telmo ZarraonaindíaTelmo ZarraonaindíaTelmo Zarraonandia Montoya , popularly known as Zarra, was a Spanish Basque football player for Athletic Bilbao from 1940 to 1955....
, footballer. - Andoni ZubizarretaAndoni ZubizarretaAndoni Zubizarreta Urreta is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper.The all-time most capped player for the Spanish national team for several years, he played with individual and team success for Athletic Bilbao and FC Barcelona , appearing in more than 950...
, footballer.
Business people
- José María ArizmendiarrietaJosé María ArizmendiarrietaFather José María Arizmendiarrieta Madariaga was a Catholic priest and founder of the Mondragón cooperative movement in the Basque Country....
, founder of the MondragónMondragónArrasate or Mondragón - is a town and municipality in Gipuzkoa province, Basque Country, Spain...
cooperatives. - François CabarrusFrançois CabarrusFrançois Cabarrus or Francisco Cabarrús Lalanne, conde de Cabarrús was a French adventurer and Spanish financier.-Early life:...
, adventurer and Spanish financier. - Jacques LaffitteJacques LaffitteJacques Laffitte was a French banker and politician.-Biography:Laffitte was born at Bayonne, one of the ten children of a carpenter....
, banker and politician. - Miguel LeonisLeonis AdobeLeonis Adobe, built in 1844, is one of the oldest surviving private residences in Los Angeles County and one of the oldest surviving buildings in the San Fernando Valley. Located in what is now Calabasas, California, the adobe was occupied by the wealthy rancher, Miguel Leonis, until his death in...
.
Clergy
- Pedro ArrupePedro ArrupeFr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
- Martín de Azpilicueta
- Ignacio EllacuríaIgnacio EllacuríaIgnacio Ellacuría, S.J. was a Jesuit priest, philosopher, and theologian who did important work as a professor and rector at the Universidad Centroamericana "José Simeón Cañas" , a Jesuit university in El Salvador founded in 1965...
- Saint Domingo Ibáñez de ErquiciaDomingo Ibáñez de ErquiciaSaint Fr. Domingo Ibáñez de Erquicia was born in Régil, Guipuskoa, Spain. In 1605, he was professed in the Dominican Order and in 1611, he arrived in the Philippines where he zealously worked as missionary to Pangasinan and later as Professor of Theology at the Colegio de Santo Tomas.In 1623, he...
- Roger Etchegaray.
- Michel Garicoïts.
- Saint Candida Maria of Jesus
- Saint Ignatius of LoyolaIgnatius of LoyolaIgnatius of Loyola was a Spanish knight from a Basque noble family, hermit, priest since 1537, and theologian, who founded the Society of Jesus and was its first Superior General. Ignatius emerged as a religious leader during the Counter-Reformation...
- Francisco de VitoriaFrancisco de VitoriaFrancisco de Vitoria, OP was a Spanish Renaissance Roman Catholic philosopher, theologian and jurist, founder of the tradition in philosophy known as the School of Salamanca, noted especially for his contributions to the theory of just war and international law...
- Saint Francis XavierFrancis XavierFrancis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534...
- Juan de ZumárragaJuan de ZumárragaJuan de Zumárraga was a Spanish Basque Franciscan prelate and first bishop of Mexico.-Origins and arrival in New Spain:...
- José Maria de ZalvideaJosé Maria de ZalvideaJosé Maria de Zalvidea was a Spanish Franciscan missionary.He was born at Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain, and became a Franciscan at the convent of San Mames, Cantabria, 13 December 1798...
Explorers
- Lope de AguirreLope de AguirreLope de Aguirre was a Basque Spanish conquistador in South America. Nicknamed El Loco, 'the Madman', Aguirre is best known for his final expedition, down the Amazon river, in search of the mythical El Dorado...
- Pascual de AndagoyaPascual de AndagoyaPascual de Andagoya was a Spanish Basque conquistador. He was born in the village of Andagoya, in the valley of Cuartango , in Spain....
- Juan Bautista de AnzaJuan Bautista de AnzaJuan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto was a Novo-Spanish explorer and Governor of New Mexico for the Spanish Empire.-Early life:...
- Domingo de BonecheaDomingo de BonecheaDomingo de Bonechea Andonaegui , born on August 8, 1713 in Getaria, Basque Country, died in Tahiti in 1775, was an explorer for the Spanish crown...
- Cosme Damián de Churruca y ElorzaCosme Damián de Churruca y ElorzaCosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza was a Basque Spanish noble, an Admiral of the Royal Spanish Armada, a scientist and Major of Mutriku, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar while commanding the ship of the line San Juan Nepomuceno.He received his early years education in the Seminary of Burgos...
- Juan Sebastián ElcanoJuan Sebastián ElcanoJuan Sebastián Elcano was a Basque Spanish explorer who completed the first circumnavigation of the world. As Ferdinand Magellan's second in command, Elcano took over after Magellan's death in the Philippines.-Early life:Elcano was born to Domingo Sebastián Elcano I and Catalina del Puerto...
- Catalina de ErausoCatalina de ErausoCatalina de Erauso, also known as La Monja Alférez , was a semi-legendary personality of the Basque Country, Spain and Spanish America in the first half of the seventeenth century.- Life :Catalina de Erauso was daughter and sister of soldiers from the city of San Sebastián in Spain...
- Alonso de ErcillaAlonso de ErcillaAlonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga was a Spanish nobleman, soldier and epic poet from the Basque Country. While in Chile he fought against the Araucanians, and there he began the epic poem La Araucana, considered the greatest Spanish historical poem. This heroic work in 37 cantos is divided into three...
- Martin Ruiz de GamboaMartín Ruiz de GamboaMartín Ruiz de Gamboa de Berriz was a Spanish Basque conquistador, and served as a Royal Governor of Chile.-Early years:He was born in Durango, Biscay, the son of Andrés Ruiz de Gamboa and Nafarra de Berriz, and served as a youth in the royal navy in the Levant...
- Juan de GarayJuan de GarayJuan de Garay was a Spanish conquistador.Garay was born in Orduña, Spain. He served under the Spanish crown, in the Viceroyalty of Peru...
- Francisco de GarayFrancisco de GarayFrancisco de Garay was a Spanish Basque conquistador. He was a companion to Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the New World and arrived in Hispaniola in 1493. Here he attracted attention when he encountered a large gold nugget worth four thousand pesos.- Jamaica:From 1514 to 1523...
- Martin de GoitiMartin de GoitiMartín de Goiti was a Spanish Basque conquistador and founder of the city of Manila in the Philippines. Martín de Goiti was one of the soldiers who accompanied the Spanish colonization of the East Indies and the Pacific, in 1565. He was the leader of the expedition to Manila, ordered by Miguel...
- Bruno de HecetaBruno de HecetaBruno de Heceta y Dudagoitia was a Spanish Basque explorer of the Pacific Northwest. Born in Bilbao of an old Basque family, he was sent by the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María Bucareli y Ursúa, to explore the area north of Alta California in response to information that there were colonial...
- Martin de HoyarçabalMartin de HoyarçabalMartin de Hoyarçabal was a French Basque mariner. Little is generally known about his life. He was born in Ciboure, in the Iparralde, the French Basque Country. He is recognized for publishing one of the first Newfoundland pilots, a book which describes places and distances to aid sailors in...
- Francisco de IbarraFrancisco de IbarraFrancisco de Ibarra was a Spanish Basque explorer, founder of the city of Durango, and governor of the Spanish province of Nueva Vizcaya, in present-day Mexico.-Biography:...
- Domingo Martínez de IralaDomingo Martínez de IralaDomingo Martínez de Irala was a Spanish Basque conquistador.He headed for the Americas in 1535 enrolled in the expedition of Pedro de Mendoza and participated in the founding of Buenos Aires...
- Miguel López de LegazpiMiguel López de LegazpiMiguel López de Legazpi , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first European settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He is the first Governor-General in the Philippines...
- Martín Ignacio de LoyolaMartín Ignacio de LoyolaMartín Ignacio Martínez de Mallea, known as Martín Ignacio de Loyola, was a Franciscan friar, best known for his two travels around the world in 1580-1584 and 1585-1589, being the first person to complete the world circumnavigation twice, and for his missionary effort in China.He was a grandnephew...
- Juan Ortiz de ZarateJuan Ortiz de ZárateJuan Ortiz de Zárate Juan Ortiz de Zárate Juan Ortiz de Zárate (c. 1521 Orduña, Biscay (Spain) – 1575 Asunción, (Paraguay). was a Spanish Basque explorer and conquistador. He journeyed to the Americas as a teenager, where he took part in the conquest of Peru under Diego de Almagro....
- Cristobal de OñateCristóbal de OñateCristóbal de Oñate was a Spanish Basque explorer, conquistador and colonial official in New Spain. He is considered the founder of the contemporary city of Guadalajara in 1531, as well as other places in Nueva Galicia .-Background:Oñate was born in 1552 in Vitoria or Oñate, in the Basque country...
- Martín García Óñez de LoyolaMartín García Óñez de LoyolaDon Martín García Óñez de Loyola was a Spanish Basque soldier and Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...
- Andrés de UrdanetaAndrés de UrdanetaFriar Andrés de Urdaneta, O.S.A., was a circumnavigator, explorer and Augustinian friar. As a navigator he achieved in 1536 the "second" world circumnavigation after first one led by Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano in 1522...
- Martin de UrsuaMartín de UrsuaMartin de Ursua was a Spanish Basque conquistador from Baztan, Navarre during the early colonial period of New Spain in Central America. He is noted for leading the 1696–97 expeditionary force which resulted in the fall of the last significant independent Maya stronghold, Tayasal, located on an...
- Pedro de UrsuaPedro de UrsúaPedro de Ursúa was a Spanish Basque conquistador from Baztan in the 16th century. In Panama, Ursúa subdued a Cimarron revolt by tricking Cimarron leader Bayano into coming unprepared to negotiate a truce, but then captured him and sent him back to King Philip II of Spain...
Historical figures
- Berengaria of NavarreBerengaria of NavarreBerengaria of Navarre was Queen of the English as the wife of King Richard I of England. She was the eldest daughter of King Sancho VI of Navarre and Sancha of Castile. As is the case with many of the medieval queens consort of the Kingdom of England, relatively little is known of her life...
, Queen of England - Martin GuerreMartin GuerreMartin Guerre, a French peasant of the 16th century, was at the center of a famous case of imposture. Several years after the man had left his wife, child, and village, a man claiming to be Guerre arrived. He lived with Guerre's wife and son for three years. The false Martin Guerre was tried,...
, historical French victim of identity theft. - Jean VrolicqJean VrolicqJean Vrolicq was a mariner from St-Jean-de-Luz in the first half of the 17th century...
, Basque whaler.
Military figures
- Carlos de AmésquitaCarlos de AmésquitaCarlos de Amésquita was a Spanish naval officer of the 16th century. He is remembered for an action whilst on a routine patrol, known as the Battle of Cornwall, during the Anglo-Spanish War 1585–1604....
- José de ArmendárizJosé de ArmendárizJosé de Armendáriz y Perurena, 1st Marquis of Castelfuerte was a Spanish soldier and colonial administrator. From May 14, 1724 to February 4, 1736 he was viceroy of Peru.-Early career:He entered the military and fought in the War of the Spanish Succession, on the side of Philip V of Spain...
- Cosme Damián de Churruca y ElorzaCosme Damián de Churruca y ElorzaCosme Damián de Churruca y Elorza was a Basque Spanish noble, an Admiral of the Royal Spanish Armada, a scientist and Major of Mutriku, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar while commanding the ship of the line San Juan Nepomuceno.He received his early years education in the Seminary of Burgos...
- Catalina de ErausoCatalina de ErausoCatalina de Erauso, also known as La Monja Alférez , was a semi-legendary personality of the Basque Country, Spain and Spanish America in the first half of the seventeenth century.- Life :Catalina de Erauso was daughter and sister of soldiers from the city of San Sebastián in Spain...
- Antonio de Gaztañeta
- Jean Isidore HarispeJean Isidore HarispeJean Isidore Harispe, 1st Comte Harispe was a distinguished French soldier of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, as well as a of the following period. Harispe was created a Marshal of France in 1851.-Early life:...
- Blas de LezoBlas de LezoBlas de Lezo y Olavarrieta , also known as "Patapalo" , and later as "Mediohombre" for the many wounds suffered in his long military life, was a Spanish admiral, and one of the greatest strategists and commanders in the history of the Spanish Navy...
- Martín García Óñez de LoyolaMartín García Óñez de LoyolaDon Martín García Óñez de Loyola was a Spanish Basque soldier and Royal Governor of Chile.-Early life:...
- Tomás de ZumalacárreguiTomás de Zumalacárregui- From Peninsula War to Ferdinand VII:Zumalacárregui was born at Ormaiztegi in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, on 29 December 1788. His father, Francisco Antonio de Zumalacárregui, was a lawyer who possessed some property, and the son was articled to a solicitor....
, CarlistCarlismCarlism is a traditionalist and legitimist political movement in Spain seeking the establishment of a separate line of the Bourbon family on the Spanish throne. This line descended from Infante Carlos, Count of Molina , and was founded due to dispute over the succession laws and widespread...
general
Musicians
- Juan de AnchietaJuan de AnchietaJuan de Anchieta was a leading Spanish Basque composer of the Renaissance, at the Royal Court Chaplaincy in Granada of Queen Isabel I of Castile.-History:...
, composer. - Juan Crisóstomo ArriagaJuan Crisóstomo ArriagaJuan Crisóstomo Jacobo Antonio de Arriaga y Balzola was a Spanish composer. He was nicknamed the "Spanish Mozart" after he died, because, like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, he was also a child prodigy and an accomplished composer who died young...
, composer. - Mikel ErentxunMikel ErentxunMikel Erentxun is a Spanish Rock en Español singer. Formerly with the group Duncan Dhu, he started his solo career in 1992. He has released six albums as a solo artist and has covered The Smiths' song, "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out", as "Esta luz nunca se apagará", as well as...
, singer. - Aita DonostiaAita DonostiaJosé Gonzalo Zulaica , better known by his pen name Aita Donostia , was a Basque musicologist and composer.From 1936 to 1943 he was in exile in France.His most popular work is the Basque Preludes, a set of fifteen piano...
, composer. - Julián GayarreJulián GayarreSebastián Julián Gayarre Garjón , better known as Julián Gayarre, was a Spanish opera singer who created the role of Marcello in Donizetti's Il Duca d'Alba and Enzo in Ponchielli's La Gioconda.Although he faced strong competition for this title from the likes of Roberto Stagno, Italo Campanini,...
, singer. - Jesús GuridiJesús GuridiJesús Guridi Bidaola was a Spanish Basque composer, and is a key player in the Spanish and Basque music of the twentieth century. His style fits into what we might call the late romantic stamp, directly inherited from Wagner, and with a strong influence from the Basque culture...
, composer. - Alberto IglesiasAlberto IglesiasAlberto Iglesias Fernández-Berridi is a Spanish composer. He wrote the music for several Spanish films, mostly from Pedro Almodóvar...
, composer. Twice nominated for Oscar. - Sebastian de Yradier y Salaverri, composer.
- Mikel LaboaMikel LaboaMikel Laboa Mancisidor was one of the Basque Country's most important singer-songwriters.Considered the patriarch of Basque music, his music has had an influence on younger generations...
, singer and songwriter. - Benito LertxundiBenito LertxundiBenito Lertxundi is a Basque singer-songwriter born in Orio in 1942 . He is an acclaimed and veteran figure in Basque music, who spearheaded with other key figures its revival in the 1960s and following years, showing an especial commitment to Basque culture and matters in general.-Discography:*...
, musician. - Luis MarianoLuis MarianoMariano Eusebio González y García aka Luis Mariano was a popular tenor of Spanish Basque origin who achieved celebrity in 1946 with « La belle de Cadix » an operetta by Francis Lopez...
, singer. - Amaia MonteroAmaia MonteroAmaia Montero Saldías , also known as the original vocalist of La Oreja de Van Gogh between 1996 and 2007, is a singer/songwriter from Basque Country, Spain. Including her work with the band, Montero has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide.-Background:Amaia Montero is the daughter of José...
, singer and songwriter. - Fermin MuguruzaFermin MuguruzaFermin Muguruza is a Basque rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, record label manager, and co-founder for the ska punk band Kortatu, active from 1983 to 1988, and for the crossover group Negu Gorriak, active from 1990 to 1996.He is the brother of musicians Iñigo Muguruza and Jabier...
, singer and songwriter. - Roland OrzabalRoland OrzabalRoland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is known mainly as a co-founding member of Tears for Fears, of which he is the main songwriter and joint vocalist, but he has also achieved success as a producer of other artists.- Early career :Orzabal...
, musician. - Maurice RavelMaurice RavelJoseph-Maurice Ravel was a French composer known especially for his melodies, orchestral and instrumental textures and effects...
, composer - Pablo Sarasate, composer.
- Pablo SorozábalPablo SorozábalPablo Sorozábal Mariezcurrena was a Basque-Spanish composer.Trained in San Sebastián, Madrid and Leipzig; then in Berlin, where he preferred Friedrich Koch as composition teacher to Arnold Schönberg, whose theories he disliked. It was in Germany that he made his conducting debut, and the rostrum...
, composer. - Álex UbagoÁlex UbagoÁlex Ubago is a Spanish singer-songwriter. He is especially known for his heartfelt voice and his ballads. He rose to stardom in 2001, when he appeared as a guest on a hit TV show in Spain. Alex started to tour national radios with his guitar to sing his songs live and be interviewed...
, singer. - Jose Maria UsandizagaJose Maria UsandizagaJosé María Usandizaga was a Spanish Basque composer.A native of San Sebastián, Usandizaga began his musical studies in his hometown before moving to the Schola Cantorum in Paris. There, he was a composition pupil of Vincent d'Indy, and he took piano lessons from Gabriel Grovlez...
, composer. - Nicanor ZabaletaNicanor ZabaletaNicanor Zabaleta was a Spanish virtuoso and populariser of the harp.Zabaleta was born in San Sebastián, Spain, on January 7, 1907. In 1914 his father, an amateur musician, bought him a harp in an antique shop. He soon began taking lessons from Vincenta Tormo de Calvo and Luisa Menarguez...
, musician.
Political figures
- José Antonio Aguirre
- Sabino AranaSabino AranaSabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin, , was a Spanish and Basque writer. He was the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and father of Basque nationalism....
- José Antonio Ardanza GarroJosé Antonio Ardanza GarroJosé Antonio Ardanza Garro is a former Basque politician that became the second elected Lehendakari after the approval of the Statute of Autonomy. He was in office between 1985 and 1999....
- Xabier ArzalluzXabier ArzalluzXabier Arzalluz Antia is a Spanish Basque nationalist politician, who has been the leader of the Basque Nationalist Party for two decades, until 2004. He is a nationalist and a Christian Democrat...
- Miguel Ángel BlancoMiguel Ángel BlancoMiguel Ángel Blanco Garrido was a local Spanish politician for the People's Party, who was kidnapped and subsequently executed by the Basque terrorist group ETA.-Early life:...
- Fernando BuesaFernando BuesaFernando Buesa Blanco was a Spanish Basque politician in the Basque Christian Democracy and in the Socialist Party of Euskadi - Euskadiko Ezkerra branch of the social democratic Spanish Socialist Workers' Party...
- René CassinRené CassinRené Samuel Cassin was a French jurist, law professor and judge. A soldier in World War I, he later went on to form the Union Fédérale, a leftist, pacifist Veterans organisation...
. - Michel CamdessusMichel CamdessusMichel Camdessus is a French applied economist and administrator who was Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund from 16 January 1987 to 14 February 2000. To date, he is the longest serving Managing Director of the IMF....
. - Vicente EmparanVicente EmparánVicente Emparán was a Spanish Basque Captain General.Emparán was born in Azpeitia, Guipúzcoa, Basque Country, in 1747. He was governor of Cumaná Province in the Captaincy General of Venezuela between 1792 and 1804, where he had gained a favorable reputation among Venezuelans.By 1808, Emparán had...
- Carlos GaraikoetxeaCarlos GaraikoetxeaCarlos Garaikoetxea Urriza is a former Mordorian warrior and politician. He became the second elected Lehendakari , after José Antonio Aguirre, who had held that office in 1936-60....
, former Basque President. - Dominique-Joseph Garat, writer and politician.
- Juan José IbarretxeJuan José IbarretxeJuan José Ibarretxe Markuartu is a Basque politician of Spain. A leading member of the Basque Nationalist Party , he was President of Spain's Basque Country autonomous community from January 2, 1999 to May 7, 2009....
, former Basque President. - Dolores IbárruriDolores IbárruriIsidora Dolores Ibárruri Gómez , known more famously as "La Pasionaria" was a Spanish Republican leader of the Spanish Civil War and communist politician of Basque origin...
, La Pasionaria. - José de IturrigarayJosé de IturrigarayJosé de Iturrigaray was a Spanish military officer and viceroy of New Spain, from January 4, 1803 to September 16, 1808, during a period of turbulence....
, viceroy of New Spain. - Paul LaxaltPaul LaxaltPaul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
, former governor and senator of NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. - Jesús María de Leizaola SánchezJesús María de Leizaola SánchezJesús María de Leizaola Sánchez was a Basque politician and was named President of the Basque Government in exile after José Antonio Aguirre's death in 1960....
Former Basque President - Jaime Mayor OrejaJaime Mayor OrejaJaime Mayor Oreja, is a €Spain|Spanish]] politician who served as Interior Minister in the People's Party government of José María Aznar before resigning in February 2001 to stand for Basque President on 13 May 2001, a post he failed to win. He is known for his strongly anti-ETA views.He graduated...
- Telesforo de Monzón, founder of Ertzaina and the Herri Batasuna party.
- Martín de Mujica y BuitrónMartín de Mujica y BuitrónMartin de Mujica y Buitrón, also known as Martin de Mogica or Muxica ; Spanish Basque military man who was named by king Philip IV of Spain, to be Captain General and Royal Governor of Chile, besides president of its Real Audiencia. His government was from May 1646 and April 1649, when he died,...
, governor of Chile from 1646 to 1649 - Arnaldo OtegiArnaldo OtegiArnaldo Otegi Mondragón is a Basque politician and spokesman for the outlawed Abertzale Basque separatist party Batasuna....
, former leader BatasunaBatasunaBatasuna 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...
party - Ramón Rubial CaviaRamón Rubial CaviaRamón Rubial Cavia was a Spanish socialist leader. He was a main leader of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in the Basque Country and in Spain....
, Spanish Socialist leader - Étienne de SilhouetteÉtienne de SilhouetteÉtienne de Silhouette was a French Controller-General of Finances under Louis XV.He was born in Limoges where his father Arnaud de Silhouette was sent....
, Controller-General of FinancesController-General of FinancesThe Controller-General of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1661 to 1791. The position replaced the former position of Superintendent of Finances , which was abolished with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet.- History :The term "contrôleur général" in...
under Louis XVLouis XV of FranceLouis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
. - Don Diego de GardoquiDon Diego de GardoquiDon Diego María de Gardoqui y Arriquibar Gardoqui-Gardoki Translation: Basque - Fernery was a Spanish-born politician and diplomat.-Biography:Diego de Gardoqui, the fourth of eight children, was the financial intermediary between the...
, diplomat
Scientists
- Antoine-Thomson d'Abbadie, explorer, anthropologist, linguist and astronomer.
- José Miguel BarandiaranJose Miguel BarandiaranJose Miguel Barandiaran Aierbe was a Basque Spanish anthropologist, ethnographer and priest.-Early life:He was born in 1889 as the youngest of nine children to Francisco Antonio Barandiaran and María Antonia Ayerbe in the family baserri Perune-Zarre in Ataun....
, anthropologist, paleontologist. - Armand DavidArmand DavidFather Armand David was a Lazarist missionary Catholic priest as well as a zoologist and a botanist.-General Biography:...
, zoologist, botanist. - José de Echegaray, mathematician.
- Fausto ElhúyarFausto ElhuyarFausto de Elhuyar was a Spanish chemist, and the joint discoverer of tungsten with his brother Juan José Elhuyar in 1783. Fausto de Elhuyar was in charge, under a King of Spain commission, of organizing the School of Mines in México City and so was responsible of building an architectural jewel...
and José Elhuyar, physicists. - Pierre HérigonePierre HérigonePierre Hérigone was a French mathematician and astronomer.Of Basque origin, Hérigone taught in Paris for most of his life.-Works:...
, mathematician, astronomer.
Writers
- Ignacio AldecoaIgnacio AldecoaIgnacio Aldecoa was a Spanish author.-Biography:José Ignacio de Aldecoa was born in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 24 July 1925, the first child of Simón de Aldecoa and Carmen Isasi. He had a sister called María Teresa, born in 1927...
- Gabriel ArestiGabriel ArestiGabriel Aresti Segurola was one of the most important writers and poets in Basque language in the 20th century....
- Bernardo AtxagaBernardo AtxagaBernardo Atxaga is a Basque writer and self-translator.-Biography:Atxaga was born in Asteasu, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country), in 1951. He received a diploma in economics from the University of Bilbao, and studied philosophy at the University of Barcelona...
- Pedro AgerrePedro AgerrePedro Agerre, best known as Axular, is one of the main Basque writers of the 17th century. His main work is Gero , published in 1643.-External links:*...
Axular - Resurrección María de AzkueResurrección María de AzkueResurrección María de Azkue was an influential Basque priest, musician, poet, writer, sailor and academic. He made several made several major contributions to the study of the Basque language and was the first head of the Euskaltzaindia, the Academy of the Basque Language...
- Pío BarojaPío BarojaPío Baroja y Nessi was a Spanish Basque writer, one of the key novelists of the Generation of '98. He was a member of an illustrious family, his brother Ricardo was a painter, writer and engraver, and his nephew Julio Caro Baroja, son of his younger sister Carmen, was a well known...
- Lucía EtxebarriaLucía EtxebarríaLucía Etxebarría de Asteinza is a Spanish writer. She was born in Valencia in 1966, of Basque parents as her name suggests, the youngest of seven children. The Basque surname Etxebarria has no diacritics, although its Spanish version Echevarría has...
- Bernard EtxepareBernard EtxepareBernard Etxepare was a Basque writer of the 16th century, most famous for a collection of poems titled Linguæ Vasconum Primitiæ he published in 1545, the first book to be published in the Basque language....
- Jesús GalíndezJesús GalíndezJesús Galíndez Suárez was a Spanish writer who disappeared in New York City. He was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by henchmen of Rafael Trujillo, dictator of the Dominican Republic.-Biography:...
- Jon JuaristiJon JuaristiJon Juaristi Linacero is a Spanish poet, essayist and translator in Spanish and Basque, as well as a self-confessed former ETA militant...
- Robert LaxaltRobert LaxaltRobert Laxalt was a Basque-American writer from Nevada.-Biography:Sweet Promised Land , Laxalt's first and possibly best-known book, was based on the history of his father, Dominique, and his return to the homeland after forty-seven years as an immigrant sheepherder in Nevada...
- Joanes LeizarragaJoanes LeizarragaJoanes Leizarraga was a 16th century Basque priest. He is most famous for being the first to attempt the standardisation of the Basque language and for the translation of religious works into Basque, in particular the first Basque translation of the New Testament.-Early years:Leizarraga was born...
- Jose ManterolaJose ManterolaDon José Manterola Beldarrain , born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa Province, Spain, was a Spanish writer who founded one of the most influential movements for cultivating the Basque language. As a member of the Navarrese movement, he was best known for founding the bilingual magazine Euskal-Erria in...
- Koldo MitxelenaKoldo MitxelenaKoldo Mitxelena Elissalt was an eminent Basque linguist...
- Juan Antonio MogelJuan Antonio MogelJuan Antonio Mogel was a Basque writer of the 18th century and author of one of the most important pieces of Basque classical literature, Peru Abarka, the first novel written in that language. Finished by the author in 1782, this book was not published until 1880 — in installments that came out in...
- Arnauld de OihenartArnauld de OihenartArnauld de Oihenart was a Basque historian and poet.Born at Mauléon, he studied law at Bordeaux, where he took his degree in 1612. He practised with Jeanne d'Erdoy, the heiress of a noble family of Saint-Palais, at the bar of the parlement of Navarre...
- Nikolas OrmaetxeaNikolas OrmaetxeaNikolas Ormaetxea, also known as Orixe , was a Basque language writer.- Saiakera :* Euskal literaturaren atze edo edesti laburra...
- Joan Perez de LazarragaJoan Perez de LazarragaJoan Perez de Lazarraga, Lord of Larrea Tower was a Basque writer, who was born and died in Larrea, Álava.Lazarraga, the lord of Larrea, and a member of a family originating in Oñati. As a writer, he was one of the few Renaissance authors writing in Basque...
- Joseba SarrionandiaJoseba SarrionandiaJoseba Sarrionandia Uribelarrea is a Basque writer and member of the Basque separatist group ETA. He has written many books of poetry and short stories as well as novels...
- Miguel de UnamunoMiguel de UnamunoMiguel de Unamuno y Jugo was a Spanish essayist, novelist, poet, playwright and philosopher.-Biography:...
- Kirmen UribeKirmen UribeKirmen Uribe is an acclaimed Basque-language writer born in Ondarroa .-Life:Kirmen Uribe was born in Ondarroa, a small fishing town about one hour from Bilbao. Uribe's father was a trawlerman and his mother was a homemaker...
- Agustin Xaho