Iñaki Lopez de Luzuriaga
20-8-2018, ZUZEU.
Abstract:
We have just celebrated the 778 Battle of Roncevaux Pass on 15 August, a national lieu de memoire since the late 19th century for the French, where the victors, the Basques, were alienated and replaced by the Sarracens, a narrative adopted by the French authorities for its inclusion in academy and compulsory secondary school following the 1871 French defeat in the Prussian War. It would become a rallying point and epopee for the rising French republic, its expansion to Algeria, and one of is compelling national symbols.
The Spanish took good note of French state-building, focusing on their own historic landmarks, coming up with or reviving such religious icons as Santiago the Moorslayer, the Reconquista (alleged ‘reconquest’ of Spain), which would re-assert the national continuity and awareness of Spanishness since the Visigothic Kingdom based on war and death. The nationalist Spanish regime emerging from the 2nd Carlist War sealed its national-catholic ideology with new, artificial wars in Africa (starting 1859-1860) that would involve the Basques in the killing and undermine their remaining autonomy, for the sake of Spanish ‘solidarity’ and equality.
