Set up as an Autonomous Community under Organic Law 3/1979, December 18th, B.O.E. (Official State Gazette), 22.12.79.

The Basque Country does not enter history until the 8th century, when different peoples are mentioned until the year 1200. However, the Basque Country was settled long before, since the first signs of human activity in the area appear during the Palaeolithic.

During the time of Roman rule, the Basque Country remained outside the range of influence of their incursions and was only really noticeable g with any intensity in the south of the area. Something similar happened at the later date with the Muslim invasion. The domination of the Visigoths led to the creation of a duchy in Aquitanie, which paid tribute to the Franks until the beginning of the Reconquest.

Up to the year 1200, when the three Basque provinces were finally incorporated into the Kingdom of Castile, they alternated between neighbouring monarchies, and were linked, depending on the historial moment, to the kingdom of Navarre on the one hand, or to Asturias or later Castile on the other.

As a result of the conflict arising from the succession to the Spanish Throne in 1700, the Basque provinces were the only ones which, together with Navarre, preserved their charters and institutions. This special situation prompted the spread among the people of the territory of a consciousness of a special identity, of belonging to a setting with institutions of its own and a separate regime. These elements, added to the possession of a lenguage of their own, have resulted throughout the Modern Era in a consciousness of mutual affinity and a penchant for particularism.

The Carlist War which spread through the Basque Country from 1833 until 1839 revived the question of local charters. This regime was finally abolished in 1876, although in February 1878 a financial arrangement was instituted which remained in force until the time of the Civil War, except in Alava. Subsequently it was rertored and has continued to exist right up to present time.