Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País
Encyclopedia
The Royal Basque Society of Friends of the Country (in basque
Euskalerriaren Adiskideen Elkartea and in castillian
Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País) also known as La Bascongada or Bascongada Society was born in the XVIII century to promote the cientific, cultural and economical development of the Basque Country.
The founding members were the Knights of Azcoitia or the Triumvirate of Azcoitia, under the encouragement of Xavier María de Munibe e Idiáquez
, count of Peñaflorida, José María de Eguía marquis of Narros, and the encyclopedist and enlightenment scholar Manuel Ignacio Altuna. The draft of its constitution was drafted in 1763 in Vergara
and approved in 1765. It was the first society of this sort both in the Basque Country, and in Spain
, and soon afterward such societies spread to all of Spain, and the New World.
. Literary activity was conducted by Félix María de Samaniego
and others.
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
Euskalerriaren Adiskideen Elkartea and in castillian
Castilian Spanish
Castilian Spanish is a term related to the Spanish language, but its exact meaning can vary even in that language. In English Castilian Spanish usually refers to the variety of European Spanish spoken in north and central Spain or as the language standard for radio and TV speakers...
Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País) also known as La Bascongada or Bascongada Society was born in the XVIII century to promote the cientific, cultural and economical development of the Basque Country.
The founding members were the Knights of Azcoitia or the Triumvirate of Azcoitia, under the encouragement of Xavier María de Munibe e Idiáquez
Xavier María de Munibe e Idiáquez
Xavier María de Munibe e Idiáquez, Conde de Peñaflorida , was an important figure of Enlightenment Spain...
, count of Peñaflorida, José María de Eguía marquis of Narros, and the encyclopedist and enlightenment scholar Manuel Ignacio Altuna. The draft of its constitution was drafted in 1763 in Vergara
Vergara
-Places:As a place name, it is an older spelling of Bergara, a town in Gipuzkoa, Spain.* Vergara, Uruguay* Vergara, Cundinamarca, Colombia-People:It is also a Basque surname :* Federico Bergara, Uruguayan footballer...
and approved in 1765. It was the first society of this sort both in the Basque Country, and in 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 soon afterward such societies spread to all of Spain, and the New World.
Importance for the arts, literature and culture
In music the Society sponsored the work of composer José de LarrañagaJosé de Larrañaga
Fray José de Larrañaga was a Franciscan monk, organist, maestro de capilla of the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, composer, and active in the Basque musical and cultural movement of the 18th Century.-Life:...
. Literary activity was conducted by Félix María de Samaniego
Felix Maria de Samaniego
Félix María de Samaniego , born and died in Laguardia, Álava, in the Basque Country, was a Spanish neoclassical fabulist, educated at Valladolid...
and others.
Historical members or "friends"
- Pablo de OlavidePablo de OlavidePablo de Olavide y Jáuregui was a Spanish politician, lawyer and writer.He was born in a rich and influential creole Liman family and studied at the San Marcos University of Lima. He hold the doctorate in Theology in 1740 and the degree of Law in 1742...
(1725 – 1803), politician, lawyer and writer - José de LarrañagaJosé de LarrañagaFray José de Larrañaga was a Franciscan monk, organist, maestro de capilla of the Sanctuary of Arantzazu, composer, and active in the Basque musical and cultural movement of the 18th Century.-Life:...
(1728 - 1806), Franciscan monk and composer. - Félix María de SamaniegoFelix Maria de SamaniegoFélix María de Samaniego , born and died in Laguardia, Álava, in the Basque Country, was a Spanish neoclassical fabulist, educated at Valladolid...
(1745 – 1801), neoclassical fabulist. - Valentin de ForondaValentin de ForondaValentin de Foronda y González de Echávarri, , was Spanish General Consul in Philadelphia from 1801 to 1807 and Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister in the U.S.A...
y González de Echávarri (1751 – 1821), Spanish General Consul in Philadelphia from 1801 to 1807 and Spanish Plenipotentiary Minister in the U.S.A. from 1807 to 1809 - Fausto ElhuyarFausto 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...
(1755 – 1833), chemist, and the joint discoverer of tungsten with his brother Juan José Elhuyar in 1783
Organisation Today
- Director: - José María Urkia Etxabe, teacher of history of medicineHistory of medicineAll human societies have medical beliefs that provide explanations for birth, death, and disease. Throughout history, illness has been attributed to witchcraft, demons, astral influence, or the will of the gods...
at the University of the Basque CountryUniversity of the Basque CountryThe University of the Basque Country is the only public university in the Basque Country, in Northern Spain... - President of the commission of AlavaÁlavaÁlava 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...
: - Fernando Salazar Rodríguez de Mendarózqueta, lawyer - President of the commission of Biscaya: - Xabier Orue-Etxebarria Urkitza, professor of GeologyGeologyGeology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
at the University of the Basque CountryUniversity of the Basque CountryThe University of the Basque Country is the only public university in the Basque Country, in Northern Spain... - President of the commission of GuipuscoaGuipuscoaGipuzkoa 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...
: - José María Urkia Etxabe - President of the delegation in the courts: - Iñigo Yrizar Velasco
- President of the delegation in MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
: - Jose Maria Basagoiti