Gernikako Arbola
the Tree of Gernika
Gernikako Arbola ('the Tree of Gernika' in Basque) is an oak tree that symbolizes traditional freedoms for the Biscayan people, and by extension for the Basque people as a whole.
It is located in Gernika, Biscay, Basque Country, Spain.
The Lords of Biscay (including kings of Castile and Carlist pretenders to the throne) swore to respect the Biscayan liberties under it, and the modern Lehendakari of the Basque Country swears his charge there.
Dynasty
In the Middle Ages, representatives of the villages of Biscay would hold assemblies under local big trees. As time passed, the role of separate assemblies was superseded by the Guernica Assembly in 1512, and its oak would acquire a symbolic meaning, with actual assemblies being held in a purpose-built hermitage-house (the current building dates from 1833). The Spanish regent Maria Christina, accompanied by her infant daughter Queen Isabella II, was the last Spanish monarch to swear an oath to the charters under the iconic oak in 1839.
The known specimens form a dynasty:
"the father", planted in the 14th century, lasted 450 years
the "old tree" (1742–1892), re-planted in 1811. The trunk now is held in a templet in the surrounding garden.
the third (1858–2004), re-planted in 1860, survived the Bombing of Guernica in 1937 but had to be replaced because of a fungus. The gardeners of the Biscayan government keep several spare trees grown from the tree's acorns.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Gernikako Arbola” is the Tree of Gernika. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Gernikako, Arbola and Tree, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “the Tree of Gernika” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Vocabulary and entity names are the principal evidence signals here, because they determine the precision of every later search. The source revision retrieved here is dated Jun 19, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q919957. Authority coordinates are 43.315, -2.680. None of the 1 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1512, 1833, 1839 and 1742.
A concise general-reference account can conceal disagreements about scope, terminology or the weight assigned to individual sources. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Gernikako Arbola”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Gernikako Arbola primary sources, Gernikako Arbola archive and Gernikako research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Gernikako Arbola”?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
- Which cited source is closest to the event, object or claim?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Gernikako Arbola” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.