Editing Guernica (section)

==History==
===1366-1936===
The town of Guernica was founded by [[Tello Alfonso]], Lord of Biscay, on April 28, 1366, at the intersection of the road from [[Bermeo]] to [[Durango, Biscay|Durango]] with the road from [[Bilbao]] to [[Elantxobe]] and [[Lekeitio]]. The strategic importance of the site was increased by the fact that it lay on a major river estuary, where vessels could dock at the port of Suso.

In time, it took on the typical shape of a [[Basques|Basque]] town, comprising a series of parallel streets (Goienkale, Azokekale, Artekale and Barrenkale; respectively: ‘upper, market, between, lower roads’) and a transverse street called Santa María, with a church at each end of the built-up area.

Life in the town became rigidly structured, with the aim being to preserve the privileges of the dominant middle classes. This pattern continued practically unaltered until the late 17th century.

On a small [[hillock]] in the town, stands the Meeting House and the [[Gernikako Arbola|Tree of Gernika]]. By ancient tradition, [[Basques]], and indeed other peoples in medieval Europe, held assemblies under a tree, usually an oak, to discuss matters affecting the community.

In Biscay, each administrative district (known as a [[merindad]]) had its appointed tree, but over the centuries, the Tree of Guernica acquired particular importance. It stood in the parish of Lumo, on a site known as Gernikazarra, beside a small shrine.

The laws of Biscay continued to be drawn up under this tree until 1876, with each town and village in the province sending two representatives to the sessions, known as [[Juntas Generales|General Assemblies]]. This early form of democracy was recorded by the philosopher [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau|Rousseau]], by the poet [[William Wordsworth]], by the dramatist [[Tirso de Molina]] and by the composer Iparragirre, who wrote the piece called [[Gernikako Arbola (anthem)|Gernikako Arbola]] ("The Tree of Gernika" in Basque).

When the Domain of Biscay was incorporated into the [[kingdom of Castile]], the [[List of Castilian monarchs|king of Castile]] visited Guernica and swore an oath under the Tree promising to uphold the ''fueros'' or local laws of Biscay. The oath of [[Ferdinand II of Aragon|King Ferdinand]], known as the "Catholic Monarch", on June 30, 1476, is depicted in a painting by {{ill|Francisco de Mendieta|es|Francisco_de Mendieta y Retes}} popularly known as "''El besamanos''" ("The Royal audience"). On July 3, 1875, during the [[Carlist Wars]], the pretender to the throne, [[Infante Carlos, Count of Molina|Don Carlos]], also visited Guernica and swore the oath. Throughout the 19th century, there were frequent meetings under the Tree, including both General Assemblies and other political events.

By the 18th century, there was a square at the centre of the town, flanked by the town hall, a public [[gaol]] housing prisoners from all over the [[Lordship of Biscay]], a hospital and a poor-house for local people. Day-to-day life comprised agriculture (growing of cereals, vegetable and fruit), crafts (menders, tailors, cobblers, flax manufacturers) and trade (transportation and sale of goods and produce).

This was also a time of continual conflicts with the neighbouring parish of Lumo over disputed land. These disputes were not finally settled until 1882, when the two parishes joined to form Gernika-Lumo.

The first industrial factories were set up in the early years of the 20th century. This encouraged population growth, and the town grew from 4,500 inhabitants in 1920 to 6,000 in 1936.{{citation needed|date= January 2024}}

===Civil War: 1937 bombing===
{{Main|Bombing of Guernica}}

On April 26, 1937, during the [[Spanish Civil War]], Guernica was the scene of a massive aerial [[bombing of Guernica|bombing attack]] by the [[Condor Legion]] of [[Nazi Germany]]'s ''[[Luftwaffe]]'' and the Italian [[Aviazione Legionaria]].<ref>{{Cite web |title= Eighty years later, the Nazi war crime in Guernica still matters |date= 2017-04-27 |website=[[The Independent]] |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/news/long_reads/nazi-war-crime-guernica-80-anniversary-bombing-spain-picasso-hitler-franco-a7704916.html |access-date= 2020-01-03}}</ref> According to official Basque figures, 1,654 civilians were killed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.euskadi.eus/contenidos/ds_localizaciones/bombardeos_guerra_civil/opendata/bombardeos-guerra-civil.xlsx|title=Bombings in Basque Country (Workbook)|website=Euskadi.eus (Basque Government website)|language=es|access-date=2020-01-01}}</ref><ref name="hl" /> The raid was requested by [[Francisco Franco]] to aid in his overthrowing the [[Lehendakari|Basque Government]] and the [[Second Spanish Republic|Spanish Republican]] government.  The town was devastated, though the Biscayan assembly and the Oak of Guernica survived. The Bombing of Guernica, which went on continuously for three hours, is considered the beginning of the Luftwaffe doctrine of [[Strategic bombing#The term "terror bombing"|terror bombing]] civilian targets in order to demoralize the enemy.<ref name="hl">{{Cite web|url=https://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/modern-world-history-1918-to-1980/the-spanish-civil-war/guernica/|title=Guernica|website=History Learning Site|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-01-03}}</ref>

====In art====
[[Pablo Picasso]] painted his [[Guernica (Picasso)|''Guernica'' painting]] to commemorate the horrors of the bombing and [[René Iché]] made a violent sculpture the day after the bombing. It has inspired musical compositions by [[Octavio Vazquez]] (''Gernika'' [[piano trio]]), [[René-Louis Baron]], [[Lenny White]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvuczorc32U| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/Vvuczorc32U| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|title=Guernica|website=YouTube| date=23 January 2017|access-date=2021-02-06}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[Mike Batt]] (performed by [[Katie Melua]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Katie Melua - Market Day in Guernica lyrics |url=https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/28495682/Market+day+in+Guernica }}</ref> and poems by [[Paul Eluard]] (''Victory of Guernica''), and [[Uys Krige]] (''Nag van die Fascistiese Bomwerpers''; English translation from the [[Afrikaans]]: ''[[Night of the Fascist Bombers]]''). There is also a short film from 1950, by [[Alain Resnais]], titled ''[[Guernica (1950 film)|Guernica]]''.

Celebrations were staged in 1966 to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of the town. As part of these celebrations, a statue of [[Tello Alfonso|Count Tello]], made by local sculptor [[Agustín Herranz]], was set up in the [[Fueros Square]].

===21st century===
As of 2009, Gernika-Lumo had 16,244 inhabitants. It is a town with a prosperous service sector, and is also home to industrial companies, as well as good cultural and educational amenities.