Sociedad, poblamiento y poder en las fronteras de Navarra con Castilla durante la Edad Media: las pueblas de Burunda y Araquil

Abstract

Burunda and Araquil are two regions located in the North West of the Autonomous Community of Navarra. During the Middle Ages, this area represen­ted the border between the reign of Navarra and the neighbouring valleys of Guipuzcoa and Alava that belonged, politically, to the Crown of Castilla. The frequent conflicts between both monarchies who resorted to banditry at a moment when shortages and social tensions had already begun to become evident, led the administration of Navarra to try to found three new villages by mid XIVth century. Villadefensa and Villafuerte (Burunda) did not really fit, which was not the case of Villa de Huarte (Araquil) who managed to adapt. The populating organization was strongly modified, but the resistance of the village communities to the claims of the political power of Navarra is perfectly registered in the documents we keep.