HISTORY OF THE VALLEY

The first written news, in the Middle Ages
The oldest documentary references on the Egüés Valley date back to the 11C, during the high Middle Ages, a period which generally speaking includes the 5C to the 13C, and is characterised by the formation and development of feudalism. From these references we can deduce something very important: this geographic area was amongst the economic, social and administrative foundations of the primitive monarchy of Pamplona.

Around 1032, all the property of the cathedral of Pamplona was restored to it by Sancho III "The Great". From the 10th Century onwards, this property had been gradually passed over to laymen, in particular the city of Pamplona, the limits of the bishopric were indicated and the property pertaining to it. Thus, in the Egüés Valley "in Mendillorri a plot of agricultural land below the town, and vineyards.. in Badostain, a plot of land... and in the suburb of Huarte, in the village called Alzuza, vineyards and in Huarte itself, in the king's mill they call Athea Athea, two turns for milling". The text, originally written in Latin and conserved in the archives of the Pamplona Cathedral, is not only of interest due to its age, putting us in the first half of the 11 Century and at the time when the Pamplona monarchy was at its height, with Sancho III, but also because it offers us a clear image of the organisation and social and economic development of the Egüés Valley at such an early date. It is therefore worthwhile looking at it carefully, in order to try and unravel the realities it holds.

It should be emphasised in the first place that if at the start of the 11Century we can observe a well-developed economic exploitation of this area, due to its very close position to the city of Pamplona, and its favourable geographic conditions for agricultural development. It would therefore not be at all preposterous to take human occupation and economic exploitation even further back, at least to the start of the Pamplona monarchy and its first territorial expansion in the 8th and 9th centuries. The actual toponymy existing in the valley supports this hypothesis. Place names composed of an anthroponym or name of a person and a termination in -ana, -ano -in and -ain usually reveal the properties of those persons, areas in which a more intense agricultural colonisation was carried out. In the case of the Egüés Valley there is a toponym, Badostain, that would indicate the existence of a former property, although in this case the anthroponym is not identified.

This document we are dealing with is, really, a donation of real estate that passes from the King to the Church of Santa María, a diocese occupied during these years by the abbots of Leire, who acted as bishops of the diocese. There is no doubt that the valley constituted an important patrimonial nucleus of the first monarchy of Navarre, being used by the monarchs to strengthen the economic position of a diocese that they wanted to centralise in Pamplona.

Likewise, the significance of some of the terms that we can see in the document is also very illuminating. Let us begin with the word "Villa". Both Mendillori and Alzuza are called "Villas", which is understood to be an agricultural exploitation that includes a small residence where the people responsible for the work live, some buildings for grain and the ploughing equipment, and an undetermined extension of cultivable land. "Tierra" is above all, the area devoted to cereal which appears in the valley associated to another pillar of the rural economy, the vineyards. The term "Serna" has two principal meanings: it can be an extensive cultivation area, with large ploughed lands, normally dedicated to cereal, pertaining to a specific family, community or village and complementary to the agriculture exploitation. It can also be understood to be obligatory work on the lord's land by the peasant. In the context in which it appears here, it almost certainly refers to the cultivable land since the other words are also linked to farming methods and not to social relations. The cereal exploitation of the valley is also clearly shown by the existence of a mill with its own name (Atea), pertaining to the King although we don't know whether he actually had it built or acquired it at a later date. However, it is true that he cedes part of his rights to Santa María of Pamplona in the form of two "times" or "turns" to use it, thereby becoming a shared property. In time these hydraulic mills became a key element of social domination, the peasants were forbidden to build mills and forced to take their grain to the lord's mill. Finally we should point out that the "suburb" of Huarte is mentioned in which the "villa" of Alzuza is located. In the period of the 11 Century this word, like the one used before as a synonym, "alfoz" or district designated the basic territorial constituency making up an earldom or kingdom, in this case the kingdom of Pamplona, often headed by a settlement, Huarte. The rest of the Egüés Valley does not appear to have formed part of this suburb, since otherwise all the properties detailed in the document would have referred to it. At present, we do not have detailed information of the administrative organisation of the whole of the Pamplona kingdom during this period.

Some years later, in 1063, Sancho IV "the one from Peñalén" granted Santa María of Pamplona the monastery of Santa Gema with all its properties. Amongst the witnesses to this act, appeared "Senior" Lupo Fortuñones, who ruled Huarte. In a further donation, which took place in 1071, the "tenente" of Huarte was Garcea Acenariz; between 1086 and 1093, Fortunio Sanz; between 1096 and 1117, Semeno Fortuñones. In the area of feudal relations, the "tenencia" or tenure meant a regime whereby a "senior" possessed specific lands, either by royal delegation of by delegation of another high authority, and this involved military control, civil administration and sharing the income with that authority. As we have just mentioned that Huarte constituted a primitive territorial district, here we have the people who governed it by royal delegation.

We have already pointed out the important presence in the valley of the king's authority, shared with the cathedral of Pamplona. The last few years of the 11 Century and the first few of the 12C saw the appearance of new feudal powers, with the monastery of San Salvador of Leire playing the leading role. This expansion of Leire continued the dispersion in Spain of the reforming monastic order of Cluny, which is related to Romanesque art, promoted in Spain from the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña (Jaca) by Sancho III, the Great. According to the historian, Luis Javier FORTUN, the period between 1083 - 1134 corresponds to the great expansion of the monastery of Leire from the Lumbier-Aoiz river valley, to that of Pamplona through the valleys of Egüés and Elorz. The amount and nature of the properties donated in that area to Leire over this period, either by kings or by small local noblemen, grew considerably. This implantation is largely explained by the incorporation into Leire in 1087 of the patrimony of the monastery of Larrasoaña. In the Egüés Valley the monks developed a close-woven network of property, distributed in nine places: Azpa, Badostain, Echálaz, Egüés, Elcano, Gorraiz, Huarte, Ibiricu and Sagaseta. Except in Echálaz, where only a vineyard was obtained (1086), in the remaining localities the properties of Larrasoaña served as a platform to obtain new donations as we will now explain. The abbot, Aznar de Larrasoaña had ceded his properties in Murugarren to the bishop Fortún de Alava (1067 - 1087) in exchange for the ones the latter possessed in Badostain. In 1098 a priest from Badostain, Garcia Enecones, became part of the order of the monastery of San Salvador. He came from an aristocratic family that owned a palace and other landed property. In order not to deprive his brothers of the family property, he merely gave the monastery various properties: a vineyard located at Zalduondoa, of 15 arinzadas (13,476 m2); six plots for sowing, with a total of 20,5 arrobadas (18,418 m2), located in Ardui, Zabala, Escóriz, Erpidea and Iturribidea; and a new vat with a capacity of 50 cocas (9,416 litres). His nephews, Gómiz and García Blasco, did the same. Gómez who was a priest like his uncle, donated two plots and a vineyard in one place; in 1110 García promised a vineyard at Cirueta, to be donated after his death. Also in 1110, Aznar Arceiz of Mutiloa, another local "infanzón" (member of the small nobility) gave his palace and the resulting landed property, which included the nearby church of Morea, as well as a newly planted vineyard in Sarasa. The church of Morea can be identified with the hermitage of Santa María, located half a kilometre away to the Northeast of Badostain, although the present construction is 13C.

The multiplying effect of the possessions of Larrasoaña was also noted in San Martín of Azpa and in Huarte. In 1090, Doña Toda of Huarte gave Leire the monastery of San Esteban of Huarte, which was an "iglesi propia", that is a private church created by a private individual who names the abbot or priest to run it and benefit from its income. This monastery was served by three priests and had managed to gather together much land. It also had turns in the royal mills of Atea, mentioned above, as well as in those of Balbea and Ezpeleta and it had the right to obtain on a daily basis in the hills of Begeriz and Beola, enough firewood to load onto two beasts. It extended its patrimony to the neighbouring places and it completely owned the "villa" of San Martín of Azpa.

In 1087, Lope Osandóiz gave the Larrasoaña monastery a landed property in Elcano, more land and vineyards in Ibiricu and another vineyard in Echálaz. In 1099, a certain Doña Crisinda gave her body and sole to Leire, promising that after her death it would receive the palace and landed property she possessed in Elcano; in the meantime, she would pay annually one tenth of the benefits derived from such landed property. Her legacy also included two "mezquinos" in Sagaseta, which would annually give the same ground rent. The properties of the Egüés monastery were also important: through San Esteban de Huarte, in 1090 a vineyard was obtained, plus two vineyards, two orchards and grazing land at Eguilucea, attached to the landed property obtained in Gorraiz in 1102. We must emphasise the word "mezquinos", since it alludes to the social group with the lowest legal condition: rural serfs attached to the land, who are purchased, sold or donated with the land and they work it for their lord, to whom they give a ground rent, normally in kind, and perform other services.

The result of the monastery of Leire's policy of acquiring property in the Egüés Valley is important and qualitatively complex: a "villa", a monastery, a church, 10 landed properties, 9 plots of land, 11 vineyards, 3 orchards, a vat or wine cellar, two milling turns, grazing land and the use of two hills. Large properties were not exclusively given, instead there was an abundance of scattered properties of a reduced size.

In 1093, Sancho Ramírez granted the monastery of Montearagón, amongst many other properties, the tenth part of the lands, vineyards, orchards and royal mills of Huarte.

At this point we can draw certain conclusions. Occupied at an early date, possibly in the years close to the founding of Pamplona, the Egüés Valley formed part of the territorial administrative organisation of the primitive medieval kingdom, with an important occupation of the area, a notable human and agricultural development. There were many lords, including the monarchy, high and low laic and ecclesiastical nobility, as well as dependants. Throughout the 11C, a great deal passed to the bishopric of Pamplona, and then the end of that century witnessed the arrival of the monks from Leire, who acquired a large part of the valley's resources.

Throughout the 12C, the penetration of lordly powers in the valley continues with the acquisition of properties in different ways. In 1105, Sancha Semenoiz, about to leave on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, gave Santa María of Pamplona, amongst other properties, a vineyard planted in the "Villa" of Alzuza, so that half the income went for her soul and half for that of her sister, Doña Andregoto Semenoiz.

Between 1135 and 1136, Sancho, Bishop of Pamplona, founded and funded the hospital and brotherhood of Roncesvalles. With this same aim, the canons of the cathedral gave Roncesvalles all the churches that were in Huarte, as well as the fourth part of the incomes and the "pedaticum" or toll paid by people and merchandise of the churches of Echálaz and Alzuza.

In 1137, the Pope Inocencio II took the church of Pamplona under his protection and confirmed its privileges and properties, amongst which the "villa" of Huarte is mentioned, of the chaplaincy of the Kings of Navarre. Also that same year, Inocencio II took the hospital of Roncesvalles under his protection, in part endowed by the canons of the cathedral of Pamplona. It including all the churches of the "villa" of Huarte except the tenth part and the rights of the bishop, the fourth part, the toll and the vineyards held by the canons of the cathedral at Echálaz, as well as the toll, the "mezquinos", cathedral lands and vineyards in Alzuza.

On 26th February 1144, another Pope, Celestino II, took the cathedral of Pamplona under his protection, confirming its properties and privileges. In the document, the "villas" of Huarte and Ibiricu are mentioned (the latter associated with Abárzuza and Iranzu). The activity of the Pamplona bishops in relation with the Egüés Valley was continuous. In 1155, the bishop, Lope exchanged with a certain Fortunio the house of Sagüés with its landed property in exchange for a house and landed property in Mendillorri. On 3rd March 1164, Bernado, abbot of San Severo, sold the Asiturri monastery to the cathedral of Pamplona "in the territory of Pamplona", with all its properties, including those that were in Alzuza. Between 1170 and 1180 we have news of the continual settlement within the valley and the extension of the cultivated areas. Thus, Pedro, bishop of Pamplona, gave to Semero Zuría of Alzuza and his wife a plot of land so that they could plant a vineyard there, live there and enclose it on condition that, on their death, the property would return to the hospital of Pamplona. The guarantor for Semero was a certain Juna Lopeyz of Alzuza. The witnesses for that act were Done Sanz, abbot of Huarte, Don García, also abbot of Huarte, Berasco Aceariz of Umea, Sanso Ortiz, Lope Saldayzo, Juan Umea and other residents of Azuza. In 1184, Pedro, bishop of Pamplona, gave to these same people, Semeno and his wife, a house, raised granary and other landed property in Huarte, in exchange for paying each year on the day of San Miguel 7 wages and half of the diezmos or tenth part of the benefits to the person in charge of the hospital of San Miguel. It is specified that the land should be improved by cultivation, should never be divided nor given away by any means. Moreover, the person in charge of the hospital had power in that house and could install vats and make wine.

This multiplicity of lordly powers in the Valley could only cause certain conflicts over property. In April 1197, there was an arbitrary sentence dictated between the bishop of Pamplona and the monastery of Leire, over numerous churches and rights. Amongst others, over the churches of San Esteban of Huarte (the collection of the parish tenth parts was suspended) San martín de Azpa, that went to Leire, and de Ardanaz, that after the death of its abbot went to Leire.

Also, in the 12C there are references to other rich owners in the valley. For example, a certain Semeno de Egüés gave Santa María of Pamplona a vineyard at Mendívil, a wine cellar and vat, 20 cahíces of wheat, 20 cocas of wine, 3 oxen and 3 horses; he ceded to San Esteban of Huarte a vineyard in this place. The country estate he had in Iroz was divided between Santa María of Larrasoaña and San Salvador of Asiturri; to the brotherhood of Burlada he left two cahíces of wheat and two cocas of wine. The rest of his property was distributed amongst his brothers.

There were frequent exchanges of goods between the lords governing the Valley. Between 1200 and 1205 García, bishop of Pamplona, gave Roncesvalles, amongst other properties, a vineyard and a man from Huarte called Domingo Ezquerra with all its belongings. On 23rd May 1202, Martín Pérez, arch deacon of Santa Gema, gave the abbot of San Adrián of Iranzu the "Villa" of Ibiricu with all that the church of Pamplona possessed there, its hills, waters and rights to pass through, in exchange for all that the monastery had in another "villa" called Urbiola. In 1209, the bishop would also donate Urbiola to the monastery.

On 29th April 1203, Inocencio III renewed the apostolic protection his predecessor Inocencio II had granted in May 1137 to the hospital of Roncesvalles. We can use the document to see the list of properties Roncesvalles had in the Egüés Valley : all the churches of Huarte, the fourth part, the toll, the mezquinos, the lands and vineyard of Alzuza. Also, the church of San Esteban and San Pedro of Alzuza with all their properties. In 1223, Don Ramiro, Bishop of Pamplona, gave Sancho VII "The Strong" the "villa" of Huarte with its castle, for the many favours the monarch had shown to the church of Pamplona.

Another papal protection, in April 1237, offered by Gregorio IX to Iranzu, lists the possessions of that monastery: the "villa" and church of Ibiricu, a farm in Olaz, as well as certain mills and possessions in Gorraiz.

On 18th July 1237, the chapter of the cathedral of Pamplona and the rectors of thirteen churches appointed arbiters to decide in a dispute as to the fourth part of the diezmos or tenth parts of the benefits of the mentioned churches. Amongst these were: Juan, abbot of Huarte; Aznar, abbot of Egüés, García , abbot of Gorraiz; Pedro, abbot of Olaz; Lupo, abbot of Elía; Aznar, Abbott of Elcano; García, abbot of Ibiricu. On 10th March 1238, these tenth parts were awarded to the chapter; amongst the witnesses there is a certain Jimeno of Ibiricu, administrator of the cathedral's properties.

During this same period, further information is available that tells us something more about the lives of some of the people born in the valley. For example, in September 1239, Juan de Gorraiz, blacksmith and his wife María sold to Domingo of Marteloiz of Sansoain a house in Pamplona, located behind one of the bathrooms. Therefore, we have an artisan who, although we do not know where he usually lives and works, we do know that he had managed to save sufficient money to invest in real estate in the city, putting him, at least in financial terms, at the same level as the noblemen and rich farmers.

In the 14C, a document of singular importance was prepared, enabling us to discover the structure of the population at that time in the kingdom of Navarre in general and in the Egüés Valley in particular. This is the "Libros de Fuegos" (Books of hearths) of the year 1366, published by professor Juan CARRASCO. This book is a population census created for fiscal purposes, whose objective was to collect throughout the kingdom an extraordinary aid for Carlos II, to the amount of forty thousand florins. It was obligatory for all citizens, regardless of condition, and the basis of the fiscal unit was called "fuego" (hearth) or home. The problem was to calculate exactly the number of people per hearth, since there were great differences in the different historical periods and the different geographical areas, ranging from between 3.5 to 7.5 persons. In the book of 1366, the average tax assigned to be paid for each hearth was 2.5 florins, and the population was divided into four levels according to an estimation of its wealth: some had to pay four, others three, two or even just one florin. From the chapter dedicated to the area of Sanguesa, to which the Egüés Valley belonged, after the Kingdom was divided into areas, we can extract the following data:

From this data, it is easy to see the spatial distribution of the population within the valley, but some other things of interest can also be mentioned. For example, the unusual balance, within the Kingdom as a whole, between the number of labourers' hearths "Pecheros" (taxpayers) and noblemen, that is between people that had to pay the "Pecha" (tax on the land and that had to be paid annually to the lord, either in kind, as money or a combination) and those people pertaining to the nobility, who were proprietors and exempt from paying taxes that were not of an extraordinary nature. It should also be pointed out that there were no Jewish communities, more than likely due to the lack of important urban settlements in the valley and the closeness of the capital, Pamplona, where there was an important Jewish quarter.

In the 15C other documents were drawn up which are relevant for discovering how life was in the valley. Undoubtedly, one of the most important ones is the one referring to Egulbati. This place pertained to the Monastery of Roncesvalles, as proved by a few pieces of information found amongst the old papers of this religious centre and, in fact, the document we are referring to is to be found in its archives. We are referring to the municipal ordinances of 1411 prepared by the residents meeting as a council, showing a clear concern for the use of the communal property, regulating the obligations and rights of the residents and limiting access to strangers. Here is the document in question:

“"To all those who see and here this present document, the following are the agreements and ordinances made and discussed between the residents of Egulbati, gathered in a council as they have done and are accustomed to doing up to now:

Firstly, that all the said residents, must come each year on the day of St Michael to confirm the agreements and to fell trees as they have been doing up to the day on which this document is made. And if on the said day, one of the residents should die, the residents should pay a robo (measure of grain equivalent to 28 litres and 13 centilitres) of wheat for the council, with no exception.
Article: If any person cut more than for his own use or is accustomed to, he should pay a fine for each large or small tree of one Cahiz (equivalent to 666 litres) of wheat for the said council, and if he should falsely declare, he should pay five cahices of wheat.

Article: If some resident should cause chaos in the territory or outside of it, he should pay a fine of one robo of wheat.

Article: if someone should call the residents in case of danger, and someone, out of malice, did not come forward, he should pay a fine of one robo of wheat

Article: whoever takes out a knife against another or causes blood, should pay a fine of one cahiz of wheat, any rights he should have freely going to the king.

Article: If anyone should bring large or small cattle from outside, then the person to give him shelter, except for one night, should pay for each night of shelter one cahiz of wheat as a fine.

Article: Any resident, after knowing the part that he can fell, and if he hasn't done so from here to Whitsuntide, will lose it; and after that date, if he should want to fell, he must pay a fine of one robo of wheat-

Article: No resident should dare to fell large or small wood other than hawthorn, boxwood, blackthorns that have seeds, and if he should fell, he should pay for each large or small tree one cahiz of wheat as a fine.

Article: No-one should dare to have a Jew as a guarantor, and if it should be found that someone did so in the said place of Egulbati, he should pay a fine of five cahizes of wheat.

And if any man or woman who is a resident of Egulbati should breach the mentioned ordinances in whole or in part, he/they should give or pay for each time they were breached twenty cahizes of wheat as a fine. Half of the said fine, if it should occur, shall go to the lord of Navarre (the king) so that he may uphold, and fulfil the contents of this document. The other half for the residents who keep and fulfil this document without breaching it. And to uphold and to fulfil each and every one of the above mentioned things and without contravening them at any time, we the mentioned residents commit our personal property and any inheritances there are or will be, wherever these may be, in any part of the world. And we generally and expressly renounce any immunity or privilege we may have and any other exception of fraud or deceit. The witnesses for this document were Lope Sanz de Bearin and Martín Martínez of Irurzun, residents of Arleta. This was made in the manner described above and at the place of Egulbati, on the 26th day of June, year M CCCC XI. And I, Juan López of Erro, public notary and sworn by royal authority in all the kingdom of Navarre, together with the mentioned witnesses state I was present at the place, at the petition and requirement of the mentioned parties and with the agreement of the mentioned witnesses, and I am writing this document of agreement and ordinances with my own hand and signing with my customary signature as evidence of its authenticity".

As the historian Peio J MONTEANO indicated, the locality of Egulbati disappears from the records of the "Cuarteles" (taxes approved by the parliament and collected for the monarchy, forming its principle source of income) during the period 1462-1494, which indicates a temporary loss of population provoked by the famines and epidemics of the 15C.

At the end of the Middle Ages, other lords obtained incomes from localities in the Egüés Valley. For example, in 1420 Carlos III the "Noble" gave Juan Coxe of Suecun the perpetual feudal estate of Olaz, Elcano and Egüés in payment of 4000 florins he had been loaned. Subsequently, the same estate pertained to Carlos of Artieda and after him, in 1494 to Alonso, his son. Likewise, in 1467 the princess Doña Leonor gave perpetually the taxes of the "villa" of Ardanaz to Oger of Gurpide.
In 1423, Carlos III freed Huarte perpetually from all the military barracks and extraordinary aid, in exchange for the town ceding to the king a mill named Valuerrota, which had previously pertained to the bishop of Pamplona.

A description of the valley in the 19 Century

During the first half of the 19C, several geographical, statistical and historical dictionaries came to light, some at a national level such as the dictionary of Miñano or that of Madoz, and others of a regional nature such as that of the Academy of History, Yangüas y Miranda, Ochoa or the "Itinerary" of Ramírez of Arcas. All of them provide highly interesting information regarding Navarre, in general, and the Egüés Valley in particular. Due to its extension and accuracy, the one by Pascual Madoz, entitled "Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de ultramar" has been one of the most widely used by historians investigating the social and economic reality of this period. Its twelfth volume, published in 1849, is dedicated to Navarre. Let's see how Madoz's dictionary describes the valley as a whole during the middle of the 19C:

This valley is made up of 18 places, which correspond to the division of the province into jurisdictions, carried out in 1789. Council meetings are held alternately at Olaz and Egüés. The 18 places are: Alzuza, Ardanaz, Azpa, Badostain, Burlada, Echálaz, Egüés, Egubati, Elcano, Elía, Eransus, Gorraiz, Ibiricu, Mendillorri, Olaz, Sagaseta, Sarriguren and Ustarroz. The valley comes under the territorial court and general captaincy of Navarre, the political district of Sangüesa, at some 7 leagues from this city, and the legal district of Aoiz, some 3 leagues away. It is attached to the diocese of Pamplona and the archpriest of the region. For the government of the Valley there is a general representative and also an alderman in each village. Its northern boundary is with the valley of Esteribar, to the east with the Lizoain valley, to the south with the valleys of Unciti and Elorz and to the west with the towns of Villaba and Huarte. It has a hilly terrain with a moderate climate, in general. The terrain is quite productive and is watered on the left and right by two streams, one that flows into the river Arga and the other into the river Aragón. It has two bridges. The roads are local ones, apart from the one to Pamplona and Aoiz, and are in good condition. The mail is sent from Pamplona, and is distributed around the valley by a postman. According to official data, it has 296 inhabitants, and 1513 souls. The municipal budget is for 30,000 reales and this amount is covered by dividing it out amongst the inhabitants. It has some exquisite water fountains which its inhabitants make use of as drinking water and for cattle and other agricultural uses. Game is abundant in most of the valley: partridges, quails, hares, rabbits and even roe deer (in Gorraiz), and there are also various classes of injurious creatures such as foxes.

The state of the flour factories and mills, number of fanegas (approx 55 1/2 litres) and robos (approx 28 litres) that are ground annually, rivers and streams that give movement in the valley according to the dictionary: in Elcano, Huarte and Ustarroz, 5 mills of one single stone, moved by the rivers Elía, Arga and minchate, grind 9,595 fanegas and 12,000 robos.

Setting aside Burlada, Huarte and Mendillorri, which separated from the valley at different times in recent history, let us discover some characteristics of the villages of the Egüés Valley during those same dates:

Alzuza: Situated on a hill battered by winds from all directions, it enjoys a healthy climate. It has 4 houses and a parish church dedicated to St Esteban Protomártir, with a hermitage. Both are served by a curate, provided by the bishop and whose position is decided by general competition. It contributes, together with other villages in the valley to maintaining a school at Elcano, attended by 32 children of both sexes and directed by a teacher who receives 1642 reales a year. The terrain is made up of 5492 robadas (1 robada = 800 m2) of which only 575 are cultivated, and of these 150 are of top quality, 200 second quality, and 225 third quality. There are also 100 robadas of vineyards, 80 meadows, 16 woods populated with ash trees, 4246 of undergrowth, 20 of common land and 142 of waste land. It produces wheat, barley, pulses and wine, although only a small amount. It has a population of 13 inhabitants and 52 souls.

Ardanaz It has the same locality and climate as for the above village. It has 19 houses and a parish church dedicated to St Vicente Mártir, served by a parish priest. It has a surface area of about 4000 robadas, of which only 1700 are cultivated, and the rest is non-productive. Amongst the lands that are worked, there are 120 peonadas (1 peonada = aprox 300 m2) of vineyards. On the uncultivated land there are 500 robadas of woods, the same amount of undergrowth and 1300 of wasteland with many excellent pastures for cattle. It produces wheat, barley, oats, wine and pulses. It supports cattle, mules, sheep and goats. It has a population of 20 inhabitants and 124 souls.

Azpa. It has 11 medium sized houses and a parish church dedicated to ST Martin, served by a priest called an "abbot", whose position is decided by general competition. The land is rough and moderately fertile; there are some hills populated with different types of trees providing wood for construction and heating, with extensive, rich pastureland. It produces wheat, barley, oats, pulses and a little bit of wine, and supports cattle, mules, sheep and goats. It has a population of 11 inhabitants and 77 souls.

Badostain. Located on the flatland, it has 35 to 40 houses, the town hall, inn, tavern, primary school attended by 55 children of both sexes, funded with 2782 reales a year. The parish, dedicated to St Miguel has a priest called an "abbot" and an incumbent, as well as a hermitage. The land includes hills and flatlands and has 2700 robadas of first, second and third quality land, amongst which there are 500 peonadas of vineyards whose annual production is that of 3 to 1 of sown land. The uncultivated part, amounting to 2500 robadas, is dedicated to pasture land and offers quite a lot of trees for construction and heating. It produces wheat, barley, a lot of corn, chick peas, broad beans, green vegetables, win and fruits. There is cattle, mules, sheep and goats. It has a population of 40 inhabitants and 235 souls.

Echálaz. Located on the plain, with a cold climate. It has 6 houses, a parish church dedicated to St Martín, served by an abbot and a hermitage. The land is average quality. It is crossed by a stream, it has holm oak woods and undergrowth. It produces wheat, barley and other small fruits and raises cattle. It has 7 inhabitants and 27 souls.

Egüés Located on the plain, it has a cold climate. It has 25 houses and a parish church (San Martín) served by a curate. The children go to the school at Elcano, on the northern boundary. The land is of average quality. It produces wheat, barley, wine and several small fruits. It also supports some cattle. It has 26 inhabitants and 119 souls.

Egulbati. Located in the extreme north of the valley and at the foot of a hill, with a cold climate. It has 3 houses and a parish church (La Concepción) and is served by a curate. The children go to the school at Elcano. The land, although only average quality, is quite productive, supporting sheep, cattle and pigs. It has 2 inhabitants and 14 souls.

Elcano. Located on the flat land, with a moderate climate. It has 26 houses, a primary school at Ibiricu, attended by children from Echálaz, Elía, Eransus, Egüés, Egulbati, Azpa and Sagaseta, funded with 70 robos of wheat. The parish church, dedicated to the Purification of Our Lady, is served by a curate and an incumbent. There are two hermitages. The land is of average quality but fertile. It is watered by a stream. Its sierra has no trees, and it has a small thicket and several poplar trees. It produces wheat, barley and wine. It raises sheep and cattle. It has 29 inhabitants and 147 souls.

Elía. Located on a plain formed by a ravine and is almost in the centre of the valley. It has 11 houses and a parish church (La Asunción) served by an abbot. The land is shared between hills and flatlands and is of average quality. It is watered by a stream and there are oak covered hills and pasturelands. It produces wheat, barley, wine and other smaller fruits; it supports sheep, cattle, goats and pork. It has 11 inhabitants and 65 souls.

Eransus. Located on a low ridge that is formed in a north-south direction on a decline in a small sierra. It is 500 paces left of the Pamplona to Aoiz road. It is battered by the northern winds, and has a healthy climate, however it does cause some inflammations. It has 9 houses. The primary education school is shared with Elcano and Ibiricu and granted 80 robos of wheat. The parish church, of La Asunción, is served by an abbot. The cemetery is to the south, next to the church. The land is of clay, fairly fertile, with a sierra to the northeast covered with pine trees and two thickets with various trees. A stream runs to the east, obtaining its waters from the source and ravine of Pineral, its two banks are lined with thick and leafy trees, providing a very pleasing view. It produces wheat, corn, potatoes, oats and pulses; it raises sheep, pigs, goats and cattle. It imports the absolutely essential articles from the capital. There are 9 inhabitants and 55 souls.

Gorraiz Located on a small plain dominated by hills. It has a cold climate. It has 5 houses of an ordinary construction of plaster and wood. The parish church of St martin, served by an abbot provided by the inhabitants. A hermitage. The hills are covered with hawthorn and boxwood. The land is arid and rough. It is crossed by a stream called Lacorre that flows into the river Irati between Oroz and Muniain. There are limestone quarries, excellent summer grazing ground for sheep and natural meadows. The routes are across country and are poor. It produces wheat, oat, potatoes, corn and hay; it raises cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Industry: a mill in poor condition. It has 5 inhabitants and 31 souls.

Ibiricu. Situated on the plain with a slight slope, below some higher land where the cemetery is located which, due to its ventilated position, does not harm public health. It has 17 houses, the majority are scattered and a few form an irregular street, school for both sexes, attended by 9 children from this place and the remainder, up to 30, from Azpa, Eransus, Elía Echálaz, ustarroz, Egüés, Elcano, Sagaseta, Egulbati and Alzuza. The teacher lives for two years in Elcano and two in Ibiricu, it has a provisional funding which is calculated at 1400 reales, of which 864 are covered by dividing the amount up between these 11 villages, and the rest is paid by the pupils. Parish church of St John the Evangelist, served by a curate provided by his majesty and the village in their respective months. The area includes several hills covered with pine trees, oaks and bushes. The land is dry and of average quality. It is crossed by two streams that come together in this district, each one has a little bridge to cross over it. There is a new route to Aoiz, which is in good condition. It produces wheat, corn, barley, potatoes, broad beans, chick peas, wine and green vegetables. It supports sheep and pigs. There is a flour mill. There are 17 inhabitants and 109 souls.

Olaz. Located on the plain, with unobstructed views in all directions. It has 18 houses that form a poorly cobbled but wide street. Primary education school for both sexes, attended by 26 to 3 pupils, funded with 30 fanegas of wheat. Parish church of St Peter the Apostle, served by an abbot provided by the inhabitants with the help of his majesty. The cemetery is located to the south. There are various thickets, quarries for construction stone, and some meadows. The land is dry, fertile and crumbly. It is crossed by a route in poor condition leading to the capital and other places. The post is received from Pamplona by express train. It produces wheat, corn, potatoes, wine and pulses. It raises sheep, cattle and mules. 21 inhabitants, 86 souls.

Sagaseta. Located on the eastern slopes of a hill. The north and south winds dominate, causing inflammations and catarrh. There are 10 houses. There is no school and the children attend the one at Egüés. The parish church, dedicated to Santa Engracia, served by an abbot provided by the inhabitants, and neighbouring cemetery. In its area, there is a sierra which has barely any trees and some meadows which have good pastures. The land is dry and fairly fertile. It is crossed by a stream that comes down from Egulbati and joins the one from Egüés. The local roads are in poor condition. The main is received from Pamplona by express train. It produces wheat, oats, corn, potatoes and pulses; it raises cattle and sheep. There are 10 inhabitants and 44 souls.

Sarriguren. Located on the plain. The northern and southern winds bring inflammations and catarrhs. There are 6 houses, parish church (Santa Engracia) served by an abbot. The children attend the school at Olaz. The land is dry and in the southern part it is crossed by a stream flowing to the river Arga. There is a thicket or meadow. The routes going to the bordering villages are in poor condition. It produces wheat, corn, potatoes, broad beans, chick peas and other pulses. It raises cattle, horses and sheep. 6 inhabitants and 62 souls.

Ustarroz. Situated in a hollow, with a moderate climate. It has 5 houses. Parish church of St Bartolomé, served by an abbot, provided by the inhabitants. Adjoining cemetery. It has a hill covered with oak and pine trees, a thicket and abundant and good pasturelands. The land is dry, with a lot of low ridges and crossed by a stream flowing into the river Egüés. The routes are local and in average condition and moreover, to the north the Pamplona to Aoiz road passes. It produces wheat, corn, potatoes, oats and broad beans. It raises cattle, horses and sheep. Population: 5 inhabitants and 26 souls.

 * History of Egüés , Miguel larrañaga - Doctor in History and a member of C.S.I.C.