Last modified: 2009-04-18 by eugene ipavec
Keywords: spain | navarra | berriozar | coat of arms | lamb | chains | tongues of fire: 8 | crown: royal (open) |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
The municipality of Berriozar (8,353 inhabitants on 1 January 2005; 269 ha) is located 6 km north-east of Pamplona.
Berriozar was mentioned for the first time in 1268 in the "Libro de Rediezmo" as a village with eight families (c. 40 inhabitants). In the 15th century, the village was purchased by the Baron of Ezpeleta and Viscount of Valderra. Don Juan de Ezpeleta, third Viscount of Ezpeleta, was involved in the civil war that opposed the partisans of King of Navarra Juan de Labrit to those of the incorporation of Navarra into the Kingdom of Castilie. In 1512, Navarra was incorporated into Castilie and all the goods of the Baron of Ezpeleta, who had supported the defeated party, were confiscated and transferred to Miguel de Donamaría. The descenders of the Baron were eventually retroceded Berriozar, which was transferred, together with all their goods, to the house of Ablitas. In 1815, King Fernand VII suppressed the feudal divisions and incorporated all the domains directly into the crown.
Berriozar is dominated by Mount Ezkaba, on which the Alfonso XII fort, better known as St. Christopher fort, was built. A fort already existed in the Middle Ages on this strategic place watching the access to Pamplona. The modern fort was built from 1878 to 1910; the main problem was the lack of water required for the building, which had to be lifted by steam engine to a height of 450 m. The fort was used as a jail for miners who had revolted in Asturias in 1934 and for Republican and Basque nationalists during the Civil War. On 22 May 1938, 900 prisoners attempted to escape; 300 of them were shot by the guards or died from starvation near the fort. The fort ceased to be used as a jail in 1945.
Source: http://www.berriozar.es/
Ivan Sache, 29 Dec 2008
The flag of Berriozar is blue with the municipal coat of arms in the middle. The flag was adopted by the Municipal Council on 20 September 2004 and confirmed by the Executive of Navarra on 18 April 2005.
Source: http://www.berriozar.es/es/lugarygente/historia/bandera/
Ivan Sache, 29 Dec 2008
The coat of arms of Berriozar is
"Per pale azure a female lamb on a terrace vert argent eight tongues of fire gules placed two by two, a border gules with the chain of Navarra or, the shield surmponted by an open crown."
The lamb was the symbol of the municipality of Cendea de Ansoáin, which grouped 12 villages of the rural surroundings of Pamplona, including Berriozar, and was dissolved in 1991. The eight tongues of fire symbolized the eight families recorded in Berriozar in 1268. At that time, census was made according to "fires" (family homes) without counting individuals.
Source: http://www.berriozar.es/es/lugarygente/historia/escudo/
Ivan Sache, 29 Dec 2008