The Castilian Consolidation of Navarre and the Establishment of the Viceroyalty (1512–1513)

By December 1512, the remaining clashes in Navarre were limited to St-Jean-Pied-de-Port and its surrounding areas, which were still occupied by Castilian forces. However, with the Navarrese counteroffensive crushed, Ferdinand II of Aragon moved swiftly to secure Castilian control over Upper Navarre through a combination of military occupation and political maneuvering.

The Appointment of the First Castilian Viceroy (1513)

• Diego Fernández de Córdoba was appointed the first Viceroy of Navarre, responsible for administering the newly conquered territory on behalf of the Spanish Crown.
• His role was to oversee the integration of Navarre into Castile, while managing local resistance and ensuring stability.

The Parliament of Navarre and Ferdinand’s Coronation (March 1513)

• From March 13–23, 1513, the Parliament of Navarre (Cortes de Navarra) was convened, but it was dominated by pro-Castilian Beaumont party representatives who had sided with Ferdinand during the conquest.
• The Parliament formally accepted Ferdinand II of Aragon as "natural lord and king" of Navarre, legitimizing his rule over the kingdom.
• In turn, Ferdinand made concessions, agreeing to maintain Navarrese institutions, laws (fueros), and cultural identity, ensuring a degree of local autonomy.

The Oath to Respect Navarrese Law (1513)

• At the same time, Viceroy Diego Fernández de Córdoba took an official oath to respect Navarrese law (fueros).
• This was an important symbolic and political gesture, meant to pacify the remaining opposition by recognizing Navarre’s historical rights and privileges.
• However, in practice, Castilian rule gradually eroded Navarrese autonomy, leading to further resistance in Lower Navarre and tensions over the coming decades.

Impact and Long-Term Consequences

1. Castilian Rule is Officially Established in Upper Navarre

   • Ferdinand’s formal recognition as King of Navarre in 1513 solidified Castilian control over the region, marking the end of Navarre’s independence south of the Pyrenees.

2. Navarrese Institutions Were Preserved (For Now)

   • While Ferdinand promised to uphold Navarre’s laws and institutions, future Spanish monarchs would gradually centralize power, reducing Navarre’s autonomy over time.

3. Resistance Continues in Lower Navarre

   • Lower Navarre (north of the Pyrenees) remained under the House of Albret, with Catherine and John III continuing to claim their right to the throne.
   • St-Jean-Pied-de-Port became a focal point of resistance, with French-backed Navarrese forces launching occasional raids.

Conclusion: Navarre’s Formal Annexation into Castile

The events of March 1513 marked the final political consolidation of Castilian rule over Upper Navarre. Although local institutions were nominally preserved, Navarre was now a Spanish vassal state, ruled by a Castilian viceroy. Despite this, the fight for Navarre’s independence continued north of the Pyrenees, keeping the dream of a free Navarre alive in Lower Navarre for years to come.

The Annexation of Navarre to Castile (1515) and Its Political Ramifications

Despite formal oaths and promises, the annexation of Upper Navarre by Castile in 1515 was marked by institutional conflict, centralization, and internal resistance. Navarre and Aragon had distinct legal systems and governance structures, yet Castilian pressure forced Navarre into a political framework it had never been part of before.

Navarre’s Institutional and Social Differences from Aragon and Castile

• Navarre and Aragon shared a confederate political system, with strong regional institutions and privileges (fueros).
• Castile, in contrast, had a more centralized and authoritarian monarchy, exerting greater direct control over its territories.
• The occupation of Navarre by Castilian and Aragonese forces (1512–1514) paved the way for full annexation, despite local opposition and unrest.

The Political Process of Annexation (1513–1515)

• Initially, Ferdinand II of Aragon claimed Navarre as a territory of the Crown of Aragon, using papal bulls as justification.
• Machiavelli, observing the situation, predicted that Ferdinand would soon align himself with France, consolidating power in Navarre without prolonged conflict.
• However, Castilian political influence and military pressure ensured that Navarre would ultimately be absorbed into Castile rather than Aragon.

The Cortes of Burgos (June 11, 1515): The Formal Annexation of Navarre

• Navarre was officially annexed into Castile at the Cortes of Burgos on June 11, 1515.
• No Navarrese representatives were present, meaning the kingdom had no say in its own fate.
• The annexation was done in the name of Joanna of Castile (daughter of Isabella I and nominal queen of Castile), officially incorporating Navarre into the Crown of Castile.

Resistance and Ferdinand’s Promises to Respect Navarrese Institutions

• Despite the annexation, Ferdinand took an oath to respect Navarre’s laws and privileges (fueros), known as the pactum subjectionis.
• However, over time, Castilian centralization policies would erode Navarre’s autonomy, leading to frequent conflicts and tensions.

The Imprisonment of Count Louis of Beaumont

• Louis of Beaumont, Count of Lerín, a key ally of Ferdinand II during the conquest of Navarre, unexpectedly protested against the annexation to Castile.
• In response, he was arrested and imprisoned, demonstrating that even Ferdinand’s former allies could not challenge Castilian authority without consequences.

Conclusion: Navarre’s Forced Integration into Castile

• The annexation of Navarre into Castile (1515) was a political maneuver driven by military conquest and centralization, not a voluntary union.
• Despite promises to respect Navarre’s laws, Castile would gradually erode its autonomy, leading to centuries of resistance and tension.
• Even Ferdinand’s allies, such as the Count of Lerín, opposed the move, underscoring the deep dissatisfaction among Navarrese elites.

The events of 1515 marked the final chapter in Navarre’s sovereignty, as it became a subject kingdom under Castilian rule, setting the stage for continued unrest and resistance against Spanish control.

The Survival of Lower Navarre under the House of Albret (1515)

Following the military occupation and formal annexation of Navarre south of the Pyrenees by Ferdinand II of Aragon in 1512, the northern portion of the kingdom, known as Lower Navarre, managed to preserve its independence. Under the leadership of the influential French noble family, the House of Albret, Lower Navarre resisted incorporation into Ferdinand’s domains, thus maintaining a distinct political identity.

Context: Annexation of Navarre by Ferdinand of Aragon

In 1512, Ferdinand II's Castilian and Aragonese forces occupied the southern part of Navarre—known as Upper Navarre—effectively annexing it to the Crown of Castile. The annexation aimed at consolidating Ferdinand’s territorial and political authority, thus eliminating a strategically vulnerable neighbor during ongoing European conflicts. However, the mountainous and geographically isolated northern portion, Lower Navarre, proved more difficult to subdue fully.

Independence of Lower Navarre and the Albret Dynasty

Lower Navarre remained politically autonomous under the Albret family, a French noble lineage deeply entrenched in the politics of southern France and closely connected to the French crown through strategic marriage alliances. This dynastic affiliation, alongside geographic defensibility, allowed the House of Albret to retain their independence and prevent Ferdinand’s complete domination.

Strategic and Diplomatic Implications

Lower Navarre’s independence under the Albret family represented a key point of diplomatic tension and negotiation between France and Spain, as both crowns sought influence over this strategically located region. Its position north of the Pyrenees made Lower Navarre a natural ally of France, enabling it to rely on French diplomatic support and military protection against further Spanish incursions.

Consequences and Historical Legacy

The continued independence of Lower Navarre had enduring political implications. Eventually, in 1589, Henry of Navarre—descendant of the Albret dynasty—ascended to the French throne as Henry IV, thereby uniting the crowns of Navarre and France. This development profoundly impacted the geopolitical structure of Western Europe, firmly aligning Lower Navarre and its legacy with French political history.

In the long term, Lower Navarre’s survival as an independent territory until its incorporation into France contributed significantly to shaping regional identities, laying the groundwork for lasting cultural and historical distinctions between the Spanish-ruled Upper Navarre and the French Lower Navarre.