Bermeo - History

History

The ancient history of Bermeo is recounted in "Ezkerra" by Don lñigo López and his wife Mrs Toda, of the estate in San Juan of Gaztelugatxe, Bermeo to the monastery of San Juan of the Crag the year 1051. Years later, in 1082, goes back to quote the name of Bermeo in the donation that did Don Lope lñiguez, second Gentleman, and his wife Doña Tecla, to the Monastery of Saint Millán of the Cogolla, of the Church of "Sancti Michaelis Arcangeli in Portu of Vermelio". These documents speak of the antiquity of Bermeo, although it rotted to trace back to periods very previous. Then some legends situate the foundation of the ancient port of the Amanos in Túbal, downward of Noe, 150 years after the deluge, or for the Romans to the 1st century B. C. Under the government of the emperor Flavio Vespasiano.

Don Lope Díaz II of Haro, Gentleman of Biscay, gave him jurisdiction of Logroño and title of Town and although the document had date, definitely was issued the year 1236. The King Don Alfonso X The Wise confirmed this privilege the 12th of August 1277, finding in the ring of the castle of Unzueta of the Valley of Orozco.

Later, on 18 March 1285, the eighth Gentleman, Don Lope Díaz of Haro, expanded and improved his terms, and the same did the Gentleman Don Tello, for privilege issued on 25 April 1366.

Several Gentlemen of Biscay and at the same time kings Spaniard confirmed the Jurisdictions and Privileges of the Town in the Church of Saint Eufemia. Between them, Fernando the Catholic, who confirmed the town as a "Capital of Biscay" on 31 of July in the year 1476, title which Bermeo did time employed and that it was him snatched in 1602 after hard and long suit interposed by the national heroes that governed Bilbao and other institutions of the Domain, that do not go to resign to the fact that, Bermeo followed having such distinction.

Nevertheless, the primacy that came keeping Bermeo in regard to the other Towns and small locations translates in the fact that in the General Boards had the first vote and seat, and when spoke his attorneys were used to discover his heads the others that found in the Board. At present, the head of elderly than figure how one of the arms of his shield heraldry, demonstrate and perpetuates in all fairness the snatched title.

The importance that had Bermeo can deduce because of the numerous privileges and exemptions that achieved of the Gentlemen and of the Kings. Unfortunally the diverse fires that suffered the Town destroyed all these documents, although his enumeration and his dates of obtened are well known. This shows the prestige that the Town kept and the favour which all the time had.

The fights of the biscain fighters disturbed the life of Bermeo during the 15th century and with the fires its suffered in previous centuries (specifically in the years 1297, 1347,1360, 1422) ruined Bermeo and its population diminished continuously.

On the other hand, the foundation of the Town of Bilbao in 1300 contributed notably to the decadence of Bermeo.

At a later date, new fires, one of them the one of the year 1504, affecting to all the Town, dealted a harsh blow to Bermeo, putting at risk even his own survival.