Basques

Basques, people of unique language and culture living mainly in the vicinity of the Pyrennees Mountains (about 100,000 in southwestern France and 600,000 in northeastern Spain). Research into their blood groups indicates a long separation from other Europeans. After the Spanish Civil War, in which many Basques fought against General Franco, an effort was made to subdue the region. A surge of Basque nationalism in recent years was marked by the assassination of Admiral Luis Blanco by the Basque resistance movement ETA in 1973. In 1980 the Basques were given limited political self-determination by Spain by allowing the 3 Basque regions of Spain a parliament and some control over police, education, taxes, and other administrative procedures.