The Principality of Bidache (French: Principauté de Bidache; Basque: Bidaxuneko Printzerria) was a small feudal state in the southwest of modern-day France that existed from 1570 to 1793. Its sovereignty was proclaimed by Count Antoine de Gramont in 1570, and it was ruled by the House of Gramont until its annexation by France during the French Revolution.
Geography and Capital
The principality was centered on the town of Bidache, located in the historical region of Lower Navarre, near the confluence of the borders of the former kingdoms of Navarre, France, and the province of Béarn. Its territory covered approximately 2,500 hectares along the Bidouze River, a tributary of the Adour. The capital was the town of Bidache.
History
Establishment of Sovereignty
The counts of Gramont had originally been vassals of the King of Navarre, but they last paid tribute in 1434 and subsequently considered themselves relieved of their feudal obligations. The formal establishment of sovereignty is dated to 21 October 1570, when Antoine I de Gramont, in his capacity as mayor of Bayonne, publicly declared that Bidache was held by him in sovereignty. A private bequest written between Antoine and his wife in 1566 had already referred to his "sovereignty" over Bidache. On 13 November 1570, Antoine I enforced his rights over the inhabitants as their sovereign lord, and on 6 April 1575, he promulgated a formal legal code for the territory.
Recognition and Governance
Antoine II de Gramont, successor to Antoine I, used the title of Majesty in an order issued on 22 September 1596, employing the formula "for such is our pleasure" (car tel est notre bon plaisir), a phrase traditionally associated with sovereign rulers. External recognition of the principality's status came through letters patent issued by Henry IV of France and Navarre, which referred to Antoine II de Gramont as "ruler of the land of Bidache" and exempted the territory from the Edict of Nantes.
The Gramont princes exercised full regalian rights within Bidache, including high and low justice (with the power of life and death), legislation through consultation with the three estates, maintenance of armed forces, and the right to grant asylum. In 1716, Antoine IV de Gramont obtained formal recognition of the principality's sovereignty from the French regency council under Philippe II, Duke of Orléans.
Asylum and Refuge
Due to its sovereign status, Bidache became a haven for those seeking to escape the jurisdictions of France and Navarre. In 1631, Cardinal Richelieu complained that Bidache was a "haven of thieves" and "Judaized," recommending that a commissioner be sent to the principality. The territory notably provided refuge for Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, with a Jewish community established there from the mid-17th century.
End of Sovereignty
The de jure end of sovereignty came during the French Revolution. In January 1790, attempts were made to secure the continued existence of the principality separate from the French crown, but these efforts failed. An envoy, Louis Perret, was dispatched to Paris but did not arrive before letters patent were issued in the name of King Louis XVI decreeing Bidache to be part of the new Basses-Pyrénées département on 16 April 1790. In 1793, troops loyal to the First French Republic occupied Bidache and ousted the last reigning prince, Antoine VII. The Château de Bidache was briefly converted into a hospital before being burned down in 1796. Its ruins remain standing and have been subject to restoration efforts.
Rulers
The princes of Bidache were all members of the House of Gramont:
| Prince | Reign |
|---|---|
| Antoine I | 1570–1576 |
| Antoine II | 1576–1644 |
| Antoine III (Marshal of France) | 1644–1678 |
| Antoine IV (Viceroy of Navarre) | 1678–1720 |
| Antoine V (Marshal of France) | 1720–1725 |
| Antoine VI | 1725–1741 |
| Louis de Gramont, 6th Duke of Gramont | 1741–1745 |
| Antoine VII | 1745–1801 (in pretense after 1793) |
| Antoine VIII (in pretense) | 1801–1836 |
| Antoine IX (in pretense) | 1836–1855 |
| Antoine Alfred Agénor (in pretense) | 1855–1880 |
After 1793, subsequent heads of the House of Gramont continued to claim the title of Prince of Bidache in pretense. The Gramont dynasty survives to the present day.
Legacy
The Principality of Bidache is recognized as a historical example of a small sovereign feudal enclave that maintained de facto independence within the borders of what was otherwise French territory. The ruins of the Château de Gramont in Bidache are classified as a historical monument and are open to visitors. The modern commune of Bidache, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, is the successor settlement to the principality's capital.
