Zazpiak Bat

Batasuna mural painting in Guipuscoa (2003), featuring the modern version of Zazpiak Bat along with arrano beltza, lauburu, and ikurriña

Zazpiak Bat, from the Basque words zazpiak meaning sevens and bat meaning one, translates as sevens in one and refers to the seven historical Basque Country territories. Laurak bat (fours in one), after the four Basque provinces of Spain is the motto of the Real Sociedad Bascongada de Amigos del País since the Enlightenment.

Zazpiak Bat is also a heraldic nickname for a version of the Basque coat of arms which includes the arms of the historical territories of Basque Country. It was designed by Jean Jaugain in 1897 for the Congrès et Fêtes de la Tradition basque celebrated at Donibane Lohizune and named after the concept of the unity of Basque lands; zazpiak bat. The original Zazpiak Bat features a design of traditional arms of six Basque territories, namely Araba, Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia (three that make the Basque Country autonomous community in Spain); Nafarroa; and the two that are part of the French department of the Pyrénées Atlantiques - Zuberoa and Lapurdi, coat of arms of Nafarroa Beherea, a royal version of the Navarrese one is omitted. A modern design is based on the current simplified heraldry of these territories. A triple design of the Basque coat of arms is adopted as the coat of arms of the autonomous community.

External links

* Website with various Basque flags and arms