The Tribute of the Three Cows

Alejandro Vidal Crespo Service Director, Market Strategy

MONTHLY STRATEGY REPORT January 2015 Monthly Strategy Report. January 2015

With the 21st century in full swing, are we capable of following the example of this ancient tradition, forging future unity out of what today seem insoluble conflicts? Will we be able to create such links based on mutual compliance with our obligations, so as to preserve the common good? Only time will tell but, until then, we applaud the protagonists in such a beautiful tale.

The oldest treaty in Europe still in force today continues to be observed punctually on 13 July of every year on a mountain-top in the Pyrenees. On that day, representatives of the residents of the Roncal Valley in Navarre and those of Baretous (France) gather by the border marker at the Ernaz Pass, at an altitude of over 1,700 metres. At the ceremony, the representatives of Baretous hand over to the Roncalese three Pyrenaic cows “two years of age, with similar hides and horns, without blemish or wound”. The cattle are then examined and accepted, the corresponding receipt is issued, and the Roncalese offer a luncheon for all based on roasted mutton.

This ceremony, documented in records since 1375, may, according to some historians, have been taking place since the 9th century, although it is generally accepted that it dates from the 11th century, which would make it at least one thousand years old. But what is the origin and history of such a curious event?

In view of the age of the tribute, the reasons giving rise to the payment of the Three Cows to the inhabitants of the Roncal Valley are unknown; directly or indirectly, the use of grazing land and springs was probably behind it, although its perpetual nature leads one to think of compensation for some armed conflict. It is nevertheless duly recorded in an Arbitration Ruling in 1375 that restored the payment of the tribute that had been interrupted following a series of skirmishes.

Although there had been ups and downs in earlier decades, the worst clash took place in 1373; that year a shepherd from Navarre by the name of Pedro Karrika and another from Béarne called Pierre Sansoler met at a spring close to the Árles Peak. Following an argument, presumably over the use of the pastures and water, Karrika killed Sansoler. The Frenchman’s relatives were quick to mount an expedition to kill Karrica, but when they arrived at his home they only found his pregnant wife, who was killed on the spot.

Upon learning of this tragedy, Karrika clamoured for revenge and formed a band of twenty-five neighbours, who crossed the border heading for the home of the Sansoler. There they found the family and put them to death, sparing only a woman and her new-born child; they were unable to flee the place in time, however, and on their way back they were ambushed by the French at a pass, and all were killed.

These events led to escalating violence, with pitched battles that ended up reaching the ears of the region’s sovereigns: King Charles II of Navarre and Gaston III, Count of Foix. They ordered the holding of an arbitration tribunal made up of “gentlemen from both sides to act as mediating arbitrators and amicable compounders”. The meeting began on 28 July, 1375 at Ansó, in neutral territory belonging to the Kingdom of Aragon. Monthly Strategy Report. January 2015

The opening statement was clear about the aims of the two sides: “for the sake of peace and concord and to end hate, rancour, ill-will, harm, travails, costs, interests, damages, wounds, blows, fights, quarrels, depredation, wars and disagreements between such parts”. To this end, they climbed up to the 2,000 metre high Arlás Pass, and correctly marked out the springs and borders that had caused the problems together with representatives of both valleys, as well as marking passes, hills and other boundaries, and setting the periods for the use of grazing and springs; the people of Béarne were to allowed use of such resources for 28 days as from 10 July, and then Roncalese flocks were to have access through to Christmas Day. In addition, of course, to re-establishing and officially confirming the delivery of the three cows to the people of the Roncal Valley.

Since then, the delivery of the cattle has taken place without interruption and without major complications. After the conquest of the Kingdom of Navarre by Catholic King Ferdinand of Aragon, the Treaty and the privileges of the valleys were maintained. During the numerous wars between France and Spain in the 17th and 18th centuries, various military skirmishes on both sides of the border, with the capture of people and cattle, gave rise to conflicts between the neighbours, but in general terms, the 1375 ruling continued to prevail over the fighting, and the deliveries took place albeit with greater or lesser difficulty.

During the Napoleonic War of Independence between 1811 and 1814, the two sides agreed that instead of the cattle, 140 reales fuertes per cow should be handed over, so that the payment was made in cash and not kind (indeed, that is the way it is made down to this day, as the cows return to France after the ceremony).

In 1858, France and Spain signed their Border Treaty defining the present border between the two countries, with a single exception: The Treaty of the Three Cows, detailed in its fourth appendix. The only change was the place of delivery, which was switched from the traditional Stone of St. Martin established by the 1375 ruling to boundary stone 262, one of the 1300 marking the border.

During the 20th century, the ceremony and the Tribute took place without encountering major difficulty, with the exception of 1944, during the Second World War. The occupying German army forbade the ceremony, fearing that the delegation would flee, but the honour of the people of Béarne led them to compensate for the missing payment in subsequent years; in 1945 and 1946 they added an additional cow to the payment, something they also planned to do in 1947, although the Roncalese waived payment of this last animal as a fraternal gesture of goodwill.

In effect, what had begun as a source of conflict and confrontation today represents a strong bond and fraternal links among the inhabitants of the two valleys. Despite the considerable opposition to the ceremony in France during certain periods of its history (it was considered a humiliation for the country, as the pennants of the Roncal Valley flew above the French flag, a halberd was driven into French territory, and the Navarrese went armed and did not doff their headgear, while those from Béarne removed their hats and carried a white flag), it is a fact that the highway linking the two valleys (and facilitating access to the site of the ceremony) was called for by the inhabitants of both valleys, and it was the Navarre Regional Council alone that provided backing so that the final stretches could be completed.