WI: Basque America

I would think there simply wouldn't be the numbers for it. They might have a couple of small settlements here and there, but if you're looking for something like an actual colony, you'd need a pretty massive proportion of the Basque Country to set sail for the new world.

This. I completly agree with Don Lardo, and you are also right regarding the numbers, but I guess that we should consider the basques in their political context. In the case of the surge of a "lure of force" as incentive for colonization, those basques (there were also cantabrians in those fishing voyages, by the way) would be probably subjects of the king of Castile and Leon or, if not, subjects of the king of France. So, my bet is that sooner or latter the crown would intervene or would be called if there is something more profitable than cod to get from there, providing also manpower in the proccess. Thus it wouldn't be exclusivelly a basque phenomenon as the OP wants.

Cheers.
 
Top