The dry steppe of the Bardenas, between Tudela, the Aragón river and Aragonese Ejea and Tauste, is royal waste where the flocks of the Roncal and Salazar valleys winter and where Navarrese and Aragonese raiders and robbers prey on travellers and herds.
In 1198 Peter II's invasion came in from the east; in 1204 Sancho VII and Aragon negotiated a brotherhood (Ximeno de Rada for Navarre, Ximeno de Luesia for Aragon) against the attacks in the Bardenas, which shows how bad they were.
Who holds it
- Name
- Sancho VII (rights shared with Tudela and the valleys)
- Title
- Royal waste of the king of Navarre
- Confidence
- medium
How things stand that morning
Raided ground, not held or farmed by either side.
Who raids here
Navarrese and Aragonese bands; shepherds and frontier men of both sides.
Anchors on each side
Navarrese Tudela, Arguedas, Valtierra, Caparroso, Carcastillo; Aragonese Ejea, Tauste, Sádaba.
Last campaign
Aragonese invasion of spring 1198; raiding continuous; brotherhood against it in 1204.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: The 1204 brotherhood is documented (Pro Uriarte); the extent and the rights of 1200 are drawn from later practice.
On the map: Outline of the later Bardenas Reales; the 1200 limits were open.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.