Principality of Bidache Principauté de Bidache (French) Printzerriko Bidaxune (Basque)
1570–1793
Coat of arms
Bidache shown on a map of the modern départment of Pyrénées-Atlantiques
Capital	Bidache
Common languages	French Occitan and anciently Basque
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Government	Monarchy
Prince
• 1570-1576	Antoine I
• 1644-1678	Antoine III, Marshal of France
• 1678-1695	Antoine IV, Viceroy of Navarre
• 1745-1793	Antoine VII
Historical era	Renaissance
• Established	21 October 1570
• Independence declared by Antoine I, Prince of Bidache	21 October 1570
• Constitution	6 April 1575
• Territory is declared part of the French state by the King of France	16 APril 1790
• French Republican troops occupy Bidache and the prince is deposed	1793
• Integrated by France	1793
Preceded by Succeeded by Kingdom of Navarre Republic of France
Today part of	France

The Principality of Bidache was from 1570 to 1793 a small feudal state in the south west modern-day France. The sovereignty of Bidache was proclaimed by the Antoine de Gramont in 1570. The Count of Gramont had formerly been a vassal of the King of Navarre but his family had last paid tribute to the king in 1434 and by now considered themselves relieved of their fealty.^[1] The principality maintained dejure sovereignty until 1790 when by royal edict the territory of the principality was declared to be a part of France by Louis XVI. In 1793 the principality was occupied by troops loyal to the First French Republic and the last reigning prince, Antoine VII, was ousted. The royal and noble Gramont dynasty survive to the present day.

Establishment of Sovereignty

The exact date for the establishment of sovereignty in Bidache is 21 October 1570. On that day, Antoine I de Gramont in his capacity as mayor of Bayonne stated that the sovereignty of Bidache was held by him. This was the first public statement by the Counts of Gramont claiming sovereignty over Bidache. However, a bequest written in private between Antoine and his wife in 1566 refers to his "sovereignty" over Bidache. By the end of 1570, several acts claiming sovereign rights in Bidache appear in quick succession. On 13 November of that same year, Antoine I enforces his rights over the inhabitants of Bidache as their sovereign lord. This is followed in on 6 April 1575 when Antoine formulated a formal legal code.

His successor, Antoine II uses the title of majesty "for such is our pleasure" in an order issued on 22 September 1596. From this date, he calls his actions "sovereign". External recognition is found in letters patent issued by Henri IV of France and Navarre which refer to Antoine II de Gramont as "ruler of the land of Bidache" and exempt from his edict.^[2]