Castilian-Basque aristocracy

In Chile the Castilian–Basque aristocracy (Spanish: aristocracia castellano-vasca) formed the social and political elite of the country after gaining independence in the early 19th century. Despite the abolition of noble titles in 1817 and the mayorazgo inheritance institution in 1852, the social status of this group remained largely unaffected.

Although the over-representation of people of Castilian–Basque ancestry in the National Congress of Chile has declined since the 19th century, they still hold a significant presence. These individuals are particularly concentrated in the affluent northeastern zone of Santiago, where they, along with other high socio-economic status individuals, display characteristics of an ethnic group.