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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.[1] Despite the abolition of noble titles in 1817 and the mayorazgo inheritance institution in 1852, the social status of this group remained largely unaffected.[1]
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.[2] 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.[2]