The historical origins of the inhabitants of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country date back to the dawn of time. Up until the arrival of the Moors in northern Iberia in the VIII century, the land today known as Alava was the home of the Vascones, Vardulos, Caristios, Autrigones (former inhabitants of the western Basque provinces) and Berones.

After the Roman era, the peoples of Alava fought side by side with the Asturian, Navarrese and Castilian armies against the Moors. Between the 11th and the 12th century, the territory known today as Alava belonged first to the kingdom of Navarre, and later to the kingdom of Castile. It maintained its historic rights and centuries-old form of local government. The most important leaders in the province held periodic meetings in a number of different places. In this way, towns were grouped together in so-called "brotherhoods".

In 1332, the towns and villages of Alava, integrated in their original administrative systems, finally came to belong to the Kingdom of Castile after an agreement was made safeguarding their long-standing customs, rights and freedom.

Today, Alava has its own local government, the Provincial Council of Alava, which is led by a President who is elected by the General Assemblies, or Provincial Parliament of Alava.