For centuries, the Pyrenees have been a natural and cultural watershed, and the history of the region is every bit as complex and intricate as its to`pography. While great empires and cultural movements lapped at the base of the mountains, small pockets could remain unaffected. Individual kingdoms constantly altered shape and influence through local alliances.

The border as we see it today did not become fixed until 1659, with the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees. The historical overview aims only to give an outline of important events in France and Spain which had their inevitable effect on the kingdoms of the Pyrenees.