After the events of Noain, and once Pamplona has been controlled, San Juan de Pie de Puerto became the next target of the Castilian people. The city of Baja Navarra had been protected for centuries by a major fort, and there were about 300 people in his defense, who came to the defeat of Noáin. At their helm, Captain Joanikot Arberoa.
The Bajonavarra had worked in the arms business from a very young age. He related himself to the family of the beaumonteses and fought for the Spaniards in the conquest of 1512. But nine years later we will see him next to Mr. de Asparrots defending the legitimate cause of the Navarros in Noáin, changing the t-shirt like the other beaugo. And when he was entrusted with the direction of Donibane Garazi Castle, he surrounded himself with faithful Navarran soldiers to defend him until his death.
On 20 July 1521, after a heavy bombardment that was also heard from Baiona, thousands of Castilian and Beaumontese Navarros stormed the old castle and most of the soldiers of its garrison were killed savagely, thrown by the wall. The killing was probably higher in proportion to that of Noáin.
In the last words before being hanged, Joanikot Arberoa said he was not a traitor, that he had only sworn the king of Navarra. Death was slow and cruel. The head of the faithful captain was placed in a picotta
The survivors were taken to Pamplona, although many fled along the way, like Mr. de Améscoa Juan Remírez de Bakedano.
Captain Joanikot was sentenced to death and on 26 July he was dragged by an iron gate by the Navarre capital, while the preacher read the sentence aloud. In the last words before being hanged he said that he was not a traitor, that he had only sworn to the king of Navarre. Death was slow and cruel, because it was probably not noble at birth, and then his fragmented body was exposed to the gates of Pamplona. The head of the faithful captain was placed on a picotta. In 2017, the neighbours of Altzai and Lakarri staged the pastoral Juanikot to remember that story.
The Castilians immediately left Donibane Garazi, as on the other side of the Pyrenees they did not feel safe. The castle was handed over several times during those weeks, some set on fire and others destroyed it, until on 14 August the Spanish troops completely destroyed it, before returning to Pamplona. Thus, since the 12th century, the one that was the symbol and strategic stronghold of the kingdom of Navarre was definitively lost.