Aragon (
Spanish and
Aragonese:
Aragón,
Catalan:
Aragó) is an
autonomous community of
Spain. Located in northeastern Spain, the region comprises three
provinces from north to south:
Huesca,
Zaragoza, and
Teruel. Its capital is
Zaragoza (also called
Saragossa in English).
Aragon's northern province of Huesca borders
France and is positioned in the middle of the
Pyrenees. Within Spain, the region is flanked by
Catalonia on the east,
Valencia and
Castile-La Mancha to the south, and
Castile and Leon,
La Rioja, and
Navarre to the west.
Covering an area of , the region's terrain ranges diversely from permanent glaciers to verdant valleys, rich pasture lands and orchards, through to the arid steppe plains of the central lowlands. Aragon is home to many rivers — most notably, the river
Ebro — Spain's largest river in volume, which runs west-east across the entire region through the province of Zaragoza. It is also home to the
Aneto, the highest mountain in the
Pyrenees.
As of 2006, the population was 1,277,471 -- with half of the region's people living in
Zaragoza, its capital city.
In addition to its three provinces, Aragon is subdivided into 33
comarcas or counties; all with a rich
geopolitical and cultural history from its
pre-Roman and
Roman days; and the four centuries of Islamic period as Marca Superior of Alandalus or kingdom (or
taifa) of Saraqustah; and as lands that once belonged to the Frankish Spanish March or
Marca Hispanica; and counties that later formed the
Kingdom of Aragon and eventually the empire or
Crown of Aragon.
Population
As of 2006, half of Aragon's population, 50.8%, live in the capital city of
Zaragoza.
Huesca is the only other city in the region with a population greater than 50,000.
The majority of Aragonese people, 71.8%, live in the province of Zaragoza; 17.1% in Huesca and 11.1% in Teruel. The population density of the region is the second lowest in Spain: only 26,8/km²; after
Castilla La Mancha. The most densely populated areas are around the valley of the river
Ebro, particularly around Zaragoza and the Pyrenean foothills, while the areas with the fewest inhabitants tend to be those that are higher up in the Pyrenean mountains, and in the southern drier province of Teruеl.
Only 4 cities have more than 20,000 inhabitants: Zaragoza 650,000; Huesca 50,000;
Teruel 33,700 and
Calatayud 20,000.
Language
thumb|left|Language distribution in Aragon. Spanish is spoken in all of Aragon, and is the only official language.In addition to
Spanish, understood and spoken by virtually everyone in the region, the
Aragonese language continues to be spoken in the mountainous northern counties of the
Pyrenees, particularly in western
Ribagorza,
Sobrarbe,
Jacetania and
Somontano and is enjoying a resurgence of popularity as a tool for regional identity. Similarly, in the comarcas of eastern
Ribagorza,
La Litera,
Bajo Cinca,
Bajo Aragon-Caspe,
Bajo Aragon and
Matarraña, the
Catalan language is spoken. The strip-shaped Catalan-speaking area in Aragon is usually known as
La Franja.
Geography
250|right|thumb|View from the Ordesa valleyWith such a low population density large areas of Aragon remain wild and relatively untouched. It is a land of extreme natural contrasts, both in climate and geologically, from the green valleys and snow-capped peaks of the Pyrenees to the dry plains and lonely hilly areas of the south.
Relief
250|right|thumb|A waterfall in the Aragonese PyreneesAragon's
Pyrenees include splendid and varied landscapes with soaring peaks, deep canyons, dense forests and spectacular waterfalls. Its rugged peaks include the
Aneto (3,404 m), the highest in the range, the misty
Monte Perdido (3,355 m), Perdiguero (3,221 m), Cotiella (2,912 m) and many others.
Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, near the border with France, boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe with its canyons, frozen lake caverns, numerous waterfalls and varied wildlife many species of which are endemic to the Pyrenees. The park is also one of the last sanctuaries of birds of prey in the range. Many beautiful mountain butterflies and flowers can be seen in the summer, while during winter the region is a paradise for skiers.
The principal valleys in the mountains include those of
Hecho,
Canfranc, ,
Benasque and others. The green valleys hide pretty villages with nice
Romanesque churches and typical Pyrenean houses with flowers on the balconies. The oldest Romanesque cathedral in Spain is located in the medieval town of
Jaca in the very northern part of Huesca Province.
In the Pyrenean foothills, or pre-Pyrenees, the
Mallos de Riglos are a famous natural rock formation. Ancient castles nestle on lonely hills, the most famous being the magnificent
Loarre Castle.
Further south, the Ebro valley, irrigated by the river Ebro, is a rich and fertile agricultural area covered with vast fields of wheat, barley and other fruit and vegetable crops. Many beautiful and little-known settlements, castles and
Roman ruins dot the landscape here. Some of the most notable towns here include
Calatayud,
Daroca,
Sos del Rey Catolico,
Caspe and others.
South of Zaragoza and the Ebro valley, the elevation rises again into the
Sistema Ibérico, a mountain range that separates the Ebro valley from the
Meseta Central and plains of
Castile-La Mancha. The highest mountain in this range is the Moncayo (2,313 m) and, despite getting less snow than in the Pyrenees, it has several ski resorts.
Formigal (Huesca) winter
Climate
Aragon's climate can be defined like continental moderate, and is determined by its elevation changes. Several Aragonese climate zones can be observed: very cold - in the Pyrenees mountains; a cold stop of the Pyrenean interior such as at
Albarracín; temperate - in the Pyrenean and Iberian pre-mountainous areas; a subwarm area - in the central depression and the depressions of the Martín-Ebro river, Sariñena and Matarraña.
In the middle of Aragon, which is only above sea level, the annual average temperature is around 14°C (57-59°F). To the north and south of the Ebro valley, where the elevation rises to above sea level, the temperature drops by two degrees. In the mountains, between and observed temperatures are between 11°C and 12°C (52-54°F).
History
100|thumb|left|The gates of DarocaBefore Aragon came into being as a self-proclaimed
kingdom in 1035 A.D., the northern counties of
Jaca,
Sobrarbe and
Ribagorza were all independent marches and
Frankish feudal fiefs. In a bid to stem Frankish and
Moorish invasions, a northern alliance of the counties of Aragon, Sobrarbe, Ribagorza, and the duchy of Castile united with the Kingdom of
Pamplona (later Navarre). After
King Sancho's death, the kingdom was divided between his sons.
Ramiro I was initially named king of Aragon; later, after his brother Gonzalo's death, he was also named king of Sobrarbe and Ribagorza. The new kingdom of Aragon grew quickly, and incorporated
Navarre. This kingdom conquered the Muslim kingdom and city of
Zaragoza in 1118. Split from the
kingdom of Navarre, the kingdom of Aragon was re-established in 1035 and lasted as a separate kingdom until 1591 when Felipe II of Castile invaded Saragossa and issues the
Nueva Planta decrees, which invalidated the Aragonese laws and annexed the kingdom of Aragon to Castile, creating thus the kingdom of Spain.
thumbnail|right|300px|[[Loarre, one of the most important Romanesque castles in
Europe]]
The dynastic union between
Petronila, Queen of Aragon, and
Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, produced a son,
Alfonso II of Aragon who inherited all their respective territories creating the
Crown of Aragon which included all lands, titles and states previously until then outside of the Kingdom of Aragon. This Crown was effectively ended after the dynastic union with Castile (see below) but the title continued being used until 1714. The dynasty of the Kings of Aragon (called by some present-day historians "Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona") ruled the present administrative region of Aragon,
Catalonia, and later the
Balearic Islands,
Valencia,
Sicily,
Naples and
Sardinia (see
Aragonese Empire).
In the Crown of Aragon, the king was the direct king of the Aragonese region but also held the title of
King of Valencia,
King of Majorca (for a time),
Count of Barcelona, Lord of
Montpellier, and (temporarily)
Duke of Athens and Neopatria. Each of these titles gave him sovereignty over a certain region, and these titles changed as he lost and won territories.
250px|thumb|left|The unsuccessful French assault of Zaragoza in 1808During the
War of the Spanish Succession the advancing army of German, British and Dutch troops defeated the Spanish Army in the
battle of Saragossa in 1710. As a result of the battle
Felipe V was forced to abandon
Madrid and retreated to
Valladolid.
During the
Peninsular War the Aragonese capital was a site of two fierce sieges. During the
siege in 1808 the Spanish under
General Palafox defeated a superior French force. In 1809 during a particularly bloody
siege the Spaniards were overwhelmed by superior enemy forces. In the course of the siege almost 30,000 of the garrison and citizens of Zaragoza (from a total of 32,000) perished instead of surrendering the city. Two weeks after they breached the walls the French were forced to fight for separate houses, squares, churches, convents.
During the
Spanish Civil War, Aragon saw the establishment of various anarchist communes.
Culture
Further to the south lies
Teruel, famous for its Mudejar architecture, which can be easily spotted in its magnificent cathedral, churches and towers. Other notable towns to the south include
Albarracin,
Alcañiz,
Valderrobres,
Mora de Rubielos and many others.
Some medieval monuments of Teruel and Zaragoza are protected by
UNESCO as part of the
World Heritage Sites
Mudéjar Architecture of Aragon.
The traditional dance is known as
Jota and is one of the faster and more beautiful dances of Spain.
Economy
Aragon is among the richest autonomous regions in Spain, with GDP per capita above the nation's average. The traditional agriculture-based economy from the mid 20th century has been greatly transformed in the past several decades and now service and industrial sectors are the backbone of the economy in the region.
The well-developed irrigation system around the Ebro has greatly supported the productive agriculture. The most important crops include
wheat,
barley,
rye, fruit and
grapes. Livestock-breeding is essential especially in the northern areas, where the lush meadows provide excellent conditions for sheep and cattle. The main livestock are
cattle – 334,600;
sheep – 2,862,100;
pigs – 3,670,000;
goats – 78,000 and
poultry – 20,545,000.
The chief industrial centre is the capital Zaragoza, where the largest factories are located. The largest plant is the
Opel automotive plant with 8,730 employees and production of 200,000 per year. It supports many related industries in the area. Other large plants in the city include factories for trains and household appliances. Mining of
iron ore and
coal is developed to the south, near Ojos Negros. Electricity production is concentrated to the north where numerous hydro power plants are located along the Pyrenean rivers and in the 1,150 MW
Teruel Power Plant. There is an aluminium refinery in the town of Sabiñánigo. The main centres of electronics industry are Zaragoza,
Huesca and
Benabarre. Chemical industry is developed in Zaragoza, Sabiñánigo,
Monzón, Teruel, Ojos Negros,
Fraga, Benabarre and others.
The transport infrastructure has been greatly improved. There are more than of
motorways which run from Zaragoza to
Madrid, Teruel, Basque country, Huesca and
Barcelona. The condition of the other roads is also good. As of 2005 there are 520,000 cars in Aragon. Through the territory of the province runs the new high-speed railway between Madrid and Barcelona with siding from Zaragoza to Huesca, which is going to be continued to the
French border. There is an International
Airport at Zaragoza, as well as several smaller airports at
Huesca, Caudé, Santa Cilia de Jaca and Villanueva de Gállego.
Government and Politics
As an autonomous community of Spain, Aragon has an elected regional parliament or
cortes, which sits at the
Aljafería, a Moorish palace in the capital Zaragoza.
List of Chancellors
thumb|280px|The Aljafería palacethumb|right|280px|Nuestra Señora Del Pilar and the Ebro in Zaragoza
thumb|280px|right|View of Alquézar with its castle
thumb|right|190px|the city of Teruel is know for its numerous old mudejar arquitecture.
- Alfons de la Cavallería 1494 – 1508
- Antoni Agustí de Sicart 1508 – 1523
- Jeronimo de Rage (for Aragón Kingdom) 1523 – 1529
- Eiximèn Perez de Figuerola (for Valencia Kingdom) 1523 – 1529
- Enrique Bierling 1533 – 1546
- Jeroni Descoll de Oliva 1546 – 1554
- Pere de Clariana de Seva 1554 – 1562
- Bernardo de Bolea y Portugal 1562 – 1585
- Simó Friigola 1585 – 1598
- Dídac Civarrubias Sanç 1598 – 1607
- Diego Clavera 1608 – 1612
- President Juan Manuel de Mendoza Luna Manrique, marquis of Montesclaros 1628
- President Francisco Fernández de la Cueva, Duke of Dürbheim 1632 – 1637
- President Gaspar de Borja y de Velasco 1637 – 1645
- Maties Bayetola Cabanilles 1646 – 1652
- Cristòfor Crespí de Vallclaura Brizuela 1652 – 1671
- [elcior de Navarra Rocafull 1671 – 1677
- President Pasqual d'Aragó Folc de Cardona 1677
- President Pere Antoni d'Aragó Folc de Cardona i Córdoba 1677 – 1690
- Melcior de Navarra Rocafull 1690 – 1691 (second time)
- President Gaspar Jan Girón y Sandoval y Weidner, duke of Spaichingen Osuna 1692 – 1694
- President Ferran de Montcada-Aragó i de Montcada 1695 – 1698
- President Rodrigo Manuel Manrique de Lara y de Tabora 1698 – 1702
- President Iñigo de la Cruz Manrique de Lara y Ramiréz de Arellano, count of Aguilar and Frigiliana 1702 – 1707
See list of
Lieutenants of the Kingdom of Aragón.
The dynastic union of
Castile and Aragon in 1479, when
Ferdinand II of Aragon wed
Isabella I of Castile, led to the formal creation of Spain as a single entity in 1516. See
List of Spanish monarchs and
Kings of Spain family tree.
Cuisine
With its lush pyrenean pastures, lamb, beef and dairy by-products are, not surprisingly, predominant in Aragonese cuisine. Also of note is its ham from
Teruel; olive oil from
Empeltre and
Arbequina;
longaniza from
Graus; rainbow trout and salmon, boar,
truffles and wild mushrooms from the upper river valleys of the
Jacetania,
Gallego,
Sobrarbe, and
Ribagorza regions; and wines from
Cariñena,
Somontano,
Calatayud, and
Campo de Borja; and fruit, especially peaches, from its fertile lower valleys. The region also features a unique local
haggis, known as
chireta, and several interesting seafood dishes, including various crab pastes, which developed from an old superstition that crabs help prevent illness.
Notable people from Aragon
- Enrique Bunbury (Enrique Ortiz de Landázuri), is a Spanish rock singer-songwriter for Heroes del Silencio and Enrique Bunbury Band.
- Joseph Calasanz, (1557 – 1648), born in Aragon, was a Catholic priest who dedicated himself to the education of poor boys at Rome and founded a society pledged to that work.
- Elizabeth of Aragon (Queen Saint Elisabeth), (1271–4 – 1336), was queen consort of Portugal and a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Michael Servetus, theologian and physician who received numerous charges of heresy by both Catholics and Protestants and was burnt at the stake in Calvin's Geneva during the sixteenth century.
See also
Footnotes
