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Asturias

Asturias

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

Asturias , autonomous region (1990 pop. 1,128,372) and former kingdom, NW Spain, S of the Bay of Biscay and E of Galicia, and coextensive with Oviedo prov. It was established as an autonomous region in 1981. Drained by numerous swift rivers, it is crossed by the well-forested Cantabrian Mts. High rainfall and cool temperatures have favored a large dairy industry. Along the coast, apple orchards are the source of a world-famous cider, and corn is a major crop. Gijón is the chief port, and fishing is a major occupation. Most of the population, however, is engaged in coal and iron mining and steel manufacturing.

The name Asturias is derived from an Iberian people that lived there before the Roman conquest (2d cent. BC). When the Moors overran the peninsula, Christian nobles fled into the Asturian mountains. They created the first Christian kingdom of Spain (see Pelayo ) and defended themselves at the battle of Covadonga . From Asturias came the Christian reconquest of Spain, as the successors of King Alfonso I extended their control over Asturias, Galicia, León, and parts of Castile, Navarre, and Vizcaya. Astorga was one of the chief cities of the Asturian kingdom in the 9th cent.

In the 10th cent. the capital was moved from Oviedo to León, and the kingdom of Asturias became the kingdom of Asturias and León, which three centuries later was united with the kingdom of Castile. In 1388, John I of León and Castile made his son prince of the Asturias—the title borne from that time on by the heir to the throne. The Asturians are noted for their stubborn courage and independence—traits shown in the warfare against Napoleon, in various uprisings against the Spanish government, in the civil war of 1936-39, and in the general strike of 1962.

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Asturias

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Asturias, Philippines, Spain Spain: a mountainous autonomous community (and officially the Principality of Asturias) on the Bay of Biscay. Its name derives from the Basque asta ‘rock’ and ur ‘water’. It was the last Christian stronghold of the Visigothic élite, who had been driven north by the Moors. They established an independent kingdom between 718 and 910. Asturias was absorbed by Léon in the 12th century and became a principality in 1388. The title ‘Prince of Asturias’ is held by the eldest son of the king.
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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Asturias." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Asturias." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Asturias.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Asturias." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Asturias.html

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Asturias

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Asturias Region in nw Spain, bordering the Bay of Biscay and traversed by the Cantabrian Mountains. The capital is Oviedo. Asturias was named by the Iberians in the 2nd century bc and is famous for its cider. Its coal mines are the richest in Spain. Industries: coal, manganese, mining, steel and nonferrous metal production, fishing, fruit. Pop. (1998) 1,081,834.
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Asturias

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

Asturias •alas, Alsace, amass, ass, Bass, chasse, crass, crevasse, en masse, gas, Hamas, lass, mass, morass, sass, tarantass, tass, wrasse •Díaz • Phidias • palliasse •materfamilias, paterfamilias •Asturias • Aphrodisias • Trias •Donbas • Vargas • Ofgas • biogas •teargas • jackass • Hellas • Ulfilas •Stanislas • Candlemas • landmass •Martinmas • biomass • Childermas •Esdras • Mithras • hippocras •sassafras • demitasse • gravitas

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