加泰隆尼亚

西班牙东北部自治区和历史区。包括西班牙东北部的赫罗纳、巴塞隆纳、塔拉戈纳和莱里达四省。庇里牛斯山脉为该区与法国的分界岭,自治区的东部是地中海。主要河流是特尔河、略夫雷加特河和厄波罗河,均流入地中海。加泰隆尼亚是罗马人在西班牙建立的最早领地之一。西元5世纪时为哥德人占领,西元712年被摩尔人攻陷,8世纪末又落入查理曼手中。1469年西班牙完成统一後,加泰隆尼亚在西班牙国家事务中退居次要地位。17世纪时它与卡斯提尔的利益冲突导致加泰隆人开始进行一系列的分立主义活动。1876年以後,加泰隆民族主义变成一股重大的势力。1932年与中央政府达成协议,准予其自治。1939年民族主义的胜利意味着自治的丧失,佛朗哥的政府对加泰隆民族主义采取镇压政策。佛朗哥死後,西班牙重建民主制度,加泰隆尼亚再度要求自治。如今加泰隆尼亚是西班牙最富饶和工业化程度最高的地区。首府为巴塞隆纳。面积31,930平方公里。人口约6,090,000(1996)。

Catalonia

Autonomous community (pop., 1996 est.: 6,090,000) and historic region, northeastern Spain. It encompasses the provinces of Gerona, Barcelona, Tarragona, and Lérida, and covers an area of 12,328 sq mi (31,930 sq km); its capital is Barcelona. The Pyrenees separate Catalonia from France; the Mediterranean Sea lies to the east. Its principal rivers, the Ter, Llobrégat, and Ebro, all run into the Mediterranean. Catalonia was one of Rome's first Spanish possessions. Occupied in the 5th century AD by the Goths, it was taken by the Moors in 712 and by Charlemagne in 795. After the unification of Spain (1469), Catalonia lost its centrality in Spanish affairs, and by the 17th century its conflict of interest with Castilla y León led to the first of a series of separatist movements. Catalan nationalism became a serious force after 1876. In 1932 a compromise with the central government granted Catalonia autonomy; this was revoked with the 1939 Nationalist victory, and Francisco Franco's government adopted a repressive policy toward Catalan nationalism. The reestablishment of democratic rule after Franco's death again led to autonomy in 1979. Today Catalonia is the richest and most industrialized part of Spain.