Aragon Spain – Maps, History, and Culture

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Interactive Map of Aragon, Spain

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Aragon, Spain is a completely landlocked region that is located in the northeastern region of the country. Aragon, Spain covers a total area of approximately 18,000 square miles with many rivers, valleys, and mountains. Because of these many geographical features and where Aragon is located, the climate fluctuates between extremely hot summers to cold winters, alternating between wet and dry seasons each year.

City List:

  • Zaragoza
  • Huesca
  • Teruel
  • Calatayud
  • Utebo
  • Monzon
  • Barbastro
  • Ejea de los Caballeros
  • Alcaniz
  • Fraga

Quick Facts:

  • Population: 1.3 million
  • Languages: Spanish, Aragonese, Catalan
  • Ethnicities: Spanish, Aragonese, Castillian, Catalan, Roman, Greek, Basque
  • Capital: Zaragoza

The History of Aragon

Like the other regions of Spain, Aragon was first settled by the Romans until the Muslims moved into the area and settled what became known as al-Andalus in the 8th Century. The Christian Reconquest began in the 13th Century when Christians began to re-enter the area and retake control of Aragon.

Between the 8th Century and 13th Century, in 1137 AD, the Crown of Aragon was formed when Petronilla of Aragon married Ramen Berenguer IV of Barcelona. The combining of Aragon and Barcelona formed the Crown of Aragon, and in 1162, their son Alfonso II of Aragon ascended the throne as king. The Crown of Aragon continued throughout the 15th Century when Ferdinand I married Isabella.

In 1701, the War of the Spanish Succession began when Charles II, King of Spain, died and left the throne to his half-sister’s grandson, Philip V. Aragon was a territory in Spain that supported Charles II, ultimately supporting Philip V. In 1712, Aragon became a part of the Kingdom of Madrid.

The early 1800s brought much unrest to Aragon. The capital city of Zaragoza was destroyed in 1809 when France invaded the peninsula and took control of the region. Ferdinand VII became King of Spain and was largely influenced by the French. After he died in 1833, Aragon was divided into the three provinces we know today: Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel.

The First Carlist War began in 1833 when Ferdinand’s daughter, Isabella, took the throne as queen. Because of Salic Law that was adopted in the 1700s during Charles II reign, only a male heir to the throne could become king. Carlists, who supported Charles II, believed that Isabella was not rightfully entitled to the throne, as she was the daughter of Ferdinand. Carlists believed the crown was the birthright to Charles II brother, Carlos; thus, began the First Carlist War.

The Basques, a native group in Aragon and northern Spain, supported Ferdinand when he was King of Spain. In 1812 when the Constitution of Cadiz was written, the Basques were oppressed and unrecognized as a Spanish nation.

Therefore, King Ferdinand recognized and honored the Basque people, so long as they returned the favor by publicly supporting him. This is why the Basque people played such a large role in the First Carlist War.

By 1839, the war had taken much away from the Basques. There was poverty, death, famine, and economic downfall. It seemed the Basques had suffered irreparably. A treaty was signed that allowed the Basques to maintain control over taxes and military draft by becoming part of Spain.

During the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939, Aragon was divided in half, both literally and figuratively. The eastern side contained Catalonia and supported the Republican Regional Defence Council of Aragon.

The Regional Defence Council of Aragon supported the Republic of Spain. The western side of Aragon was controlled by the Nationalists, who supported the Catholic Monarchy. The Spanish Civil War ended in 1939 when the Republicans were defeated.

Since the 1960s, Aragon has become a region in Spain that has brought industrialization, economic growth, and advanced infrastructures, which continues to grow today.

Languages

The primary language spoken in Aragon is Spanish, but there are variations of dialects and secondary languages that are spoken as well. Aragonese and Catalan are both romance languages that are spoken in northern Spain. These languages have similarities to Spanish, as they are all derived from Latin. Catalan is found to be spoken more widespread in areas across Spain, France, and Italy, while a few thousand people speak Aragonese in the Aragon region of Spain.

Religion

The primary religion in Aragon, Spain is the Roman Catholicism denomination of Christianity. Throughout the history of Aragon, there was a combination of Jewish, Muslim, and Christian worshippers living throughout the area. This is why it is common to see Judaism, Islam, and Christianity practiced in the area today.

Geography

Aragon, Spain covers around 18,000 square miles, making it the 4th-largest region of Spain; however, the population of the area is much farther down the list. This large region of Spain encompasses the Pyrenees Mountains, with many rivers and valleys winding throughout the land.

Much of Aragon is protected by wildlife and land preservation and national parks systems. Agriculture used to be the main source of income for those living in Aragon, but the area has transformed into a commercialized and industrial region. The geographic and climatic conditions are only favorable for livestock and few crops, such as rye, barley, and fruits.

Culture

The Aragon culture is known mostly for its song and dance. Drums, flutes, and Spanish bagpipes can all be traced back to historical and present-day Aragon. The Carnival of Bielsa is held in Huesca and represents the Christian belief that spring represents life after death.

Immigration & Migration Patterns

The first mass exodus that was recorded in Aragon was during the First Carlist War. During this time, many rural Aragonese fled the area to support Spain and Ferdinand and Isabella, as there was much unrest and uncertainty at their homes in the country.

The second round of Aragonese immigration was recorded in the 1960s when rural Aragon was almost non-existent. The countryside was poor, impoverished, and extremely unpopulated; therefore, these rural Aragonese civilians moved to the larger cities to find work and a new life. Some emigrants left the country of Spain altogether and found better opportunities in neighboring European countries.

Genealogy

The Aragon heritage of Spanish Genealogy is centralized mostly in Spain and neighboring European countries. Because Aragon is landlocked in northeastern Spain, most immigrants that migrated to and from the area are from Europe. There was very little emigration from Aragon to the New World in the western hemisphere because of where Aragon is located.

This makes the Aragon genealogy limited to mostly European descent, such as Roman, Greek, French, German, Austrian, and Italian. The Catalan language, for example, is spoken in Spain, France, and Italy because the native area is located in each of these countries.

While it is not impossible to have genealogy from the New World traced back to Aragon, Spain, it is more likely to see neighboring European countries connected to the Aragonese genealogy.

Caleb Pike
About the author

Caleb Pike is an avid hiker and nature lover, with a passion for exploring the great outdoors. He's a writer, photographer, and adventurer, always seeking new trails to blaze and peaks to conquer.