Lower Aragon
Encyclopedia
Lower Aragon also known as Tierra Baja, is a natural
and historical region
in Aragon
, Spain
. The name "Lower Aragon" refers to the areas of the lowest altitude within the Ebro
river basin, but the historical region encompasses only the river basins of several right tributaries of the Ebro
River, namely the Matarranya
, Guadalope
, Regallo, Martín
and Aguas, located between the Ebro and the Iberian mountain range
.
The demonym
for Lower Aragonese people is bajoaragonés or tierrabajino. The eastern fringes of the Lower Aragon natural region include some areas belonging as well to the Catalan-speaking strip in eastern Aragon known as La Franja
and overlapping the historical Ilercavonia
comarca.
All the villages traditionally taking part in the characteristic and loud Drum and Bass drum Route during Holy Week
processions are included in Lower Aragon historical region.
Nueva Planta decrees
a large part of Lower Aragon became the Corregimiento de Alcañiz, a kind of large district. In 1812, as a result of Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet
's territorial division, the Province of Alcañiz (Provincia de Alcañiz) briefly unified the Lower Aragon region during French occupation. Since then, and despite of the strong identity of its inhabitants, this historical region has not been able to achieve the necessary legal recognition for its administrative development.
After the territorial division of Spain
in 1833 there have been attempts to create again a fourth province of Aragon with its capital in Alcañiz
. These proposals were based on the limited relationship that the municipal areas of Lower Aragon have had with Teruel
, the capital of the province in which most of the historical region of Lower Aragon is presently included.
In 1935, at the time of the Second Spanish Republic
there was a feeble attempt to segregate the municipalities surrounding Alcañiz and Híjar
from the Province of Teruel and merge them with Zaragoza Province. But so far the proposals to make a province out of the Lower Aragon region have not found much echo and the area finds itself in a state of administrative and economical neglect reflected in the A-68 highway issue.
, Bajo Aragón-Caspe, Bajo Martín
, Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
, Matarranya and Ribera Baja del Ebro
comarcas, as well as some municipal terms of the Maestrazgo
, Campo de Belchite
, Bajo Cinca and Cuencas Mineras
comarcas.
Since the current Bajo Aragón administrative division is only a small fraction of the historical territory, the name Bajo Aragón histórico is now commonly used in order to distinguish it from the homonymous small comarca.
Natural region
A Natural region is one which is distinguished by its natural features of geography and usually more important, geology. The natural ecology of the region is likely to be significant but one of these factors tends to influence the others....
and historical region
Historical region
Historical regions are delimitations of geographic areas for studying and analysing social development of period-specific cultures without any reference to contemporary political, economic or social organisations....
in Aragon
Aragon
Aragon is a modern autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. Located in northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces : Huesca, Zaragoza, and Teruel. Its capital is Zaragoza...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The name "Lower Aragon" refers to the areas of the lowest altitude within the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
river basin, but the historical region encompasses only the river basins of several right tributaries of the Ebro
Ebro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
River, namely the Matarranya
Matarranya River
The Matarranya River is a river in the provinces of Teruel and Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. It begins its course at 1,200 m nordeast of the Tossal d'Encanader, Ports de Beseit. limestone massif near La Pobla de Benifassà....
, Guadalope
Guadalope
The Guadalope River is a river in Aragon, Spain. It is a tributary of the Ebro .-Course:...
, Regallo, Martín
Martin River
The Martin River is a river in southern Alaska. It flows westward from the Martin River Glacier into the Copper River Delta....
and Aguas, located between the Ebro and the Iberian mountain range
Sistema Ibérico
The Sistema Ibérico or Iberian System is one of the main systems of mountain ranges in Spain.It is a vast and complex system of mountain chains and massifs located in the central regions of the Iberian Peninsula, but reaching almost the Mediterranean coast in the Land of Valencia in the east.From...
.
The demonym
Demonym
A demonym , also referred to as a gentilic, is a name for a resident of a locality. A demonym is usually – though not always – derived from the name of the locality; thus, the demonym for the people of England is English, and the demonym for the people of Italy is Italian, yet, in english, the one...
for Lower Aragonese people is bajoaragonés or tierrabajino. The eastern fringes of the Lower Aragon natural region include some areas belonging as well to the Catalan-speaking strip in eastern Aragon known as La Franja
La Franja
La Franja is a term that refers to the Catalan-speaking territories of Aragon bordering Catalonia, in Spain. It literally means "the strip" and can also more properly be called Franja d'Aragó or Franja de Ponent in Catalan ....
and overlapping the historical Ilercavonia
Ilercavonia
Ilercavonia is an ancient comarca of Spain formerly populated by the ancient Iberian tribe known as Ilercavones. It is a greater comarca made up of smaller ones...
comarca.
All the villages traditionally taking part in the characteristic and loud Drum and Bass drum Route during Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
processions are included in Lower Aragon historical region.
History
In 1707, following King Philip'sPhilip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
Nueva Planta decrees
Nueva Planta decrees
The Nueva Planta decrees were a number of decrees signed between 1707 and 1716 by Philip V—the first Bourbon king of Spain—during and shortly after the end of the War of the Spanish Succession which he won....
a large part of Lower Aragon became the Corregimiento de Alcañiz, a kind of large district. In 1812, as a result of Marshal Louis Gabriel Suchet
Louis Gabriel Suchet
Louis Gabriel Suchet, 1st Duc d'Albufera was a Marshal of France and one of Napoleon's most brilliant generals.-Early career:...
's territorial division, the Province of Alcañiz (Provincia de Alcañiz) briefly unified the Lower Aragon region during French occupation. Since then, and despite of the strong identity of its inhabitants, this historical region has not been able to achieve the necessary legal recognition for its administrative development.
After the territorial division of Spain
1833 territorial division of Spain
The 1833 territorial division of Spain divided Spain into provinces, classified into "historic regions" . on the official web site of the government of the Canary Islands, accessed 2009-12-31...
in 1833 there have been attempts to create again a fourth province of Aragon with its capital in Alcañiz
Alcañiz
Alcañiz is a town and municipality in the province of Teruel, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain. The town is located on the banks of the river Guadalope. Alcañiz is the unofficial capital of the Lower Aragon historical region...
. These proposals were based on the limited relationship that the municipal areas of Lower Aragon have had with Teruel
Teruel
Teruel is a town in Aragon, eastern Spain, and the capital of Teruel Province. It has a population of 34,240 in 2006 making it one of the least populated provincial capitals in the country...
, the capital of the province in which most of the historical region of Lower Aragon is presently included.
In 1935, at the time of the Second Spanish Republic
Second Spanish Republic
The Second Spanish Republic was the government of Spain between April 14 1931, and its destruction by a military rebellion, led by General Francisco Franco....
there was a feeble attempt to segregate the municipalities surrounding Alcañiz and Híjar
Híjar
Híjar is a municipality located in the province of Teruel, Aragon, Spain. , the municipality has a population of 1,900 inhabitants.The town is noted for the well-preserved, 15th century Synagogue, and for the Gothic-Mudejar church of Santa María la Mayor....
from the Province of Teruel and merge them with Zaragoza Province. But so far the proposals to make a province out of the Lower Aragon region have not found much echo and the area finds itself in a state of administrative and economical neglect reflected in the A-68 highway issue.
Present-day status
Lower Aragon was divided into the smaller administrative comarcas after the official delimitation of the Comarcas of Aragon in 1999. Its historical limits fall now within the Bajo AragónBajo Aragón
Bajo Aragón or Baix Aragó is an administrative comarca in eastern central Aragon, Spain. It was first established in 1999. It has a population of 29,358 and an area of 1.304,2 km². The seat of the comarca is in Alcañiz...
, Bajo Aragón-Caspe, Bajo Martín
Bajo Martín
Bajo Martín is a comarca in Aragon. It is part of the historical region of Lower Aragon. It is located in Teruel Province, in the transitional area between the Iberian System and the Ebro Valley....
, Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
Andorra-Sierra de Arcos
Andorra-Sierra de Arcos is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located in Teruel Province and it is named after Sierra de Arcos, a range of this mountainous area of the Sistema Ibérico....
, Matarranya and Ribera Baja del Ebro
Ribera Baja del Ebro
Ribera Baja del Ebro is a comarca in eastern Aragon, Spain. It is part of the historical region of Lower Aragon. The most important town is Quinto.It is located by the River Ebro about 40 km south-east of Zaragoza...
comarcas, as well as some municipal terms of the Maestrazgo
Maestrazgo, Aragon
Maestrazgo is a comarca in southeastern Aragon, Spain. Its names derives from the Maestrat/Maestrazgo mountain massif that extends to the east to the Comarques of the Valencian Community Alt Maestrat and Baix Maestrat. The most important town is Cantavieja...
, Campo de Belchite
Campo de Belchite
Campo de Belchite is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located in Zaragoza Province, in the transitional area between the Iberian System and the Ebro Valley.The administrative capital is Belchite, with 1,647 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca....
, Bajo Cinca and Cuencas Mineras
Cuencas Mineras
Cuencas Mineras is a comarca in Aragon, Spain. It is located in Teruel Province, in the mountainous area of the Sistema Ibérico.The administrative capital is Utrillas, with 3,346 inhabitants the largest town of the comarca, but the historical and cultural center is Montalbán.This comarca owes its...
comarcas.
Since the current Bajo Aragón administrative division is only a small fraction of the historical territory, the name Bajo Aragón histórico is now commonly used in order to distinguish it from the homonymous small comarca.