Álava

For the commune in Moldova, see Alava, Ştefan Vodă.

Álava
Araba

Province

Historical Territory of Álava¹

Flag

Coat of arms

Country

Spain

Autonomous Community

Basque Country

Capital

Vitoria-Gasteiz

Government

• Deputy General

Javier de Andrés (People's Party)

Area

• Total

2,963 km² (1,144 sq mi)

Population (2011)

• Total

322,557

• Density

110/km² (280/sq mi)

• Ranked

• Percent

0.68%

Parliament

Senate seats

Juntas Generales de Álava

Website

Diputación Foral de Álava

1.^ Complete official names: Arabako Lurralde Historikoa / Territorio Histórico de Álava

Álava (IPA: [ˈalaβa] in Spanish) or Araba (IPA: [aˈɾaba] in Basque), officially Araba/Álava,^[1] is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community. It borders the Basque provinces of Biscay and Gipuzkoa to the north, the community of La Rioja to the south, the province of Burgos (in the community of Castile and León) to the west and the community of Navarre to the east. The Enclave of Treviño is part of the province of Burgos, not Álava.

It is the largest of the three provinces in the Basque Autonomous Community in geographical terms, with 2,963 km², but also the least populated with 322,557 inhabitants (2012).

Etymology

Built around the Roman mansion Alba located on the road ab Asturica Burdigalam (possibly the current village of Albeniz near Agurain), it has sometimes been argued the name may stem from that landmark. However, according to the Royal Academy of the Basque Language, the origin may be another: The name is first found on Muslim chronicles of the 8th century referring to the Alavese Plains (Spanish Llanada Alavesa, Basque Arabako Lautada), laua in old Basque (currently lautada) with the Arab article added (al + laua), developing into Spanish Álava and Basque Araba (a typical development of l to r between vowels).

Demography and rural landscape

The province numbers 51 municipalities, a population of 315,525 inhabitants in an area of 3,037 km² (1,173 sq mi), with an average of 104.50 inhab/km².^[2] The vast majority of the population clusters in the capital city of Álava, Vitoria-Gasteiz, which also serves as the capital of the Autonomous Community, but the remainder of the territory is sparsely inhabited with population nuclei distributed into seven counties (cuadrillas): Añana; Ayala; Campezo; Laguardia; Salvatierra; Vitoria-Gasteiz; Zuya.

Physical and human geography

Álava is an inland territory and features a largely transitional climate between the humid, Atlantic neighbouring northern provinces and the dry and warmer lands south of the Ebro River. According to the relief and landscape characteristics, the territory is divided into five main zones:

The Gorbea Foothills: Green hilly landscape.
The Valleys: Low valleys, drier, sparsely populated.
The Plains: Heartland of Álava comprising Vitoria and Salvatierra-Agurain, with a central urban area and crop landscape prevailing around and bounded south and north by the Basque Mountains.
The Alavese Mountains: Higher forest lands.
The Alavese Rioja: Oriented to the south on the left bank of the Ebro River, perfect for vineyards.
Ayala: The area clustering around the Nervión River, with Amurrio and Laudio as its major towns. The region shows close bonds with Bilbao and Biscaye and an industrial landscape.

Tip of the Burunda corridor in Navarre, opening on the Alavese Plains, with the Basque Mountains Aratz and Aizkorri on the right

Unlike Biscay and Gipuzkoa, but for Ayala and Aramaio, the waters of Álava pour into the Ebro and hence to the Mediterranean by means of two main waterways, i.e. the Zadorra (main axis of Álava) and Bayas Rivers. In addition, the Zadorra Reservoir System harvests a big quantity of waters that supply not only the capital city but other major Basque towns and cities too, like (Bilbao, etc.).

While in 1950 agriculture and farming shaped the landscape of the territory (42.4% of the working force vs 30.5% in industry and construction), the trend shifted gradually during the 60s and 70s on the grounds of a growing industrial activity in the Alavese Plains (Llanada Alavesa), with the main focus lying on the industrial estates of Vitoria-Gasteiz (Gamarra, Betoño and Ali Gobeo) and, to a lesser extent, Salvatierra-Agurain and Araia. At the turn of the century, only 2% of the working Alavese people was in agriculture, while a 60% was in the third sector and 32% in manufacturing.^[2] Industry associated to iron and metal developed earlier in the Atlantic area much in tune with Bilbao's economic dynamics, with droves of people flocking to and clustering in Amurrio and Laudio, which have since become the third and second main towns of Álava.

Lordship of Álava

List of rulers (modern Spanish names):

Eylon, up to 866
Rodrigo c.867–870, count of Castile
Vela Jiménez 870–c.887
Munio Velaz c.887–c.921
Álvaro Herrameliz c.921–931, also count of Cerezo and Lantarón
Fernán González 931–970, also count of Castile, Álava feudatary of Castile until 1030
García Fernández 970–995
Munio González 1030–1043
Fortunio Íñiguez 1043–1046
Munio Muñoz (co-lord) 1046–1060, Álava feudatary of Navarre, 1046–1085
Sancho Maceratiz (co-lord) 1046–1060
Ramiro 1060–1075
Marcelo 1075–1085
Lope Íñiguez 1085–?, Álava feudatary of Castile until 1123
Lope Díaz the White ?–1093
Lope González 1093–1099
Lope Sánchez 1099–1114
Diego López I 1114–1123
Ladrón Íñiguez 1123–1158, Álava feudatary of Navarre until 1199
Vela Ladrón 1158–1175
Juan Velaz 1175–1181
Diego López II 1181–1187
Íñigo de Oriz 1187–1199
Diego López de Haro I 1199–1214, Álava feudatary of Castile until personal union of 1332
Lope Diaz de Haro I 1214–1240
Nuño González de Lara 1240–1252
Diego López de Haro II 1252–1274
Fernando de la Cerda 1274–1280
Lope Díaz II de Haro 1280–1288
Juan Alonso de Haro 1288–1310
Diego López de Salcedo 1310–1332

The title is attributed to the Castilian kings after 1332.

Bishopric

The Arab invasion of the Ebro valley in the 8th century, many Christians of the diocese of Calahorra sought refuge in areas further north free of Arab rule. The diocese called Álava or Armentaria arose in the mid-9th century. From then until the 11th century the names of several bishops of this see are known, the best known being Fortún, who in 1072 went to Rome to argue before Pope Alexander II in defence of the Mozarabic Rite, which King Alfonso VI of León and Castile had decreed should be replaced by the Roman Rite. The territory of the diocese of Álava, which corresponded more or less to that of the present diocese of Vitoria, was reabsorbed into that of Calahorra, when King Alfonso conquered La Rioja.^[3]

No longer a residential bishopric, Álava is today listed by the Catholic Church as a titular see.^[4]