CATALO MA (Spanish, Cataluha), an old province and principality of Spain, now divided into the provinces of Barcelona, Tarragona, Lerida, and Gerona, the total area being 12,180 in., and the pop. '70, 1,768,408. C. occupies the north-eastern corner of Spain, having France on the n., and the Mediterranean on the e. and s.e. It is watered by the Llobregat and the Ter, and by some of the afiluents of the Ebro, the last-men tioned river having its embouchure in Catalonia. The coast is rugged, its boldest pro montories being capes Creus and San Sebastian, and its deepest indentations the bays of Rosas and Tarragona. With the exception of a few low plums of limited extent, the soil of C. is that of a wild mountainous region formed by numerous offsets or terraces of the Pyrenees, one great ridge or series of ridges extending through the center of the province.
The terraces, sloping abruptly down to the coast, or to the narrow coast plains, are divided by the valley of Llobregat into the lower and the upper Catalonian mountains.
The climate of C., though fog and rain are frequent. and extreme and rapid changes of temperature prevail, is on the whole healthy and favorable to vegetation. Near Bar celona, oranges flourish in the open air; the fields in some parts are bounded by aloe hedges, and olives grow on Montserrat. Cork-trees grow on the mountains, and thickets of thoru-apple, laurel, myrtle, pomegranate, box, rosemary, etc., extend where the cork has its limits. Northern upper C. has a more severe winter than the s.; but everywhere vineyards and olive-gardens cover time slopes, and cornfields extend in the valleys. Among the other products are hemp, flax, madder, barilla, and saffron. Hazel-nuts, a variety called Barcelona nuts, are extensively grown. Meadow-lands and pastures are compara
tively rare, and horned cattle are, therefore, mostly confined to the districts bordering on the Pyrenees; while few horses and mules are kept; but sheep, goats, and swine are bred in considerable numbers. Silk-worms and bees are also reared. The coasts abound with fish, and game is plentiful. The minerals are coal, copper, manganese, zinc, lead, cobalt, salt, sulphur, and many varieties of marble.
C. is the principal manufacturing province of the kingdom—is, in fact, "the Lanca shire of Spain." The inhabitants are neither French nor Spaniards, their language, cos tume, and habits being quite distinct from those of either; they have also local coins, weights, and measures. In energy, industry, and intelligence, they greatly surpass the rest of the Spaniards.
C., under the name of Iligpania 7 arraconens•ls, was one of the earliest. and remained among the last of the Roman provinces. It was invaded and captured by the Mans, who were followed by the Goths, hence its name GoThalania, changed, into Gothalunia or Catalonia. In the 8th c., the Arabs gained possession of the southern part. When Charlemagne, in 788, subjugated Spain as far as the Ebro, C. formed the central portion of the Spanish mark, governed by French counts, having Barcelona as their residence. They soon made themselves independent of France. In 1137, earl Raymund Berengar, by his marriage, united C. with Aragon; and the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella (1469) united both with Castile, and so C. became a portion of the Spanish monarchy, but never a very peaceable one. In modern times it has repeatedly taken a prominent share in Carlist or other insurrections.