Valencian Community

The Valencian Community is an autonomous community located in Spain.

It sits along the Mediterranean coast on the eastern side of the Iberian Peninsula. To its north lies Catalonia, while Murcia borders it to the south. Aragon and Castilla–La Mancha are located to its west. To the east, across the sea, are the Balearic Islands.

The region is divided into three distinct provinces: Castellón, Valencia, and Alicante. It is a highly populated area, housing more than 5 million inhabitants. This represents approximately 10.9% of the total population of Spain.

The region has two official languages: Spanish and Valencian. Valencian is the traditional name for the romance language also known as Catalan.

The name of the capital city, Valencia, has deep etymological roots. The Romans founded the city as Valentia in 138 BC. The name likely translates to "strength" or "valour." It was originally known as the "strength of the Edetani."

Later, during the Al-Andalus period, the name evolved into the Muslim Taifa of Valencia. Today, the region uses the official name "Valencian Community." This specific term was adopted after the democratic transition to resolve naming disputes. It serves as a middle ground between "Valencian Country" and the "Former Kingdom of Valencia."

History in the region began with the indigenous Iberian people. They were divided into groups like the Edetani and the Ilercavones.

Greek colonists established towns at Saguntum and Dianium during the 5th century BC. Later, the Carthaginians occupied the region before it was incorporated into the Roman Empire. Following the fall of Rome, the Visigoths ruled the land. In 711, the arrival of the Arabs brought significant changes to the landscape and culture.

This era included the establishment of independent taifas, such as the Taifa of Valencia and the Taifa of Dénia.

The modern identity of the region traces back to the 13th century. In 1238, James the Conqueror led a Christian conquest of the existing Islamic taifas. This event founded the Kingdom of Valencia as a component of the Crown of Aragon. The kingdom possessed its own legal entity and administrative institutions. These were governed under the Furs of Valencia. During the 15th century, the region experienced a Golden Age. It became the economic capital of the Crown, largely due to the lucrative silk trade. This era saw great political power and the rise of the Valencian House of Borja in Rome.

However, the kingdom's prosperity faced several major challenges. In 1609, the expulsion of the Moriscos caused a massive loss of population. This event removed up to one third of the kingdom's people. It also took away the primary agricultural labor force. Later, the Spanish War of Succession changed the region's legal status forever. In 1707, King Philip V abolished the Kingdom of Valencia. He suspended the local institutions and the Furs. The region was then subordinated to the laws and customs of the Kingdom of Castile. This led to a more centralized and absolutist government under the House of Bourbon.

In the modern era, the Valencian people have reclaimed their right to self-government. After the dictatorship of Franco, the region began a process of partial autonomy in 1977. This led to the creation of the Council of the Valencian Country. Finally, in 1982, the Statute of Autonomy established the current self-government system. This institution is known as the Generalitat Valenciana.

The statute recognizes the Valencian people as a "historical nationality." This modern conception of autonomy connects the historical Kingdom of Valencia to the contemporary region. It ensures that local traditions and the Valencian language are preserved within the Spanish state.

Today, the Valencian Community is a vibrant part of the Spanish Mediterranean. It balances deep historical roots with modern economic life. The capital, Valencia, is the third-largest city and metropolitan area in Spain.

The region is known for its diverse geography, ranging from coastal areas to mountainous terrain.

From the busy ports to the historic city centers, the area remains a significant cultural hub. It continues to be a place where the legacy of the Crown of Aragon meets modern European life.