v.
Spanish País Vasco
Autonomous community (pop., 2001: 2,082,587) and historical region, northern Spain.
Bounded by the Bay of Biscay , it consists of the modern provinces of Vizcaya (Biscay), Álava, and Guipúzcoa and has an area of 2,793 sq mi (7,234 sq km); its capital is Vitoria-Gasteiz . Inhabited by Basque s, the area retained virtual autonomy until the 19th century, when it suffered repression under Alfonso XII . A separatist movement succeeded in regaining Basque autonomy in 1936 under the short-lived Republican government, but autonomy was withdrawn by Francisco Franco in 1939. Though limited autonomy was granted in 1980, a campaign of terrorism against the Spanish government continued. Álava is an agricultural region, while metallurgical industry is concentrated around Bilbao .