Autonomous community (pop., 2001: 1,062,998) and province, on the Bay of
It occupies an area of 4,094 sq mi (10,604 sq km); its capital is Oviedo . Coextensive with the historical principality of Asturias, it is largely covered by mountains that isolate it from other Spanish provinces. Its population and industries are concentrated in the Nalón River valley, whose extensive coalfields make the province Spain's mining centre. Conquered by the Romans under Augustus in 25 BC, it was later ruled by the Visigoths . It became part of the kingdom of {{link=Leon">León on the accession of Alfonso III in 866. It was made a principality in 1388, a province in 1838, and an autonomous community in 1981.