Aosta

Aosta, Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, duke of, 1869-1931, Italian general; son of King Amadeus of Spain and cousin of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. In World War I he held the Piave front after the Italian defeat at Caporetto and later occupied Friuli. He became a marshal in 1926. His son Amadeus (1898-1942), who succeeded to his title, was viceroy of Ethiopia (1937-41). He surrendered to the British during World War II after a valiant defense.

Aosta, city (1990 pop. 36,339), capital of Valle d'Aosta region and of Aosta prov., NW Italy, near the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard roads. Aosta is an industrial and tourist center. It has used its position at the confluence of the Buthier and Dora Baltea rivers to produce hydroelectric power. Manufactures include iron and steel, aluminum, and chemicals. Emperor Augustus there founded (c.25 B.C.) a colony called Augusta Praetoria, on the site of an older settlement. In the 11th cent. Aosta was given as a fief to Count Humbert I, the founder of the Savoy dynasty; the cadet line of the house bore the title of duke of Aosta. Roman remains in Aosta include walls and gates, a majestic triumphal arch honoring Augustus, a theater, and an amphitheater. There is also a fine cathedral (12th-19th cent.).

Aosta, Valle d', region (1991 pop. 115,938), 1,260 sq mi (3,263 sq km), NW Italy, bordering on France in the west and on Switzerland in the north. Aosta is the capital of the region and of its only province. A high Alpine country, the Valle d'Aosta includes the Italian slopes of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa; its highest peak is the Gran Paradiso. The population, much of which is French-speaking, is concentrated in the picturesque valleys of the Dora Baltea River and its tributaries. The Great and the Little Saint Bernard roads join in the upper Aosta valley. Farming is the main occupation; cereals and grapes are grown, and dairy cattle are raised. Iron and steel and textiles are the leading manufactures, and there are major hydroelectric facilities. The region has several fashionable resorts, notably Champoluc, Courmayeur, and Cervinia-Breuil. A long vehicular tunnel through Mont Blanc, connecting France and Italy, was opened in 1965; highways feeding it were built in Valle d'Aosta, thus markedly improving the region's transportation network. Rome conquered the region from the Salassi people c.25 B.C. It later was held by the Goths, the Lombards, and the dukes of Burgundy. After passing (11th cent.) to the counts of Savoy, the Valle d'Aosta shared the history of Piedmont. Under the Italian constitution of 1947 it was made a region with considerable autonomy, particularly in administrative and cultural affairs. The feudal system long prevailed in the region, and more than 70 castles are still standing.

Autonomous region (pop., 2001 prelim.: 119,356), northwestern Italy. Covering an area of 1,259 sq mi (3,262 sq km), it is enclosed on three sides by the Alps; the capital is Aosta. Originally the territory of the Celtic Salassi, it was annexed by the Romans. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century, it formed part of the Burgundian and Frankish kingdoms. It was acquired in the 11th century by the house of Savoy. The autonomous region of Valle d'Aosta was created in 1945, in recognition of the area's special French linguistic and cultural orientation. It is important for dairy products and tourism.

Learn more about Valle d'Aosta with a free trial on Britannica.com.

City (pop., 2001: 33,926), capital of Valle d'Aosta region, northwestern Italy. Located at the juncture of the Great and Little St. Bernard Pass roads through the Alps, it was a stronghold of the Salassi, a Celtic tribe subdued by the Romans in 25 BC. A Roman town was founded there by Augustus in 24 BC, and many Roman structures survive, including the walls, two gates, and a triumphal arch in honour of Augustus. Aosta was the birthplace of St. Anselm.

Learn more about Aosta with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Valle d'Aosta is the name of two places:

• the Aosta Valley (Valle d'Aosta), a region in Italy
• the Val d'Aosta, the Lowndes County estate of George Troup (former governor of Georgia), named for the valley (Valdosta, Georgia was in turn named for the estate)