Alessandria. I. A N. W. province of Italy, in Piedmont, embracing the former duchy of Montferrat; area, 1,952 sq. m.; pop. in 1872, 683,473. It is traversed E. and W. by the Turin and Stradella, and N. and S. by the Genoa and Lago Maggiore railroad. The principal rivers flowing through it are the Tanaro, Bormida, and Serivia. Among the chief products are maize, wine, silk, madder, and flax. The eastern • part is an extensive, fertile plain; the centre consists partly of barren hills, and partly of excellent table land; the western portion is hilly, and produces the best wine of Piedmont. It is divided into the districts of Tortona, Alessandria, Asti, Casale, Acqui, and Novi.

II. A fortified city (Ital. Alessandria delta Paglia, of the straw, from its houses having originally been thatched), capital of the above province, near the confluence of the Bormida and Tanaro, a few miles from the Po, and 46 m. E. S. E. of Turin; pop. in 1872, including suburbs, 57,079. It was founded in 1168 by the Lombard league, as a bulwark against the German emperors, and in modern times again received significance as a national Italian fortress against Austria. Though up to the beginning of this century its defences were indifferent, the French in vain besieged it in 1G57, and Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1707 only took it after a protracted defence. Napoleon I. strengthened it, after the annexation of Piedmont to France, with casemated batteries for the defence of the ditch, great additions to the citadel, and a bridge-head on the opposite side of the Bormida. It is now the strongest fortified city of Italy, after Verona. During the war of 1848-'9 it was the principal arsenal of the Italians, and after the battle of Novara it was temporarily occupied by an Austrian force during the truce.

It was the headquarters of Napoleon III. and Victor Emanuel in the campaign of 1859. The city has a college, a theological seminary, about 20 churches, including a cathedral, an academy of science and arts, several palaces, and manufactories of linen, silks, cloths, and wax candles. It is an important railway centre.

Alessandria.