I. A S. E. province of Spain, forming a part of the old kingdom of Murcia; area, 5,965 sq. m.; pop. in 1867 (estimated), 221,000. Large portions of the province are level, and the soil is in general very fertile;' but the surface is varied, and in the west mountainous. The principal rivers are the Segura, Mundo, and Jucar. The chief towns are Alba-cete, Almansa, Villarobledo, Caudete, Alcaraz, Tobarra, Hellin, and Segura.

II. A city, capital of the preceding province, situated in a fertile plain on the highway and railroad between Madrid and Cartagena, 135 m. (direct) S. E. of Madrid; pop. in 1860, 17,088. The town is well built, and has been called the Sheffield of Spain from its former large business in cutlery; but the manufacture has greatly declined, and the chief productions now are coarse daggers and sword knives (punales). There is a large general trade with other towns.