Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Alessandria

ALESSANDRIA, city and capital of the province of Alessandria, Italy; on the river Tanaro. It was built in 1168 for protection against Emperor Frederick I. Its original name, Cæsarea, was changed to Alessandria in honor of Pope Alexander III. It was taken by Sforza, Duke of Milan, in 1522, by Prince Eugene in 1707, and ceded to Savoy in 1713 by the Peace of Utrecht. By the armistice of Alessandria, after the battle of Marengo (1800), all of north Italy as far as the Mincio was ceded to France. It was taken by the Austrians in 1821, and became the headquarters of the Piedmontese in the insurrection of 1848-1849. The richly decorated cathedral was rebuilt in 1823. Pop. about 72,500. The province has an area of 1,980 square miles. Pop. about 900,000. A considerable trade is conducted in linen, silk, and woolen stuffs, hats, and artificial flowers.