Bailén

Bailén
Municipality

Parish church of the Incarnation.

Flag
Coat of arms
Bailén

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 38°5′N 3°46′W / 38.083°N 3.767°W / 38.083; -3.767
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Andalusia
Province Jaén
Comarca Sierra Morena
Government
 • Mayor Luis Mariano Camacho Núñez
Area
 • Total 117.6 km2 (45.4 sq mi)
Elevation 343 m (1,125 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 18,785
 • Density 160/km2 (410/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Bailenenses
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 23710
Website Official website

Bailén (formerly Baylen in English) is a town in the province of Jaén, Spain.

History

Bailén is probably the ancient Baecula, where the Romans, under Scipio the elder, signally defeated the Carthaginians in 209 and 206 B.C. In its neighbourhood, also, in 1212, was fought the great Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, in which, according to the ancient chroniclers, the Castilians under Alphonso VIII, slew 200,000 Almohads, and themselves only lost 25 men. Although this estimate is absurd, the victory of the Christians was complete.[1]

There is a convent that dates from 729.

In 1808, during the Peninsular War, it was the site of a series of clashes (the Battle of Bailén) at which General Castaños defeated General Pierre Dupont.[2] The capitulation, signed at Andújar by Dupont on the 23rd of July 1808, involved the surrender of 17,000 men to the Spaniards, and was the first severe blow suffered by the French in the Peninsular War.[1]

Economy

The town has many quarries, resulting in a reputation for craft products.

Significant Births

Twin towns

Notes

  1. 1 2  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bailén". Encyclopædia Britannica. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 217.
  2. ↑ Chandler, p. 618

References


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