Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén
Francisco Javier Castaños Aragorri Urioste y Olavide, 1st Duke of Bailén (22 April 1758 – 24 September 1852) was a Spanish general and politician who excelled during the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. From July to September 1834, he served as the first president of the Senate of Spain, at that time called House of Peers.
The Duke of Bailén | |
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![]() Castaños | |
President of the Regency Council | |
In office 1 February 1810 – 29 May 1810 | |
Monarch | Fernando VII |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Pedro de Quevedo y Quintano |
1st President of the House of Peers | |
In office 10 April 1834 – 12 July 1835 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | The Duke of Ahumada |
Personal details | |
Born | Francisco Javier Castaños y Urioste 22 April 1758 Madrid, Spain |
Died | 22 April 1852 93) Madrid, Spain | (aged
Resting place | Pantheon of Illustrious Men (1852–1963) Parish Church of the Incarnation, Bailén (1963–present) |
Nationality | Spanish |
Profession | Army general and politician |
Awards | Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | Spanish Army |
Years of service | 1774–1852 |
Rank | Captain general |
Battles/wars | War of the Pyrenees Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808) Napoleonic Wars Peninsular War |
![](../I/m/La_Rendici%C3%B3n_de_Bail%C3%A9n_(Casado_del_Alisal).jpg)
Castaños was one of the most important military officers during the Peninsular War, reaching the position of Chair of the Regency Council of Spain and the Indies (de facto head of state) in 1810. In 1833, Queen Regent Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies, in the name of her daughter, Queen Isabella II, granted him with the title of Duke of Bailén, to honour his actions in the Peninsular War and, specially, in the Battle of Bailén, where the Napoleonic army was defeated at open field for the first time, which also caused the flight of Spain from King Joseph Bonaparte.
Biography
Castaños was born at Madrid.
Castaños is remembered for his victory over the French under Dupont, whom he surrounded and compelled to surrender at the decisive Battle of Bailen in 1808, being on that moment in command of the "Army of the South", the biggest Spanish military unit during the Napoleonic War. Though just months later lead his army to a decisive defeat at the Battle of Tudela. After this he served under Wellington in several engagements, and was commander of the Spanish army, if required, to invade France in 1815.
Castaños died at Madrid in 1852.
Bibliography
- Esdaile, Charles J. (2003). The Peninsular War: A New History. MacMillan. ISBN 978-1-4039-6231-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Francisco Javier Castaños. |
- Bicentenary of the Battle of Bailén(in Spanish).