Country Spain Comarca Sierra Morena Time zone CET (UTC+1) Elevation 343 m Province Province of Jaén | Autonomous community Andalusia Demonym(s) Bailenenses Postal code 23710 Area 117.6 km² | |
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Bailén (formerly Baylen in English) is a town in the province of Jaén, Spain.
Contents
Map of 23710 Bail%C3%A9n, Ja%C3%A9n, 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.
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. 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.
Economy
The town has many quarries, resulting in a reputation for craft products.