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Badajoz

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Image:Badajoz, Spain location.png frame '''Badajoz''' (formerly ''Badajos''), the capital of the Spain Spanish provinces of Spain province of Badajoz (province) Badajoz in the autonomous communities of Spain autonomous community of Extremadura, is situated close to the Portugal Portuguese frontier, on the left bank of the river Guadiana, and the Madrid-Lisbon railway. The population in 1990 was 126,781; in 2002 it was 136,851. Badajoz is the see of a bishop. It occupies a slight eminence, crowned by the ruins of a Moorish castle, and overlooking the Guadiana. A strong wall and bastions, with a broad moat and outworks, and forts on the surrounding heights, give the city an appearance of great strength. The river, which flows between the castle-hill and the powerfully armed fort of San Cristobal, is crossed by a magnificent granite bridge, originally built in 1460, repaired in 1597 and rebuilt in 1833. The whole aspect of Badajoz recalls its stormy history; even the cathedral, built in 1238, resembles a fortress, with massive embattled walls. The association football team in the city is Club Deportivo Badajoz.

History
Owing to its position the city enjoys a considerable transit trade with Portugal; its other industries include the manufacture of linen, woollen and leather goods, and of pottery. It is not mentioned by any Roman historian, and first rose to importance under Moorish rule. In 1031 it became the capital of a small Moorish kingdom (Emirate of Badajoz), and, though temporarily held by the Portuguese in 1168, it retained its independence until 1229; when it was captured by Alfonso IX of Castile and Kingdom of León León. As a frontier fortress it underwent many sieges. It was beleaguered by the Portuguese in 1660, and in 1705 by the Allies in the War of the Spanish Succession. During the Peninsular War Badajoz was unsuccessfully attacked by the French in 1808 and 1809; but on March 10, 1811, the Spanish commander, José Imaz, was bribed into surrendering to a French force under Marshal Soult. A British army, commanded by Marshal Beresford, endeavoured to retake it, and on May 16 1811 defeated a relieving force at Battle of Albuera Albuera, but the siege was abandoned in June.

The Storming of Badajoz, 1812
In 1812, Arthur Wellesley (the future Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington Duke of Wellington) again attempted to take Badajoz, which had a French garrison of about 5,000 men. Siege operations commenced on March 16, and by early April there were three practicable breaches in the walls. These were assaulted by two British divisions on April 6, 1812. The attacks were pressed with great gallantry for five hours, but repeatedly beaten back with heavy loss. Meanwhile the castle, and another section of undamaged wall, had been attacked by escalade and successfully taken by the British. At the cost of some 5,000 casualties, Wellington had succeeded in taking Badajoz. He wrote to Lord Liverpool ''"The capture of Badajoz affords as strong an instance of the gallantry of our troops as has ever been displayed, but I anxiously hope that I shall never again be the instrument of putting them to such a test as that to which they were put last night"'' (However, the storming of San Sebastian in 1813 was much like Badajoz) In the Siege of Badajoz, a detachment of the 45th Regiment (later amalgamated with the 95th to form Sherwood Foresters Regiment) succeeded in getting into the castle first and the red coatee of Lt. James MacPherson of the 45th was hoisted in place of the French flag to indicate the fall of the castle. This feat is commemorated on the 6th April each year when red jackets are flown on Regimental flag staffs and at Nottingham Castle. With the town taken, military discipline largely disappeared, and the town was subjected to two days of pillage, murder, rape and drunkenness by the British survivors. The only way to restore order was to erect the gallows and flog many soldiers. (Harry Smith (army) Sir Harry Smith undertook to protect two young ladies from any insult during the sack of Badajoz, one of whom he married. In consequence Ladysmith, South Africa Ladysmith is named after a former inhabitant of Badajoz, Juana Maria de los Delores de Leon Smith Juana Maria Smith)

Modern History
A military and republican rising took place here in August 1883, but completely failed. During the Spanish Civil War, Badajoz was Battle of Badajoz (1936) taken by the Nationalists. A number of Republican prisoners were executed in the bullring.

Famous Sons
Badajoz is the birthplace of the statesman Manuel de Godoy, the Duke of Alcudia (1767—1851), and of the painter Luis de Morales. Five pictures by Morales, are preserved in the cathedral.

Villages
Albuquerque is a small village in the province of Badajoz. Its name became the name of the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque of United States by the Spanish conquerors. {{1911}} ''Please update as needed.'' Category:Municipalities in Badajoz Category:Extremadura Category:Moorish Spain ar:باداخوز ca:Badajoz de:Badajoz es:Badajoz eo:Badaĥozo fr:Badajoz it:Badajoz nl:Badajoz (provincie) pl:Badajoz pt:Badajoz fi:Badajoz

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