Francisco Javier Castaños

Castaños (in white uniform) after the Battle of Bailén

Francisco Javier Castaños (born April 22, 1756 in Madrid , † September 24, 1852 ibid) was Duke of Baylen, Count of Castaños y Aragones and Spanish general in the war of independence against the French.

Life

Francisco Javier Castaños came from a respected Basque family in the Bay of Biscay and was born in 1756 in Madrid to Juan Felipe Castaños Urioste and María Concepción Aragorri y Olavide. During the war with the French Republic, he rose to colonel in April 1792 and to brigadier in October 1793 . He distinguished himself in the Army of Navarre in 1794 and was promoted to major general in 1796 . In 1799 he was ostracized by Manuel de Godoy because of controversies in the Basque Country and sent into brief exile. In March 1802 he returned to Madrid, where he was promoted in his further career by his uncle, the Marquis of Irán.

In October 1802 he was promoted to lieutenant general and served as commander in the Campo de Gibraltar . During the Napoleonic invasion in 1808, he submitted to the Junta de Seville and was given command of the field camp in front of Algeciras . As Commander in Chief of the Army of Andalusia, he forced the French General Dupont de l'Etang to surrender at the Battle of Bailén (July 23, 1808). He then penetrated as far as the Ebro , but was defeated by Lannes at the Battle of Tudela on November 23 and so slandered by the vicious generals José de Palafox y Melci and Montijo at the Central Junta that he was dismissed and put out of service for several years has been. It was not until 1811 that he was placed at the head of the Spanish IV Army Corps under Wellington's command, took part in the Battle of La Albuera and in June 1813 also contributed to the victory in the Battle of Vitoria .

But the regency in Madrid called him to the Council of State under Ferdinand VII. He became captain general of Catalonia and in 1815 was in command of the army destined for entry into France. In 1816 Castaños resigned from all positions. After he had purged himself of the suspicion of constitutional sentiments, he was reappointed to the Council of State in 1825, later appointed President of the Council of Castile and in 1833 Grand Grandes of Spain with the title "Duke of Baylen". After Ferdinand VII's death with the court disintegrated because of the succession to the throne, he lived withdrawn until he was elected guardian of the queen in Arguelles' place after Espartero's fall in 1843. Appointed senator in 1845, due to his old age he no longer exercised any political influence and died on September 24, 1852 in Madrid.

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Francisco Javier Castaños

personal data
SURNAME	Castaños, Francisco Javier
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Castanos, Francisco Xaver de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Spanish duke and general
DATE OF BIRTH	April 22, 1756
PLACE OF BIRTH	Madrid
DATE OF DEATH	September 24, 1852
Place of death	Madrid