Ciudad Rodrigo

Ciudad Rodrigo ('Roderic's Town'), a fortified town of Spain, 17 miles from the Portuguese frontier, and 56 SW. of Salamanca by rail, on a steep hill above the river Agueda, which is here crossed by a fine bridge. It is a poor, dirty town, with a Gothic cathedral. It was taken by the English (1706) and French (1707) in the War of the Spanish Succession, but is chiefly of interest for its sieges during the Peninsular war. In the spring of 1810 the French under Massena invested the town, and after a gallant defence by the Spaniards, it was forced to surrender on the 10th July. Meanwhile Wellington was gaining time to strengthen his lines at Torres Vedras; and in January 1812 he pounced down on Ciudad Rodrigo, and after a siege of eleven days, took the place by assault. For this brilliant achievement he was created an English earl, and, by the Spanish Cortes, Duke of Ciudad Rodrigo. Pop. 6856.