Francisco Javier Castaños, 1st Duke of Bailén

The Surrender of Bailén, by José Casado del Alisal, Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain. Castaños is in the white uniform.

Francisco Javier Castaños Aragorri, 1st Duke of Bailén (24 September 1758 – 22 April 1852) was a Spanish Army officer and politician who served in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. He presided over the Regency Council of Spain and the Indies (de facto head of state), in 1810. From July to September 1834, Castaños served as the first president of the Senate of Spain, at that time called the House of Peers.

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, where the Napoleonic army was defeated in the open field for the first time and which led to King Joseph having to abandon Madrid at the end of that same month.

Peninsular War

His victory over Dupont French troops at Bailen (19 July 1808), in the early stages of the war, was the first time the Napoleonic army had ever been defeated in the open field and led to King Joseph having to abandon Madrid at the end of that month.

Castaños died in Madrid in 1852.