CIUDAD REAL, a town of central Spain, capital formerly of La Mancha and since 1833 of the province described above. It lies Io7m. S. of Madrid, on the Madrid-Badajoz-Lisbon and Ciu dad Real-Manzanares railways. Pop. (1930) 23,401. Ciudad Real, situated on a wide plain, between the river Guadiana in the north and its tributary the Jabalon on the south, offers little of interest beyond its lofty Gothic cathedr•il, built without aisles. It is the market for the cereals, oil, wine, potatoes and figs produced with irrigation on the surrounding plain. Ciudad Real was founded by Alphonso N. of Castile (1252-84), and fortified by him as a check upon the Moorish power. Its original name of Villarreal was changed to Ciudad Real by John VI. in 1420. It is said to have suffered greatly, especially in the loss of its flourishing leather industry, by the expulsion of the Moriscos in the 17th century. During the Peninsular War a Spanish force was defeated here by the French, on March 27, 1809.