CIUDAD RODRIGO, a town of western Spain, in the ince of Salamanca. It is situated on an eminence on the right bank of the river Agueda, E. of the Portuguese frontier, and on the railway from Salamanca to Coimbra in Portugal. Pop. Ciudad Rodrigo is an episcopal see, and was for many centuries an important frontier fortress. It was founded in the 12th century by Count Rodrigo Gonzalez and named after him, but remnants of a Roman aqueduct and bridge indicate that it occupies the site of a Roman settlement. The 12th century dral, with fine cloisters and carved portico, was disfigured by tions in 1538 and has suffered during sieges from its position almost astride the walls. During the Peninsular War, it was tured by the French under Marshal Ney, in 181o; but on Jan. 19, 1812, it was retaken by the British under Viscount Wellington, who, for this exploit, was created earl of Wellington, duke of Ciudad Rodrigo, and marquess of Torres Vedras, in Portugal. (X.) Siege of Ciudad Rodrigo, 1812.—For the operations ceding and following the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo in 1812 see PENINSULAR WAR. Having insufficient troops to provide a ing force Wellington decided to use the element of surprise. He waited till both armies were scattered in winter quarters, made all his preparations in secret, and then suddenly, on Jan. 8, appeared before the town. Ciudad Rodrigo lies on the right bank of the Agueda and in its fortifications were modern and formidable, but it was commanded on the north by a hill, the Great Teson, which, crowned by a strong redoubt, rose to a height of 15of t., only 600yd. from the walls. Between this hill and the town lay a slightly lower ridge, the Little Teson, which was flanked at its eastern end by the Convent of San Francisco, at its western by that of Santa Cruz. The very night of his arrival Wellington stormed the redoubt on the Great Teson and at once began his preparations for an intensive siege. The weather was terribly severe, so that the troops in the trenches had to be relieved every 24 hours, but the men worked with great speed and enthusiasm. Within six days the British had dug a parallel and constructed batteries for 32 guns on the Great Teson, had sapped across the low ground and dug a parallel within assaulting distance on the Little Teson, and had stormed the convents which flanked it. For five days a furious bombardment was maintained, the enemy replying with equal vigour. By Jan. 19 two breaches had been made in the walls and, though the counterscarp had not been stroyed nor the enemy's guns silenced, Wellington gave orders for an assault. The main breach, at the northern corner of the fortifications was to be stormed by the 3rd Division; the lesser breach, 2ooyd. to the east, by the Light Division. Pack's guese were to make a feint attack upon the San Pelayo gate at the other side of the town. At 7 P.M. on the 19th Campbell's gade of the 3rd Division entered the ditch at the south-west corner of the fortress, with orders to scale the outer wall and clear the left flank of the main breach. Their actual entry was premature and the garrison opened fire while the other attacking troops were still in their assembly trenches. The storming col umns at once dashed forward. The 3rd Division was checked at the main breach by a land mine, but quickly drove the defenders back to a retrenchment behind the breach, which for a time held them back. The Light Division met with less opposition and, pouring through the lesser breach, cleared the way for their comrades on the right. The garrison quickly surrendered, but the storming troops got out of hand and for the rest of the night plundered, drank, burnt, and murdered ; only at daylight was order restored. The siege cost Wellington i,000 casualties, half in the assault, but 1,500 prisoners and 15o guns fell into his hands. Marmont only received definite news of the siege on the 15th; by the time he had collected his army the town had fallen.
(H. L. A.-F.)