Last modified: 2015-01-17 by ivan sache
Keywords: arapiles |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
See also:
The municipality of Arapiles (612 inhabitants in 2012; 2,526 ha) is located 10 km south of Salamanca.
Arapiles is named for the Arapiles hills, Arapil Chico (897 m) and
Arapil Grande (898 m). The Battle of the Arapiles, internationally
known as the Battle of Salamanca, took place there on 22 July 1812.
The battle opposed the allied (British, Portuguese, German and
Spanish) troops commanded by Lord Wellington (50,000 men split into
eight infantry divisions, six cavalry brigades; 62 cannons) to the
French troops commanded by Marshal Marmont (47,000 men split into
eight infantry divisions and two cavalry divisions; 78 cannons). The
French were defeated, with 12,500 soldiers killed, injured and
captured, to "only" 5,200 in the allied troops.
The aftermath of the battle was disastrous for Napoléon. The French
army lost access to its bases and arsenals required for the planned
invasion of Portugal, while King Joseph had to fled Madrid on 10
August, threatened by the advance of Wellington, who entered the town on
12 August. Moreover, the French had to withdraw from Andalusia and to
lift the siege of Cádiz, where the legitimate Spanish government had
taken shelter.
Approximately one third of the historical battlefield, located on the
municipal territory of Arapiles, Calvarrasa de Arriba and Carbajosa de
la Sagrada, was declared an Historical Site (website) by a Decree adopted on 27
January 1994 by the Government of Castilla y León and published on 2
February 1994 in the official gazette of Castilla y León, No. 22 (text).
Ivan Sache, 7 January 2014
The flag of Arapiles is prescribed by a Decree adopted on 18 May 1993
by the Salamanca Provincial Government and published on 3 June 1993 in
the official gazette of Castilla y León, No. 104 (text).
The flag is described as follows:
Flag: Obverse (or main) side: On a white background the coat of arms of the municipality. The motto shall be written in letters sable on the scroll placed beneath the shield. Reverse: White, charged in the middle with a "W" surmounted with Lord Wellington's ducal coronet.
The coat of arms of Arapiles is prescribed by a Decree adopted on 27 February 1992 by the Salamanca Provincial Government and published on 6 March 1992 in
the official gazette of Castilla y León, No. 47 (text).
The coat of arms, which was validated by the Royal Academy of History, is described as follows:
Coat of arms: Gules (red) an obelisk [photo] or surrounded by four flags argent, in base a truncated arm of the same. the shield surmounted by a Royal Spanish crown.
Ivan Sache, 7 January 2014
