Don Benito, a small city of Badajoz (province), Extremadura of Spain near the left bank of the river Guadiana. Don Benito is a thriving and comparatively modern city. It has a population of 35,564 and forms part of a larger urban area with the neighbouring city of Villanueva de la Serena (25,484) only 5kms away; for it dates only from the 15th century, when it was founded by refugees from Don Llorente, who deserted their own town owing to the danger of floods from the Guadiana. Besides manufactures of brandy, flour, oil, soap, linen and cloth, it has an active trade in. wheat, wine and fruit, especially melons. In 1809, during Napoleon's Spain conquest, an important battle took place between Don Benito and Medellin which killed thousands of inhabitants from Don Benito. It was a French victory. This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
