I
City (pop., 1995: 123,865), western Nicaragua.
The second largest city in Nicaragua, it is the country's political and intellectual centre. It was founded by the Spanish on the edge of Lake Managua in 1524; it was later destroyed by an earthquake and rebuilt in 1610 near the Pacific coast, northwest of Managua . León was the capital of Nicaragua until 1855. It has had a long political and commercial rivalry with the city of Granada . It is the burial place of poet and diplomat
II
City (pop., 2001: 130,916), northwestern Spain.
The city began as the camp of a Roman legion; its name is derived from the Latin legio . Held by the Goths during the 6th and 7th centuries, it then fell to the Moors, who ruled it until 850. In the 10th century, it became the capital of the kingdom of Leon . An industrial as well as a tourist centre, its site includes medieval churches.
III
[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
Castile León
Castilla y León
Moses de León
Nuevo León
{{link=Ponce de Le%C3%B3n Juan">Ponce de León Juan
Zedillo Ponce de León Ernesto