Cádiz

:This article deals with the Spanish city. For other uses, see Cadiz (disambiguation).

History

The city was originally founded as Gadir (Phoenician ??? "walled city") by the Phoenicians, who used it in their trade with Tartessos. The Greeks knew it as Gadira or Gadeira. Traditionally, its date of establishment is about 1100 BCE, although as of 2004 no archaeological finds have been found that date back further than the 9th century BCE. One resolution of this discrepancy has been to assume that it was, in the initial phase, merely a small trading post. It is regarded as the most ancient city still standing in western Europe. According to Greek legend, Gadir was founded by Heracles after killing Geryon. Indeed, one of its notable features during this era was the temple dedicated to the Phoenician god Melqart. Some historians think that the columns of this temple gave origin to the myth of the Columns of Hercules (Melqart was associated by the Greeks with Heracles, or Hercules).

Related Topics:
Phoenician - Phoenicians - Tartessos - 1100 BCE - As of 2004 - Archaeological - 9th century BCE - Europe - Geryon - Melqart - Columns of Hercules - Heracles - Hercules

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In about 500 BCE the city fell under the sway of Carthage. In 206, the city fell to Roman forces under Scipio Africanus. Under the Romans it was renamed Gades. The city flourished under Roman rule, but with the decline of the Roman Empire, Gades' commercial importance began to fade.

Related Topics:
500 BCE - Carthage - 206 - Roman - Scipio Africanus - Decline of the Roman Empire

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Under Moorish rule, the city was called Q?dis (Arabic ????), and the modern Spanish name Cádiz was derived from this form.

Related Topics:
Moorish - Arabic

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During the Age of Exploration, the city had another renaissance: Columbus sailed from Cádiz on his second voyage in 1493, and the city later became the home port of the Spanish treasure fleet.

Related Topics:
Age of Exploration - Renaissance - Columbus - 1493 - Spanish treasure fleet

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Sir Francis Drake destroyed a Spanish fleet in the harbor of Cádiz in April 1587. In the Anglo-Spanish War Admiral Robert Blake blockaded Cádiz from 1655 and 1657, during which one of his captains, Richard Stayner destroyed most of the Spanish treasure fleet. A galleon of treasure was captured, and the overall loss to Spain was estimated at £2,000,000.

Related Topics:
Sir Francis Drake - April - 1587 - Anglo-Spanish War - Admiral Robert Blake - 1655 - 1657 - Richard Stayner - Galleon - £

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In the 18th century, the sand bars of river Guadalquivir forced the Spanish government to transfer the port monopolizing trade with Spanish America from Seville to Cádiz.

Related Topics:
18th century - Sand bar - Spanish America - Seville

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Cádiz was the seat of the liberal Cortes fighting Joseph I of Spain in the Peninsula war; the Spanish Constitution of 1812 was proclaimed there. Cádiz is also famous by its carnival with Chirigotas (amateur satirical choruses) competing for a prize.

Related Topics:
Cortes - Joseph I of Spain - Peninsula war - Spanish Constitution of 1812 - Carnival

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