Gibraltar

Gibraltar is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. It is located in southwestern Europe adjoining the southern coast of Spain, a strategic location on the Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, also placing it between Europe and Africa. The British Armed Forces had a major presence on the territory, and although the forces presence now is much reduced, there are many reminders of their previous importance.

History

Main article: History of Gibraltar

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Evidence of hominid inhabitation of the Rock dates back to the Neanderthals. A Neanderthal skull was discovered in Forbes' Quarry in 1848, indeed prior to the "original" discovery in the Neander Valley. In 1926, the skull of a Neanderthal child was found in Devil's Tower.

Related Topics:
Neanderthals - 1848 - 1926

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The Phoenicians are known to have visited the Rock circa 950 BC and named the Rock Calpe. The Carthaginians also visited, however neither group appears to have settled permanently. Plato refers to Gibraltar as one of the Pillars of Hercules along with Jebel Musa or Monte Hacho on the other side of the Strait.

Related Topics:
Phoenicians - 950 BC - Carthaginians - Plato - Pillars of Hercules - Jebel Musa - Monte Hacho

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Gibraltar was next visited by the Romans. Again, no permanent settlement was established. Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Gibraltar was visited by the Vandals and later the Goths. The Vandals' stay was temporary; however, the Visigoths were to remain on the Iberian peninsula from 414 to 711. On April 30, 711, the Umayyad general Tariq ibn Ziyad, leading a Berber-dominated army, landed at the southern point of the Rock from present-day Morocco in his quest for Spain.

Related Topics:
Fall of the Roman Empire - Vandals - Goths - 414 - 711 - April 30 - Umayyad - Tariq ibn Ziyad - Berber - Morocco

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Little was built during the first four centuries of Moorish control. However, in 1160 Abdul Maman ordered that a permanent settlement, including a castle, be built. The main tower of this castle remains standing today. Despite the fortification, the rock was overrun by Spanish forces in 1462. The rock was temporarily owned by the King of Castile, but later taken by the Duke of Medina Sidonia and passed to his son. Queen Isabella of Castile had her army besiege and re-take Gibraltar for the Spanish kingdom in 1501.

Related Topics:
1160 - Abdul Maman - 1462 - King of Castile - Duke of Medina Sidonia - Isabella of Castile - 1501

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An Anglo-Dutch force led by Sir George Rooke seized the Rock in 1704, on behalf of Archduke Charles of Austria, Pretender to the Spanish throne during the War of Succesion. The territory was subsequently ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity by Spain in the 1713 Treaties of Utrecht. Despite some attempts by the Spanish to retake it, most notably in the Great Siege of 1779-1783, the Rock has remained under British control ever since.

Related Topics:
George Rooke - 1704 - Great Britain - Spain - 1713 - Treaties of Utrecht

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During the Second World War the residents of Gibraltar were evacuated and the Rock was turned into a fortress again. Gibraltar gave the Allied Powers control of the entry to the Mediterranean Sea (the other side of the Strait being under neutral Spanish territory). The Rock was a key part of the Allied supply lines to Malta and North Africa, and the horse racecourse near the border was converted into an airport. Germany planned the ocupation of Gibraltar and its handover to Spain; Operation "Felix" which was due to start on 10th January 1941. It was cancelled due to the reluctance of the Spanish government to permit the entrance to Spain to the Wehrmacht and then engaging in hostilities against the Rock, its civilians or the British Army from the mainland. Franco felt that it may be impossible to remove them afterwards and Hitler was too busy elsewhere in Europe to give this much priority. After the war, the residents returned.

Related Topics:
Allied Powers - Mediterranean Sea - Malta

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In 1954, Queen Elizabeth II visited Gibraltar. This prompted Spain (which was then led by the dictator Francisco Franco) to renew its claim to sovereignty, which had lain dormant for over 150 years. For about 30 years, the land border was closed (from the Spanish side), in an effort to isolate the territory.

Related Topics:
1954 - Queen Elizabeth II - Spain - Francisco Franco - Claim

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In 1988, the Special Air Service of the British army shot dead three unarmed members of the IRA near the Spanish border, claiming they were making "suspicious movements". A subsequent search led to the discovery of a car containing a large amount of Semtex explosive, which they had planned to use to bomb the Changing of the Guard Ceremony a few days later.

Related Topics:
Special Air Service - British army - IRA

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