Portal:Gibraltar

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Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The territory shares a border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base.

The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic name Jabal Tāriq (جبل طارق), meaning "mountain of Tariq", or from Gibel Tāriq, meaning "rock of Tariq". It refers to the geological formation, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the Berber Umayyad general Tariq ibn-Ziyad, who led the initial incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711. Earlier, it was known as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The Rock.

The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major issue of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain requests the return of sovereignty, ceded by Spain in perpetuity in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarian strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.

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There has been a Jewish presence in Gibraltar for more than 650 years. There have been periods of persecution, but for the most part the Jews of Gibraltar have prospered and been one of the largest religious minorities in the city, as well as making contributions to the culture, defense, and government of Gibraltar.

The first record of Jews in Gibraltar comes from the year 1356, when the community issued an appeal asking for the ransom of a group of Jews taken captive by pirates. Another document indicates that a number of Jews fleeing Cordoba sought refuge in Gibraltar in 1473. Jews were expelled from the entire Iberian Peninsula under the Alhambra decree in 1492, effectively ending all Jewish activity there, except in the cases of Conversos or possible Crypto-Jews.(more...)

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Photo credit: Christina Cortes View of Sandy Bay on the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Gibraltar, showing the old water catchments' slope restored and looking North towards Spain's Costa del Sol. edit

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Edward Cornwallis, (c 1713 – 14 January 1776), was a British military officer, known as “the Founder of Halifax”.

He was born in London, the sixth son of Charles, fourth Baron Cornwallis, and Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of the Earl of Arran. The Cornwallis family possessed large estates at Culford in Suffolk and the Channel Islands. Edward had a twin brother (Frederick, later Archbishop of Canterbury), and they were both made royal pages at the age of 12. They were both enrolled at Eton school at 14, and at age 18, Edward entered into military service.

In 1762 Cornwallis was served as Governor of Gibraltar from June 14, 1761 to January 1776 and died 14 years later, at the age of 63. A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown Halifax. Cornwallis Junior High School in Halifax is named for him. (more...)

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“ I ask and require of the Kings, my successors, that they may hold and retain the said city for themselves and in their own possesion. ”

—Isabella of Castile, 1504, Queen regnant of Castile and Leon.

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« Did you know... »

... that Gibraltarian pop rock band Taxi is made up of three of Melon Diesel's former members and write songs in Spanish only despite their being British?
...that the Gibraltar Football Association had their UEFA membership application blocked by Spain due to their claim on the territory?
...that Gibraltarian degree level students studying in a UK university receive a full scholarship from the Government of Gibraltar?
...that Gibraltar passports are full British passports which are particularly issued to Gibraltarians and only differ in some wording?
...that the cuisine of Gibraltar includes Maltese, Genoese and Portuguese culinary influences?
...that Horace Walpole called John Trumbull's oil-on-canvas The Sortie Made by the Garrison of Gibraltar, 1789 (pictured) "the finest picture [he] had ever seen painted on the northern side of the Alps"?

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« Recent news »

13 February - Gibraltar Football Association to play the semi-professional footballers of England, Wales and Scotland in a 'Home' Nations quadrangular tournament at the end of May. (Gibraltar Chronicle)
10 February - The New Flame's No. 5 cargo hold floods due to stormy weather conditions in the strait, resulting in further sinking. (Gibfocus)
6 February - Leader of the Opposition, Joe Bossano, appears as a witness before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons in London. (Gibfocus)
1 February - British Archaeologist and Architectural Historian, Prof. Warwick Rodwell, calls the demolition of the Rosia Tanks "an act of cultural vandalism". (Gibfocus)
24 January – Joint Sovereignty campaigner Peter Hain resigns from several posts after the failure to report donations to Metropolitan Police.