| 711 |
In
spring or early summer, Tarik ibn Zeyad landed a force on or near
the Rock, thereby beginning the Moorish conquest of Spain. The Rock
was renamed Djebel Tarik (the mountain of Tarik) after him. Over the
years, this was corrupted into "Gibraltar". |
| 1068 |
The Arab Governor
of Algeciras builds a castle on the Rock. |
| 1309 |
The
First Siege of Gibraltar:
Alonso de Guzman (Guzman el Bueno) retakes Gibraltar from the Moors
for King Ferdinand IV of Castille. |
|
In order to encourage
people to settle in Gibraltar, King Ferdinand IV of Castille gave
the citizens freedom from taxes or duties. Any criminals settling
on the Rock were declared immune from prosecution. |
| 1310 |
Alfonso Fernando
de Mendoza - First Christian Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1315 |
The
Second Siege of Gibraltar: The Moors try to recapture Gibraltar
from the Spanish - but fail. |
| 1325 |
Alfonso XI of
Castille appoints Vasco Perez de Meira as Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1327 |
Spanish Admiral
Jofre beats the Moorish fleet in a naval battle near Gibraltar. |
| 1333 |
The
Third Siege of Gibraltar: Abd'l Malik, Moorish Governor
of Algeciras besieges Gibraltar and captures it.. |
|
The
Fourth Siege of Gibraltar:
King Alfonso XI attempts to retake Gibraltar aided by Admiral Jofre's
fleet. Digs a ditch across the isthmus and is himself attacked by
a Moorish army from Granada. Siege ends in a truce - the Moors keep
Gibraltar. |
|
The Moorish Castle
is rebuilt in the form we know it now. |
| 1348 |
The
Fifth Siege of Gibraltar:
King Alfonso XI besieges Gibraltar. |
| 1349 |
King Alfonso
builds barracks for his troops in what is now La Linea. |
|
The
fifth siege ends when King Alfonso dies of the Black Death.
|
| 1358 |
Isa Ibn al Hassan
is appointed Governor of Gibraltar by the authorities in Fez. He declares
himself King but the inhabitants rebel and send him back to Morocco. |
| 1411 |
The
Sixth Siege of Gibraltar: Gibraltar is held by Moors from
Fez. Moors from Granada lay siege to the Rock and take it for the
Kingdom of Granada. |
| 1436 |
The
Seventh Siege of Gibraltar:
Henry, Count Niebla (grandson of Guzman el Bueno) tries to take the
Rock from the Moors. He fails and is drowned while trying to rescue
some of his men. |
| 1462 |
The
Eighth Siege of Gibraltar: On the 20th August, Alonso de
Arcos, Governor of Tarifa, attacks Gibraltar. It eventually surrenders
and after a wrangle between the Guzman family and the Ponce de Leon
family, it is taken by Juan Alonso de Guzman who was the third Count
Niebla and also Duke of Medina Sidonia as his own personal property.
St Bernard, whose feast falls on the 20th August, became the Patron
Saint of Gibraltar. |
|
The Moorish Mosque
is converted into a temporary church (at the site of the present Cathedral
of St Mary the Crowned). |
|
Henry IV of Castille
declares Gibraltar to be Crown property and not the personal property
of the Guzman family. He orders the Duke of Medina Sidonia out of
the Rock. |
|
Pedro de Porras
is appointed the first Royal Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1463 |
Henry IV of Castille
gives Gibraltar to his favourite courtier, Beltran de la Cueva who
appoints Esteban de Villacreces as Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1466 |
The
Ninth Siege of Gibraltar:
The Duke of Medina Sidonia besieges Gibraltar, armed with a warrant
from Prince Alfonso. |
| 1467 |
The
ninth siege ends when Gibraltar is taken by the Duke for the
Guzman family. |
| 1469 |
Henry IV confirms
Guzman ownership of the Rock. |
| 1501 |
Queen Isabella
I decrees Gibraltar to be a Crown property - The Guzmans (Dukes of
Medina Sidonia) agree and cede it to her. |
| 1502 |
Governor of Gibraltar:
Garcilaso de la Vega. |
|
Gibraltar
receives Royal Warrant from Isabella I granting it new Royal Arms
(the Castle and Key which remain the Arms of Gibraltar to this day). |
| 1506 |
The
Tenth Siege of Gibraltar: Duke Juan Alonso of Medina Sidonia
tries to take the Rock. It resists and he marches away four months
later. |
| 1531 |
A Franciscan
Friary is completed - the present "Convent" where the British
Governor has his residence. |
| 1540 |
Corsair fleet
(Turkish pirates) raids the Rock and takes away many captives. The
fleet is intercepted near Alboran and many of the captives freed. |
| 1552 |
Charles I of
Spain (Emperor Charles V) sends engineer Giovanni Battista Calvi to
strengthen the defences of the Rock. He builds what is known as Charles
V Wall; also a ditch and drawbridge at Landport. |
|
Phillip II of
Spain sends another engineer, Fratino, to help with the defences.
Charles V's Wall is extended from the Apes' Den to the top of the
Rock. This part is known as Phillip II's Wall. |
| 1581 |
Mendicant Friars
of Our Lady of Ransom establish themselves in Gibraltar to raise money
to free those taken captive during Corsair raids. They had their monastery
at Cloister Buildings. |
| 1649 |
Typhoid epidemic |
| 1704 |
Spanish Governor
of Gibraltar: Don Diego de Salinas |
|
The
Eleventh Siege of Gibraltar: On the 1st August, Admiral
Sir George Rooke arrives to take Gibraltar for the Hapsburg Archduke
Charles of Austria with a joint Anglo-Dutch force. |
|
Prince George
of Hesse-Darmstadt takes possession of Gibraltar in the name of the
Archduke Charles (declared to be Charles III of Spain). |
|
Governor of Gibraltar:
Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt - appointed by the Archduke Charles
on the 4th August. |
|
Governor of Gibraltar:
Henry Nugent, Count of Valdesoto and Viscount Coolamber - appointed
by the Archduke Charles on the 6th August. |
|
On the 7th August,
The Spanish Governor, Diego de Salinas, and about 4000 Spanish inhabitants
leave the Rock after it was taken by the combined Anglo-Dutch force
led by Admiral Sir George Rooke. They settle in nearby towns - most
of them around the hermitage of San Roque. |
|
The
Twelfth Siege of Gibraltar: In September, the Marquis
of Villadarias reaches the Campo area and encamps at the northern
end of the isthmus.
|
|
In November,
the Governor of Gibraltar, Henry Nugent, is mortally wounded at San
Pablo Battery (North Bastion). |
|
In November,
Simon Susarte, a goatherd, leads a force of Spanish soldiers under
Colonel Figueroa along a path up the Eastern side of the Rock. They
were discovered and repelled the following day before their reinforcements
appeared. |
|
Governor of Gibraltar:
Prince Henry of Hesse-Darmstadt - appointed by the Archduke Charles |
|
Governor of Gibraltar:
In December, Major General John Shrimpton is appointed by the Archduke
Charles / nominated by Queen Anne |
| 1705 |
The
twelfth siege endswhen it is reduced to a blockade in March. |
| 1707 |
Governor of Gibraltar:
Brigadier Roger Elliott - appointed by Queen Anne |
| 1711 |
Governor of Gibraltar:
Brigadier Thomas Stanwix - appointed by Queen Anne |
| 1713 |
Gibraltar is
ceded to Britain under Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht. |
|
General David
Colyear,Earl of Portmore - Governor of Gibraltar - Lived more in England
than Gibraltar. |
| 1716 |
Colonel Stanhope
Cotton - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1725 |
Colonel Richard
Kane - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1727 |
Thirteenth
Siege of Gibraltar: Spain accuses Britain of breaching
the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht - extending fortifications, allowing
Jews and Moors to stay on the Rock, failing to protect Roman Catholicism
and smuggling. Trenches built across Spanish Lines |
|
Colonel Jasper
Clayton - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
|
Attempted sortie
to attack Spanish lines failed. |
|
Spaniards call
a truce in June. |
| 1729 |
The
thirteenth siege ends when the Treaty of Seville reaffirms
the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht. |
| 1730 |
Lieutenant General
Joseph Sabine: Governor of Gibraltar |
|
A Belgian Engineer,
the marquis of Verboom, arrives in San Roque to design a line of fortifications
across the isthmus for the Spaniards. Fort San Felipe and Fort Santa
Barbara are built. |
| 1739 |
Lieutenant General
Joseph Sabine: Governor of Gibraltar dies in Gibraltar in October. |
| 1740 |
Major General
William Hargrave: Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1749 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Humphrey Bland: Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1754 |
Lieutenant General
Thomas Fowke: Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1756 |
Lieutenant General
James O'Hara, Lord Tyrawley: Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1757 |
Major General
William Home: Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1761 |
Major General
William Home: Governor of Gibraltar dies in Gibraltar |
|
Lieutenant General
the Honourable Edward Cornwallis: Governor of Gibraltar |
|
Colonel William
Green, Royal Engineers, sent to Gibraltar as Senior Engineer. |
| 1776 |
On the 23rd February
occurred one of the heaviest storms ever recorded in Gibraltar. Great
flood in lower part of town as water is held back by the Linewall.
50-60 people drowned. Linewall was breached along 100m. Town and batteries
cluttered with debris and boulders. |
| 1772 |
Lieutenant Governor
Major General Robert Boyd raises the first Soldier Artificer Company
opening the Corps of Royal Engineers to ordinary ranks and not just
officers. |
| 1773 |
Lieutenant Governor
Major General Robert Boyd lays the foundation stone to the King's
Bastion. |
| 1776 |
Lieutenant General
George Augustus Elliott (later Lord Heathfield of Gibraltar) - Governor
of Gibraltar. |
| 1779 |
The
Fourteenth Siege of Gibraltar - The Great Siege: In June,
Spain blockades Gibraltar and tries to force it to submit through
starvation. Adniral Barcelo is in command of the squadron at Algeciras
and Ceuta. |
|
In September,
the first shot of the siege fired from Green's Lodge Battery below
Rock Gun. |
| 1780 |
Spaniards attempt
to use fireships to destroy ships sheltering in the harbour. This
is thwarted when they are grappled and towed clear. All except one
of the ships are beached and used for firewood. |
|
Fast gunboats
are used to attack the town and its defences. |
| 1781 |
The Great Sortie
- On the 27th November at 2:45 am, detachments cross to the Spanish
lines and destroy the Spanish guns, magazines and siege works. |
| 1782 |
Work begins on
the Upper Galleries following the idea of Warrant Officer Ince (Royal
Artificer) of tunnelling a way to the top of the Notch. |
|
Lieutenant Koehler
develops a depressing gun carriage to fire down on the enemy from
a great height. |
|
On the 8th September,
Elliott and Boyd decide to try out red-hot shot against a bettery
on the isthmus - with devastating effect. |
|
On the 13th September,
floating batteries anchor off King's Bastion and open fire. Elliott
responds with red-hot shot. The effect is slow but sure. British boats
under Captain Curtis tries to rescue as many Spanish sailors as possible
after the floating batteries start to burn and blow up during the
night. |
| 1783 |
The
fourteenth siege ends when the Treaty of Versailles reaffirms
previous treaties. |
| 1790 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Robert Boyd - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1794 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Robert Boyd - Governor of Gibraltar - dies in Gibraltar. |
|
Lieutenant General
Sir Henry Clinton - Governor of Gibraltar - but dies before assuming
office. |
| 1795 |
Lieutenant General
Charles O'Hara - Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1802 |
Major General
Charles Barnett - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
|
General HRH Prince
Edward, Duke of Kent (father of the future Queen Victoria) - Governor
of Gibraltar |
|
24th December:
Royal Scots (1st Regiment of Foot) mutinied (mainly because of the
Royal Governor's tightening of Discipline) but were persuaded to return
to barracks. |
|
26th December:
The 25th Regiment (later King's Own Scottish Borderers) mutinied but
were restrained. |
|
27th December:
More trouble from the 25th Regiment. |
|
31st December:
Another mutiny from the 26th Regiment who attempted to murder their
officers in Casemates Barracks. Two mutineers were executed by firing
squad, ten were deported for life to Australia, two were condemned
to 1000 lashes. |
| 1803 |
General Sir Thomas
Trigge - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
|
March: General
HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Kent - Governor of Gibraltar - recalled
to England. |
|
June: Nelson
arrives in Gibraltar as Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean. |
| 1804 |
Great epidemic
of "Malignant Fever" - once labelled as "Yellow Fever"
now thought to have been Typhus. |
|
Major General
Charles Barnett - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar - dies in the malignant
fever epidemic. |
|
Lieutenant General
the Honourable Henry Fox - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1805 |
January: At end
of Great epidemic - 5946 deaths. |
|
21st October:
Battle of Trafalgar |
|
28th October:
HMS Victory is towed into Gibraltar with Nelson's body aboard. |
| 1806 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Hew Dalrymple - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1808 |
New Victualling
Yard built in Rosia Bay |
| 1809 |
General Sir James
Craddock - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1810 |
February: British
Sappers sent to blow up the old Spanish forts of San Felipe and Santa
Barbara fearing a French advance on the Rock during the Napoleonic
War. Contingents from the Gibraltar Garrison are sent to aid Spanish
resistance to the French at Cadiz. |
|
May: Contingent
from the Gibraltar Garrison is sent to aid Spanish resistance to the
French at Tarifa. |
|
September: Lieutenant
General Sir Colin Campbell - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar |
|
October: Detachment
from Gibraltar sent to help Spanish forces capture Fort Fuengirola.
It failed. |
| 1811 |
Tarifa is attacked
by French forces but the town, reinforced by officers and men from
the Gibraltar Garrison, holds out. |
| 1814 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Colin Campbell - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar - dies in Gibraltar. |
|
Lieutenant General
Sir George Don - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar. |
|
Malignant fever
raging in Gibraltar. |
| 1815 |
The Lieutenant
Governor, Sir George Don presided over an enquiry to look into all
aspects of the city's life. |
| 1817 |
The first civil
judge is established. |
| 1820 |
General John
Pitt, Earl of Chatham - Governor of Gibraltar (did not spend much
time in Gibraltar). |
| 1830 |
Charter of Justice
sets up the Supreme Court empowered to try civil, criminal and mixed
cases. |
|
Gibraltar Police
Force is established. |
| 1832 |
Lieutenant General
Sir George Don - Lieutenant Governor of Gibraltar - dies in Gibraltar |
| 1836 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Alexander Woodford - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1842 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Robert Wilson - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1848 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Robert Gardiner - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1855 |
Lieutenant General
Sir James Fergusson - Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1859 |
Lieutenant General
Sir James Fergusson - Governor of Gibraltar - resigns |
|
Lieutenant General
Sir William Codrington - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1865 |
Lieutenant General
Sir Richard Airey - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1870 |
General Sir William
Williams, of Kars - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1876 |
General the Right
Honourable Robert Napier, Baron Napier of Magdala - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1877 |
The title of
Chief Justice is introduced. |
| 1883 |
Lieutenant General
Sir John Adye - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1886 |
General the honourable
Sir Arthur Hardinge - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1890 |
General the Honourable
Sir Leicester Smythe - Governor of Gibraltar. |
| 1891 |
General Sir Lothian
Nicholson - Governor of Gibraltar |
| 1893 |
General Sir Lothian
Nicholson - Governor of Gibraltar - dies in Gibraltar |
