CADIZ (ancient (lades), an important commercial city of Spain, capital of the modern province of the same name, which forms a part of the great division of Andalusia; is situated at the extremity of the long narrow isthmus of the isle of Leon, in hit. 36° 32' n., and long. 6° 17' west. The Atlantic ocean washes its western and part of its south ern side, and on the n. and n.e. it is inclosed by the bay of Cadiz, a deep inlet of the Atlantic, forming an outer and an inner bay. Connected by only a narrow strip of ground (in some places not above 200 yds. across) with the mainland, C. is admirably situated for defense; but though it has several sea and land fortifications, these are by no means considered impregnable. The town, which is surrounded by walls, forms nearly a square, each side being about a mile and a half in length. The houses being built of white stone, the city presents a remarkably bright and clean appearance from the sea. The streets are well paved and lighted, regular, but narrow, and there are some pleasant public walks, the most frequented of which is the Alameda. It has few public buildings of note; its two cathedrals are, on the whole, but poor specimens of ecclesiastical architecture, and its pictures, with the exception of one or two excellent pieces by Murillo, are of little value. C. declined greatly as a commercial city after the emancipation of the Spanish colonies in South America; but owing partly to the recent extension of the railway system in Spain, and partly to the establishment of sonic new lines of steamers, the trade has, within the last thirty years, revived considerably. Quite lately again there has been serious depression. In 1873, the total imports of C. were
valued at £2,100,729; in 1876, at £1,908,166; in 1873, the exports were worth £3,941,095; and in 1876, only £1,908,166. The number of Spanish ships which entered C. in 1874 was 2677, with a tonnage of 315,333; of foreign ships, 962—tonnage, 300,730. The exports consist of wine, olive-oil, fruits, salt, and metals, The manufactures are glass, woolen cloth, soap, hats, leather, etc. Pop. '79,.68,000.
C. is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, having been built by the Plienicians, under the name of Gaddir, 347 years before the foundation of Rome, or about 1100 R.C. It afterwards passed into the hands of the Carthaginians, from whom it was captured by the Romans, who named it Gades, and under them it soon became a city of vast wealth and importance. Occupied afterwards by the Goths and Moors. it was taken by the Spaniards in 1262. In 1587, Drake destroyed the Spanish fleet in the hay; nine years later, it was pillaged and burned by lord Essex; and in 1625 and 1702, it was unsuc cessfully attacked by other English forces. After the revolution of 1808, C. became the headquarters of the insurrectionary junta, by whose orders it was separated from the mainland. The French, in Feb.. 1810, commenced a blockade, which they vigorously per severed in, capturing several of the forts, until Aug. 25, 1812, when the victories of the duke of Wellington them to abandon it. The city was besieged and taken by the French in 1823, and held by them until 1828. In the Spanish revolution of 1868, C. played a distinguished part.