GIBRALTAR, jib-retizr, Rp. pron. it4-bral RIK A town and fortress on the rocky promon tory of Gibraltar, forming the eastern horn of the Bay of Algeciras, or Gibraltar, on the south coast of Andalusia, Spain, at the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar, at the entrance to the Mediterranean (Map: Spain, C 4). Since 1704 it has been a Crown colony of Great Britain, under the administration of a governor. It stands opposite the Spanish town of Algeciras, six miles distant on the west side of the bay, with which it has steam-ferry communication several times daily. Owing to its important strategical position, it is called the 'Key of the Mediter ranean.' The sandy isthmus connecting the prom ontory with the mainland is neutral territory; it lies so low that from the sea Gibraltar has the appearance of an islet. The Spanish town of La Linea de la ConcepciOn, practically a suburb of Gibraltar, on the mainland, fronts the isthmus and the neutral ground, the Spanish boundary being marked by a double line of sentry-boxes. The population of La Linea in 1901 was 31,862, 10,000 of whom, it was estimated, formed the daily laboring class of Gibraltar. The promon tory, or 'Rock of Gibraltar,' composed of gray primary marble, is in the form of an 'enormous lion'; it is nearly three miles long, with an average width of about three-quarters of a mile, and attains an altitude of 1439 feet. Although it has a barren and uninviting aspect, aloes, cacti, palmitas, capers, and asparagus grow in the crevices; and there are grassy, wooded glens in certain parts, where partridges, pigeons, wood cocks, and fawn-colored Barbary apes are to be found. There are several natural caves in the rock, of which Saint Michael's, with an entrance 1100 feet above the sea, is the largest. The north, east, and south sides of the promontory are so steep and precipitous as to be almost in accessible; the north and northwest sides are honeycombed by fortified artificial galleries. The town and fine modern harbor on the west are protected by a sea wall with bastions, and by batteries and forts rising from the base to the summit of the rock. Modern guns of the most formidable pattern have replaced the old arma ments.
• The town, divided by the Alameda Park into two parts, although irregularly laid out, contains several fine public buildings. The houses are built in terraces, and for the most part are of Spanish architecture. There are an Anglican cathedral, four Roman Catholic churches, and hospitals. The water-supply depends on the rain fall, which is stored in a system of huge tanks. The climate is the warmest in Europe, but is healthful, the former unsanitary conditions hav ing been removed by modern methods. The col ony is self-supporting. but the garrison is main tained by the British Government. Gibraltar is a free port, and an important coaling station.
The shipping of the port exceeds 4,000,000 tons annually, and is mostly in British bottoms. The legal currency is British, but Spanish money is also in circulation. The population, including the garrison of 5349 men, in 1901, was 27,460, consisting mostly of Britons, Spaniards, Jews, and Moors.
Gibraltar (the Phoenician Alube and Greek Ca1pc) and Abyla (the Sierra Bullones near Ceuta, Morocco) are the classical 'Pillars of Hercules,' which were crowned by silver columns erected by the Phoenician mariners to mark the limits of navigation. After 711 the rock was named Jebel-al-Tarik (Hill of Tarik, whence its modern name), after the Arab chief Tarik ibn Ziyad, who built a fortress on the promontory, part of which still exists. In 1309 Gibraltar was taken by the Castilians, but was regained by the Moors in 1333, and held until 1462, when it final ly passed from their possession. After the sack ing of Gibraltar by Barbarossa, the Algerine, in 1540, extensive works were built by command of Charles V. In 1704 it was captured by a com bined Dutch and English force under Sir George Rooke and the Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt, fight ing for the Archduke Charles of Austria; but it was unscrupulously taken possession of for the Crown of England by the British admiral. The most important event in its subsequent history is the famous siege of three years, seven months, and twelve days, extending from 1779 to 1783, which bristled with exciting incidents. Com munications with Spain were closed on June 21, 1779, and a strict blockade was established by the Spanish fleet; the strength of the besieged force at this period was 5382 men, under General Eliott, the Governor. Twice the garrison was almost reduced to starvation, being temporarily relieved in the face of great opposition, on the first occasion by Admiral Rodney, who added 1000 to the defenders, and on the second occasion by Admiral Darby. In July, 1782, the Duc de Crillon took command of the combined naval and land forces of France and Spain employed in the siege, and made preparations for a supreme ef fort. Additional batteries were constructed on the land side, and ten enormous and presumedly invincible floating batteries were constructed by the Chevalier d'Areon. Covered boats to dis embark 40,000 troops were also prepared. The formidable attack commenced on September 8, and continued until the 13th, when, by the ex pedient of red-hot balls, the British destroyed the floating batteries and repulsed their enemies, of whom over 2000 were killed. The British casual ties were 16 killed and 68 wounded. The sign ing of the preliminaries of peace put an end to the siege in February, 1783. Consult: Drink water, History of the Siege of Gibraltar (London, 1785; new ed. 1844) ; Mann, History of Gibraltar (London, 1870) ; Field, Gibraltar (New York, 1889).