Moorish Castle

This article is about the Moorish castle in Gibraltar. For the Moorish castle in Sintra, Portugal, see Castle of the Moors (Sintra)

The Moorish Castle
Part of Fortifications of Gibraltar
Extends from the Gibraltar Nature Reserve to Grand Casemates Square in Gibraltar

The Moorish Castle's Tower of Homage in Gibraltar flying the Union flag.

A. Inner and outer keep
B. Qasbah
C. Villa Vieja
D. Port (Barcina)
1. Tower of Homage
2. Flanking Wall
3. Gate of Granada
4. Gatehouse
5. Tower
6. Giralda Tower (North Bastion)
7. Landport
8. Sea Gate (Grand Casemates Gates)
9. Barcina Gate
10. Galley House
The Moorish Castle
Coordinates 36°08′38″N 5°20′59″W / 36.143882°N 5.349857°W / 36.143882; -5.349857
Type Castle
Height Approx. 100 metres (330 ft)
Site information
Owner Government of Gibraltar
Controlled by Moors: 711-1309
Castilians: 1309-1333
Moors: 1333-1462
Castilians: 1462-1704
Habsburgs: 1704-1713
British: 1713-present
Open to
the public		 Yes
Condition Partially ruined
Site history
Built c. 711
In use c.711-1945

The Moorish Castle is the name given to a medieval fortification in Gibraltar comprising various buildings, gates, and fortified walls, with the dominant features being the Tower of Homage and the Gate House. Part of the castle itself also housed the prison of Gibraltar until it was relocated in 2010.[1] The Tower of Homage is clearly visible to all visitors to Gibraltar, not only because of its striking construction but also because of its dominant and strategic position. Though sometimes compared to nearby alcazars in Spain, the Moorish Castle in Gibraltar was constructed by the Marinid dynasty, making it unique in the Iberian Peninsula.[2]

History

View of the Moorish Castle's northern defences as seen from the Grand Battery in 1879
Queen Charlotte's Battery at the Moorish Castle.

Gibraltar has always been of special significance to the numerous peoples and civilizations that have visited or occupied it over the ages, from the Neanderthal period, through the Classical and on to Moorish, Spanish, and the current British rule.

The Moorish occupation is by far the longest in Gibraltar's recorded history, having lasted from 711 to 1309 and then again from 1350 to 1462, a total of 710 years.[3]

Historical importance of Gibraltar to both Muslims and Christians lies in the fact that the Moorish invasion and occupation of parts of western Europe started from Gibraltar in 711 and, through to its final recapture by Spaniards in 1462, Moorish rule was gradually undermined until, with the fall of Granada in 1492, Moorish occupation of parts of western Europe came to an end after 781 years.

The Moorish conquest of Spain was led by Tarik ibn Ziyad and Musa ibn Nusayr, who may have landed in Europe at or near Gibraltar. Gibraltar thus became the stepping-stone to the Moorish conquests of most of Spain and part of France. This spectacular feat of arms took a mere twenty-one years, no mean task considering the distances and terrain involved, and the fact that mechanical transport on land was not then in use.[4] The strategic importance of Gibraltar rose in the last years of the Moorish rule, when, after the successful Spanish reconquest of the entire Guadalquivir valley, Gibraltar became one of the key elements in communication between the Kingdom of Granada and Moorish domains in northwestern Africa.

Construction of the Moorish Castle commenced in the 8th century AD (possibly AD 711); the date of its completion is not recorded. Its walls enclosed a considerable area, reaching down from the upper part of the Rock of Gibraltar to the sea. The most conspicuous remaining parts of the Castle are the upper tower, or Tower of Homage, together with various terraces and battlements below it, and the massive Gate House, with its cupola roof.[5]

The Tower of Homage

The Tower of Homage is the highest tower of the period of Islamic rule in the Iberian Peninsula, and the Qasbah of the Castle is the largest in the area. The Castle itself played a prominent part in the Muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, with Muslim forces overrunning a large portion of it in two years - an invasion which led to Islamic domination of parts of western Europe for more than seven centuries. It is therefore of historic significance not only for Gibraltar and Iberia, but also for all of western Europe.

The present Tower of Homage, and most of what is visible today of the Castle, was rebuilt during the second Moorish period of occupation in the early 14th century, after its near destruction during a reconquest of Gibraltar by the Moors following a re-occupation by Spanish forces from 1309 to 1333.[5]

Present day

Today the Moorish Castle is one of the major tourist attractions of Gibraltar, and it is shown on the reverse of the 1995 design (still in circulation) of the Gibraltar five-pound banknote.[6]

The name "Moorish Castle" (or "El Castillo" in Spanish) is also used locally when referring to the residential area surrounding the Castle, location of the Moorish Castle Estate.

Part of the castle itself housed the prison of Gibraltar until the prison was relocated in 2010.[1]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Moorish Castle, Gibraltar.

References

  1. 1 2 Mascarenhas, Alice (2010-09-01). "GATES CLOSE, 'WINDY' PRISON OPENS FOR BUSINESS". The Gibraltar Chronicle. The Gibraltar Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2010-09-01. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  2. ↑ "The Heritage of Gibralter: A Reply". CAM Bulletins. Commonwealth Association of Museums. May 1998. Retrieved 2012-09-10.
  3. ↑ "Moorish Castle". Guide to the Castles of Europe. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
  4. ↑ "Information on the Moorish Castle Complex". Government of Gibraltar. Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  5. 1 2 "Gibraltar Heritage Trust History of The Moorish Castle". Retrieved 2007-02-13.
  6. ↑ "World Paper Money - Image of the reverse of a 1995 £5 Gibraltar banknote" (JPEG). Will's Online World Paper Money Gallery. Retrieved 2012-09-13.
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