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Capture of Minorca (1708)
Encyclopedia
The Capture of Minorca saw the island of Minorca
captured from Spain by British
-Dutch
forces acting on behalf of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
the Austrian claimant to the Spanish throne in September 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession
. The British would later annex the island as their own possession at the Treaty of Utrecht (1713).
over who would inherit the Spanish throne with Britain and the Dutch supporting the Austrian candidate while France and her allies supported a French candidate. In 1704 the Anglo-Dutch fleet had captured Gibraltar
and defeated a Spanish fleet at the Battle of Malaga
. Allied forces had also landed in Cataluyna where they captured Barcelona
in 1705. The Catalans largely supported the Austrian claimant and many joined the Allied armies.
On 14 September 1708 an Anglo-Dutch naval force under the command of General James Stanhope
landed on the island of Minorca and laid siege to the capital Port Mahon
. The island's inhabitants were, like most Catalans pro-Austria, and greeted the British and Dutch soldiers as liberators. A week later the Franco-Spanish garrison surrendered.
The British occupied the island on and off until 1802 when it was finally handed back to Spain for good. During that time Minroca became an important part of Britain's security architecture in the Mediterranean Sea
with a major naval base.
Minorca
Min Orca or Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. It takes its name from being smaller than the nearby island of Majorca....
captured from Spain by British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
-Dutch
Dutch Republic
The Dutch Republic — officially known as the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands , the Republic of the United Netherlands, or the Republic of the Seven United Provinces — was a republic in Europe existing from 1581 to 1795, preceding the Batavian Republic and ultimately...
forces acting on behalf of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
the Austrian claimant to the Spanish throne in September 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. The British would later annex the island as their own possession at the Treaty of Utrecht (1713).
Background
Since 1702 a war had been foughtWar of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
over who would inherit the Spanish throne with Britain and the Dutch supporting the Austrian candidate while France and her allies supported a French candidate. In 1704 the Anglo-Dutch fleet had captured Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
and defeated a Spanish fleet at the Battle of Malaga
Battle of Malaga
The Battle of Málaga was the largest naval battle in the War of the Spanish Succession. It took place on 24 August 1704, south of Málaga, Spain.-The battle:...
. Allied forces had also landed in Cataluyna where they captured Barcelona
Siege of Barcelona (1705)
The Siege of Barcelona took place between 14 September and 19 October 1705 during the War of the Spanish Succession when an Allied army supporting the Austrian pretender to the Spanish throne led by Lord Peterborough captured the city of Barcelona from its Franco-Spanish Bourbonic defenders.An...
in 1705. The Catalans largely supported the Austrian claimant and many joined the Allied armies.
Landing
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope
James Stanhope, 1st Earl Stanhope PC was a British statesman and soldier who effectively served as Chief Minister between 1717 and 1721. He is probably best remembered for his service during War of the Spanish Succession...
landed on the island of Minorca and laid siege to the capital Port Mahon
Mahon
Mahón is a municipality and the capital city of the Balearic Island of Minorca , located in the eastern part of the island. Mahon has the second deepest natural harbor in the world: 5 km long and up to 900m. wide...
. The island's inhabitants were, like most Catalans pro-Austria, and greeted the British and Dutch soldiers as liberators. A week later the Franco-Spanish garrison surrendered.
Aftermath
Realising the potential of Minorca as a British naval base, the British moved to fully take control of it - and received acknowledgement of this at the Treaty of Utrecht. In the aftermath of the island's capture trade boomed, and the British increased prosperity on the island by spending large amounts rebuilding the island's fortifications.The British occupied the island on and off until 1802 when it was finally handed back to Spain for good. During that time Minroca became an important part of Britain's security architecture in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
with a major naval base.
See also
- Battle of MinorcaBattle of MinorcaThe Battle of Minorca was a naval battle between French and British fleets. It was the opening sea battle of the Seven Years' War in the European theatre. Shortly after Great Britain declared war on the House of Bourbon, their squadrons met off the Mediterranean island of Minorca. The fight...
- Siege of MinorcaSiege of MinorcaThe Siege of Fort St Philip took place in 1756 during the Seven Years War.- Siege :...
- Invasion of Minorca, 1781Invasion of Minorca, 1781The Franco-Spanish conquest of Minorca from its British defenders in February 1782, after the Siege of Fort St. Philip lasting over five months, was an important step in the achievement of Spain's aims in its alliance with France against Britain during the American War of Independence...
- Capture of MinorcaCapture of MinorcaIn November 1798 a British expedition captured the island of Minorca from Spain. A large force under General John Stuart landed on the island and forced its Spanish garrison to surrender in eight days with only some bloodshed...