Portal:Gibraltar
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Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located near the southernmost tip of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar. The territory shares a border with Spain to the north. Gibraltar has historically been an important base for the British Armed Forces and is the site of a Royal Navy base. The name of the territory is derived from the Arabic name Jabal Tāriq (جبل طارق), meaning "mountain of Tariq", or from Gibel Tāriq, meaning "rock of Tariq". It refers to the geological formation, the Rock of Gibraltar, and the Berber Umayyad general Tariq ibn-Ziyad, who led the initial incursion into Iberia in advance of the main Moorish force in 711. Earlier, it was known as Mons Calpe, one of the Pillars of Hercules. Today, Gibraltar is known colloquially as Gib or The Rock. The sovereignty of Gibraltar is a major issue of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain requests the return of sovereignty, ceded by Spain in perpetuity in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. The overwhelming majority of Gibraltarian strongly oppose this, along with any proposal of shared sovereignty.
There has been a Jewish presence in Gibraltar for more than 650 years. There have been periods of persecution, but for the most part the Jews of Gibraltar have prospered and been one of the largest religious minorities in the city, as well as making contributions to the culture, defense, and government of Gibraltar. The first record of Jews in Gibraltar comes from the year 1356, when the community issued an appeal asking for the ransom of a group of Jews taken captive by pirates. Another document indicates that a number of Jews fleeing Cordoba sought refuge in Gibraltar in 1473. Jews were expelled from the entire Iberian Peninsula under the Alhambra decree in 1492, effectively ending all Jewish activity there, except in the cases of Conversos or possible Crypto-Jews.(more...) 
Edward Cornwallis, (c 1713 – 14 January 1776), was a British military officer, known as “the Founder of Halifax”. He was born in London, the sixth son of Charles, fourth Baron Cornwallis, and Lady Charlotte Butler, daughter of the Earl of Arran. The Cornwallis family possessed large estates at Culford in Suffolk and the Channel Islands. Edward had a twin brother (Frederick, later Archbishop of Canterbury), and they were both made royal pages at the age of 12. They were both enrolled at Eton school at 14, and at age 18, Edward entered into military service. In 1762 Cornwallis was served as Governor of Gibraltar from June 14, 1761 to January 1776 and died 14 years later, at the age of 63. A statue of Edward Cornwallis stands at the center of Cornwallis Park in downtown Halifax. Cornwallis Junior High School in Halifax is named for him. (more...)
  Buildings: The Convent | Dudley Ward Tunnel | Garrison Library | Moorish Castle Communications: .gi | Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation | Gibraltar Chronicle | Telecom dispute Culture: Cuisine | Gibraltarian people |Gibraltarian status | Languages | Llanito | Music Flora and fauna: Gibraltar Barbary Macaques | Gibraltar candytuft | GONHS | List of birds of Gibraltar | Mammals | List of reptiles and amphibians in Gibraltar | Rock of Gibraltar | The Alameda Gardens History: Battle of Gibraltar | Death on the Rock | Explosion of the RFA Bedenham | George Augustus Eliott, 1st Baron Heathfield | George Rooke | Gibraltar real | Great Siege of Gibraltar | History of the Maltese | History of Nationality | Kingdom of Gibraltar | Military history of Gibraltar during World War II | Moorish Castle | Aurora incident | Pillars of Hercules | Treaty of Utrecht Military: British Forces Gibraltar | Royal Gibraltar Regiment | RAF Gibraltar | HMS Gibraltar | Gibraltar Services Police | Royal Gibraltar Police Symbols: Coat of arms | Flag | Gibraltar Anthem | Other Flags Politics and economy: Chief Minister | Constitution Order (1969, 2006) | Disputed status | Elections | Gibraltar Constitution Order 2006 | Parliament | Gibraltarian pound | Governor | Political parties Religion: Cathedral of St. Mary the Crowned | Cathedral of the Holy Trinity | Great Synagogue | Hinduism | History of the Jews in Gibraltar | Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque | Methodism | Roman Catholicism | St Andrew's Church |
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