320th Anniversary of British Gibraltar (view technical specs)

The 320th anniversary of British Gibraltar recalls an era-defining moment in 1704, when Admiral Sir George Rooke led a combined British and Dutch fleet in capturing Gibraltar during the War of the Spanish Succession. This war, which began over a dispute about the Spanish throne, involved major European powers, including Britain, who saw the control of Gibraltar as a strategic gain for the Mediterranean region. The operation was part of a larger campaign aiming to weaken Bourbon influence in Spain and expand British and Dutch control over critical naval routes.

Admiral Rooke, a distinguished naval officer, commanded the operation from his flagship, HMS Royal Katherine. This formidable vessel was a third-rate ship of the line, designed with firepower and durability to withstand intense naval battles. Under Rooke’s command, the fleet launched a forceful assault on Gibraltar on 1 August 1704. After days of heavy shelling, the garrison surrendered, unable to hold against the combined British and Dutch forces. The victory was significant, not only as a tactical success but as a symbolic foothold for British interests in the region.

Following Gibraltar’s capture, Rooke and his fleet were forced to defend it almost immediately, as Spanish and French forces attempted to retake the territory in the ensuing months. Rooke’s determination, alongside the strength of his fleet, ultimately preserved Gibraltar for Britain. His actions solidified British presence on the Rock and marked the beginning of British sovereignty over the area. The successful capture of Gibraltar by Admiral Rooke and his crew not only shifted the balance of power in the Mediterranean but also marked the beginning of Gibraltar’s legacy under British rule, which would be formalised in 1713 with the Treaty of Utrecht.

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