The Siege of Gibraltar, 1779- 1783. The Longest Siege in British History. Key to WWII Centuries Later.

History's Greatest Battles

The last great effort to reclaim Gibraltar ended in defeat, sealing Britain’s hold over the gateway to the Mediterranean. The Rock remained under the Union Jack, and with it, Britain maintained the power to dictate the movement of fleets, the flow of commerce, and the balance of influence in one of the world’s most contested waterways. Every empire that challenged British naval supremacy in the centuries that followed would have to contend with the fact that this fortress, at the crossroads of Europe and Africa, was still in British hands... and with it, command over the sea that shaped the course of history.

Gibraltar. July 11, 1779 - February 2, 1783.
British Forces: 5,380 Soldiers and Five Ships.
Spanish Forces: 21,000 Soldiers and 19 Ships.

Additional Reading and Episode Research:

• McGuffie, T.H. The Siege of Gibraltar, 1779-1783.
• Russel, Jack. Gibraltar Besieged, 1779 - 1783.
• Bradford, Ernle. Gibraltar: The History of a Fortress.

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