Why Is Gibraltar British and Why Does Spain Claim It?
Gibraltar is a 6.8-square-kilometre rock attached to Spain, yet it belongs to the United Kingdom. The key to its origins lies not in a conquest but in a treaty signed in 1713.
A British Rock Attached to Spain
Gibraltar covers 6.8 square kilometres. It is attached to Spain, but it is British.
Many people believe England conquered it. That is not quite the case. It was never conquered for England.
To understand why Gibraltar belongs to the United Kingdom, you need to look at two dates: 1704 and 1713. In this article, we explain step by step how it all began and why the dispute remains unresolved.
1704: The Capture During the War of the Spanish Succession
In 1704, the War of the Spanish Succession was being fought. Against that backdrop, an Anglo-Dutch fleet captured Gibraltar.
However, it did not do so on behalf of England. It took the territory on behalf of Archduke Charles of Austria, who was a claimant to the Spanish throne.
The 1704 capture, therefore, did not make Gibraltar English territory. It was one episode in a war over the Spanish crown.
1713: The Treaty of Utrecht, the Key Date
The date that explains its origins is 1713. That year, the Treaty of Utrecht brought the War of the Spanish Succession to an end.
Its Article X ceded the town, the castle, the port and its fortifications to the British Crown.
In other words, Gibraltar passed into British hands through a signed agreement. It was not a conquest on behalf of England that made it British.
Why Spain Still Claims Gibraltar
Spain maintains that at Utrecht it ceded the property, not the entire territory or the surrounding waters.
This is an important distinction. According to this position, what was ceded is what Article X lists: the town, the castle, the port and its fortifications.
Because of this interpretation of the treaty, Spain has never stopped claiming Gibraltar.
Referendums and the Border Closure: Why It Remains British
In 1967, a referendum was held in Gibraltar. More than 98% voted to remain British.
Two years later, Spain closed the border gate. It was not fully reopened until 1985.
In 2002, another referendum rejected shared sovereignty.
These events explain why Gibraltar remains British. But they do not explain why it became British in the first place. That goes back to 1713.
Summary: A Signature, Not a Conquest
Gibraltar was captured in 1704 on behalf of a claimant to the Spanish throne. It was ceded to the British Crown in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht.
Spain has claimed it ever since. If anyone asks you about its origins, the answer is clear: Gibraltar was made British not by a conquest, but by a signature.
Frequently asked questions
Did England conquer Gibraltar?
No. In 1704, an Anglo-Dutch fleet captured it on behalf of Archduke Charles of Austria, a claimant to the Spanish throne.
What does Article X of the Treaty of Utrecht say?
It cedes the town, the castle, the port and the fortifications of Gibraltar to the British Crown.
Why does Spain claim Gibraltar?
Because it maintains that in 1713 it ceded the property, not the entire territory or the surrounding waters. It has never stopped claiming it.
What was voted on in the Gibraltar referendums?
In 1967, more than 98% voted to remain British. In 2002, another referendum rejected shared sovereignty.
Informative article written with the help of AI tools from the verified script of the video. The video is in Spanish.