Cartagena
|
It is a walled town and has a fine harbor defended by forts. In the time of Philip II of Spain, it was a major naval seaport of Spain.
It was founded about 230 BC by Carthaginian General Hasdrubal as Carthago Nova (New Carthage, which is what Cartagena also means.) When it was taken by Scipio in 210 BC it was said to be one of the richest cities in the world.
Hannibal got silver from the mines there to carry on the war against Rome.
Cartagena was the birthplace of Isidore of Seville and the Spanish writer Arturo PÃÂérez Reverte.
In 1873, the garrison arose against the First Spanish Republic and formed the independent Cartagena Canton. Since they had the best part of the Spanish Navy, they cruised the Spanish Mediterranean trying to bring them to Cantonalism. The Federalist Spanish government declared them a pirate fleet, encouraging foreign countries to chase and sink them.
The conscience of self-importance appeared again during the establishment of Autonomous Communities. Some Cartageneros were not happy to be in the same region as inland Murcianos. The Autonomy Act tries to keep everybody happy by having Murcia as the see for the regional government and Cartagena as the see of the parliament.
See also Cartagena de Indias, a city in Colombia.