The History of Menorca

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1000 B.C. (approx) Phoenicians named the island NURA and founded Mahón and Ciudadela.
300 B.C. All the Balearic Islands were under the influence of Carthage.
123 B.C. Became part of the Roman Empire and the eastern harbour was named "Portus Magonis" (Port Mahón).
427-534 A.D. Vandals destroyed the Roman Empire and took over the Balearics.
534 The Byzantines destroyed the Vandal Empire and returned the Balearics to Catholicism, ruled by the court of Justinian.
1000 Ciudadela was known as "Medina Minurka", capital of Arab Menorca, it was dependent for several years on the Arab Kingdoms of Denia and Cordoba.

1087 Menorca and other islands became part of the independent Moslem kingdom until 1203 when the Arabs seized back the Balearic islands.
1229 Mallorca was captured by the Catalans and the Moors on Menorca became independent.
1287 Menorca, the last of the Balearics occupied by the Arabs was taken by the King Alfonso III of Aragon and Catalonia and Christianity was returned to Menorca.

1298 For several years Menorca was ruled from Mallorca until 1343 the King of Aragon again took Menorca and re-populated the island, mostly with settlers from Catalonia, the majority were farmers and with them came the Catalan language.

1469 The Balearics became part of the United Kingdom of Spain, as a result of the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon to Isabella of Castille.
1535 Mahón was attacked and destroyed by the infamous Barbarrossa.
1554 Charles V, Emperor of Spain, ordered the construction of Fort San Felipe as protection against continuous attacks on Mahón harbour.
1558 The Turkish Ottoman fleet destroyed Ciudadela. They carried away more than three thousand captives.
1708 During the Spanish War of Succession, Britain occupied Menorca and gave support to Archduke Charles of Austria against Phillip V of Bourbon.
1713 The treaty of Utrecht officially recognised British possession.
1756 The French took Menorca during the Seven Year War and founded San Luis.
1763 Menorca was returned to England by virtue of the Peace of Paris. During this second occupation defence and military bases were extended. The foundations of Georgetown (Es Castell) were laid in honour of King George III of England.
1769 San Cristobal was founded and became the centre of Es Migjorn Gran.
1781-1782 Franco Spanish troops landed at Mesquida and forced Governor James Murray to surrender to the Duc de Crillon. Menorca was left defenceless after significant forts were demolished. Many of the liberal laws introduced under British rule were revoked e.g., forbidding Catalan to be taught in schools and the inquisition was brought back, previously abolished by the British. Menorca suffered a serious economic recession after the introduction of new taxes and trade restrictions.
1798 Britain took the island for the third time and they immediately began refortification works. It was during this occupation that Lord Nelson visited the island on board the "Faudroyant".

1802 Britain gave up most of its colonies in the Mediterranean and gave Menorca back to Spain, in return for Napoleon's retreat from Egypt - The Treaty of Amiens.
1873 Spain was proclaimed a republic and the monarchy were restored.
1909 The importance of tourism was discovered with foundation of the "Society for the attraction of Foreigners"
1936-1937 Menorca during the Spanish Civil War fought with the republicans and Menorca was the only island in the Balearics to back the Catalans against General Franco.
1953 First charter flight arrived in Menorca from London.
1975 After Franco's death, Spain became a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos I. The Balearics is one of the seventeen autonomous regions of Spain.