Agenda|Histories

Minorca and the attack of Ciutadella by the turkish: The story of a longstanding rivalry

Minorca's histories

It is very well known the rivalry that exists between the two main towns of Minorca: Ciutadella and Mahon. Some historians have located the origin of such an old controversy in the attack and destruction of Ciutadella at the hands of the Turkish between the 9th and 10th of july of 1558.

The formidable Turkish fleet, with more than 140 vessels, first made its way to Mahon, where they were greeted and repelled by the guns of San Felipe’s Castle. Finally they headed for Ciutadella where they where able to bring down the walls and destroy and ransack the whole town. It is estimated that the attack caused the loss of ¾ of the Ciutadella’s population, the capital of Minorca at the time.

The people of Ciutadella were furious by the lack of help from Mahon. According to the Act of Constantinople (a chronicle of the time): “in such circumstances only entered the city four armed men form Mahon, with no knight among them”

These facts are remembered as “the year of misfortune” and at every anniversary, on the 9th of July, the city of Ciutadella renders a public tribute to the victims and people that were taken captive in such tragic events. In the middle of the city’s main square (the plaza des Born) you can see an obelisk in memory to the victims. Being aware of such rivalry a well informed visitor should avoid praising Mahon, and its harbour, while visiting Ciutadella, or viceversa at the other end of the island.



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