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In the 7th century B.C, the Phoenicians established themselves in the Cerro del Prado, situated some 2 kilometres to the northwest of Carteia. Three centuries later, the descendents of their principal colony, the people of North African Carthage (Carthiginians or Punics), founded what we know today as Carteia. They chose a very wide promontory close to the mouth of the river Guadarranque as the location for their new city, this location provided excellent control over the Strait and shelter within the Bay of Algeciras.
Gibraltar based historian William Serfaty has written a fascinating thesis exploring a possible historical origin for the legend of the Pillars of Hercules at the gateway to the Mediterranean, William also explores links between Gibraltar and the ancient city of Carteia. Click here to read the thesis When Rome defeated Carthage in the so-called Punic Wars, 3rd century B.C., the Romans established themselves in the city, significantly enlarged it, and began its process of monumentalization. Click here for photographs, descriptions and 360 panoramas Rome did not recognize the people that were born there, children of Hispanic women and Roman soldiers, as citizens. Carteia sent a commission to the capital, soliciting a solution to this problem. The Senate conceded the title Colonia Libertinorum to the city in the year 171 B.C, making it the first Latin colony outside Italy. Carteia was involved in internal conflicts like the one between Caesar and Pompei at the end of the 1 st century B.C The city sided with the Pompeian faction and gave refuge to Pompei's sons who reorganized their strategy from Carteia. Caesar won all the battles; but since part of the Carteiense population had sided with one of the two possible winners, a serious confrontation occurred between the inhabitants of the city. Finally, when Caesar won the war, Carteia suffered for having supported the Pompeians. The Visigoths settled in the city at the beginning of the 6th century AD and modified its structure again. Today we know that they used it as a necropolis. Arab troops made their presence felt in the area at the outset of the 8th century and begin the conquest of al-Andalus from Carteia. Thanks to Muslim texts, we know that they adapted one of the existing chapels in Carteia and made it into a mezquita. Later, with the arrival of the Merinide armies in the 8th century, a site named hisn Qartayana was built, today known as Torre Cartagena (Cartagena Tower). It was in Arab hands until the middle of the 14th century when the troops of Alfonso XI of Castille overtook the tower after two days of seige. Though not without other armed episodes, they maintained military control of the area until the 18th century. The last building constructed is known as the Torre del Rocadillo (Rocadillo Tower), and served as a beacon for coastal surveillance at the end of the 16th century. Keep in mind that, even during the entire past century, small forts were built close to the tower demonstrating the great strategic value that the site has maintained throughout several centuries. |