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65-530: Mahón ( Spanish: [maˈon] ), officially Maó ( Catalan: [məˈo] , locally [ˈmo] ; formerly spelled Mahó ), and also written as Mahon or Port Mahon in English, is the capital and second largest city of Menorca . The city is located on the eastern coast of the island, which is part of the archipelago and autonomous community of the Balearic Islands . Mahón has one of

130-724: A failed British relief attempt . The 1763 Treaty of Paris enabled the British to return to the island after Britain's victory in the Seven Years' War . In 1781, during the American War of Independence , the British were defeated for a second time , in this instance by a combination of French and Spanish forces, and on 5 January 1782 the Spanish regained control of the island, after a long siege of St. Philip's Castle in Port Mahon. The British ceded

195-550: A British possession. It was formally ceded to Great Britain in 1713, under the terms of Article XI of the Treaty of Utrecht . Under the governorship of General Richard Kane , this period saw the island's capital moved to Port Mahon and a naval base established in that town's harbour. In 1756, during the Seven Years' War , France captured the island after the Siege of Fort St Philip and

260-584: A Jewish population. The Letter on the Conversion of the Jews by a fifth-century bishop named Severus tells of the forced conversion of the island's 540 Jewish men and women in AD 418. Several Jews, including Theodore, a rich representative Jew who stood high in the estimation of his coreligionists and of Christians alike, underwent baptism. The act of conversion brought about, within a previously peaceful coexisting community,

325-603: A close with a firework display. As a small island, Menorca offers limited opportunities to see top-level sport competitions. Football in Menorca is played at the fifth level of the Spanish football pyramid. There are currently 11 clubs contesting the Regional Preferente de Menorca , the champion of which progresses to the Tercera División Grupo XI playoffs. The winner of this playoff is promoted to Tercera División;

390-465: A few weeks earlier. An account of the work done notes that every movable item on the ship had to be taken off. Additional structural reinforcements had to be installed in the hull and all the masts and rigging removed except for the lowest parts. The lower gun ports were sealed, reinforced and made watertight. Also a large number of thick, timber outriggers were installed; these were up to two feet (61 cm) across and 40 feet (12 m) long. The ship

455-531: A hull under a considerable strain and even a strongly built ship could be structurally weakened or damaged by the procedure. Using a dry dock was preferred if one was available. At the end of the 18th century, the Royal Navy had 24 dry docks available in Britain, so careening was not usually necessary for ships stationed in British waters. This gave an advantage over their French rivals, as France had few dry docks, and

520-410: A maritime museum here. The island has a distinctive octagonal shape, formed when wharves were constructed around it in the 1760s to enable several warships to be careened there all at once. The ruins of a former Royal Naval Hospital , founded in 1711, stand on another nearby island ( Illa del Rei ). They recently have been restored. Hauser & Wirth has established a gallery on the island. During

585-511: A naval base and sought to take full control. Its status as a British possession was confirmed by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. During the island's years as a British dependency , the capital was moved from Ciutadella de Menorca to Mahon, which then served as residence for the governor , the most famous being General Richard Kane . During this period the natural harbour leading to the town and surrounding settlements were sometimes collectively known as "Port Mahon" (see adjacent map). The island

650-399: A permanent facility for careening known as a careening wharf . A beach favoured for careening was called a careenage . The vessel was then pulled over with tackles from the mastheads to strong points on the shore while the tide went out. If this was being done on a beach, then the ship's guns might be moved to the shore and used as anchoring points. However, a careening wharf in a dockyard

715-442: A popular place for piracy. A practice similar to careening was a Parliamentary heel , in which the vessel was heeled over in deep water by shifting weight, such as ballast or guns, to one side. In this way the upper sides could be cleaned or repaired with minimal delay. Famously, HMS Royal George sank at Spithead off Portsmouth while undergoing a Parliamentary heel in 1782, killing hundreds of people on board. Careening in

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780-465: A sauce, but the cream was nowhere to be found. Therefore, he replaced it with olive oil, creating mayonnaise. The name mayonnaise originates from the capital of the island, Mahón . Also famous is Mahón cheese , "formatge de Maó", a cheese typical of the island. Sweets known as flaons are one of the typical gastronomic products of Menorca. Menorca is rich in wild flowers with over 900 species of flowering plants recorded. Many are those typical of

845-496: Is CB Menorca , considered by many to be Menorca Bàsquet's phoenix club. After 5 seasons in LEB Plata , on the 2022-23 LEB Plata season CB Menorca gained promotion to LEB Oro, making Menorca host basketball second division matches after a decade, and in their first LEB Oro season, the team finished 12th. Mahón/Menorca has a Hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa) with mild, somewhat humid winters and dry, hot summers. Autumn

910-504: Is Egyptian vulture in the right habitat. In summer there are bee-eaters and Menorca has major colonies of Cory's shearwater and Balearic shearwater . Menorca has no large native mammals. There are some small mammals including rabbits, bats, rats, mice, pine martens and a subspecies of North African hedgehog . The major towns are Port Mahon and Ciutadella de Menorca . The island is administratively divided into eight municipalities (from west to east): The areas and populations of

975-569: Is Pavelló Menorca in the Bintaufa neighborhood just outside of Maó. In recent years, some sporting events that gather hundreds of participants have been successfully held on a yearly basis, such as the triathlon race Extreme Man Menorca and the single-staged ultramarathon race Trail Menorca Camí de Cavalls . In 2014, it was announced that the island would host the 18th editions of the Island Games in 2019; however, Menorca later pulled out of hosting

1040-545: Is Gin Xoriguer which is named after the typical Menorcan windmill which was used to make the first gin. One of the reasons it is also known as Gin de Minorca or Gin de Mahón. Mayonnaise is thought to take its name from the capital of the island. According to this theory, it was first prepared by a French chef in 1756 as part of a victory feast after capturing Port Mahon , Minorca. In those days, sauces were prepared by combining cream and eggs. The French chef needed cream to prepare

1105-469: Is held annually in Ciutadella de Menorca , during 23–25 June. The festes last for three days. On the first day, a man bears a well-groomed sheep upon his shoulders and parades around the local streets. In the late evening, main streets are closed, and bonfires held upon them. On the second day, locally bred black horses are dressed with ribbons and rosettes. The riders, or "caixers", ride the horses through

1170-656: Is in the Tercera Federación or higher. In basketball, Mahón has the Pavelló Menorca , with capacity of 5000 spectator. The venue is most known for albergating one of the few teams in the Balearic Islands to be at the Spanish first division of basketball, Liga ACB , that team was Menorca Bàsquet . After staying 5 seasons in their history at Liga ACB, the directors closed the club due to debts. Mahón had to wait 5 years to get another basketball club, and that club

1235-455: Is known for its collection of megalithic stone monuments: navetes , taules and talaiots , which indicate very early prehistoric human activity. Some of the earliest culture on Menorca was influenced by other Mediterranean cultures, including the Greek Minoans of ancient Crete (see also Gymnesian Islands ). For example, the use of inverted plastered timber columns at Knossos

1300-485: Is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Mallorca . Its capital is Mahón ( Catalan : Maó ), situated on the island's eastern end, although Menorca is not a province and forms a political union with the other islands in the archipelago. Ciutadella and Mahón are the main ports and largest towns. The port of Mahón

1365-527: Is quite common and can be found all over the island. Two terrapin species are also found, the native European pond terrapin ( Emys orbicularis ) and the introduced American red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta ). The birdlife of Menorca is very well known. Menorca is a well watched island which is on the migration route of many species and good number of passage migrants can be seen in spring. Residents include Audouin's gull , blue rock thrush and Thekla lark . Booted eagle and red kite are easy to see as

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1430-462: Is seen in the Menorcans' taste for gin , which during local festes honoring towns' patron saints is mixed with lemonade (or bitter lemon ) to make a golden liquid known as Pomada . Gin from Menorca is not derived from grain alcohol but from wine alcohol ( eau de vie de vin ), making it more akin to brandy. It has the distinction to have geographical identity protection . Probably the best known gin

1495-462: Is the second biggest natural port in the world . Menorca had a population of 96,733 at the Census of 1 January 2021, which rose to an official estimated total of 99,005 at 1 January 2023. It is located 39°47' to 40°00'N, 3°52' to 4°24'E. Its highest point, called El Toro (from Catalan " turó " meaning hill ), roughly in the middle of the island, is 358 metres (1,175 feet) above sea level . The island

1560-1777: Is the wettest season and heavy rain is not rare during October and November. At 39°51′23″N 4°17′29″E  /  39.8565°N 4.2915°E  / 39.8565; 4.2915 , there is a large military Wullenweber antenna for radio direction finding. Menorca [REDACTED]   Carthage 4th century BC– 201 BC [REDACTED]   Roman Republic 123 BC–27 BC [REDACTED]   Roman Empire 27 BC–455 Vandal Kingdom 455–534 Byzantine Empire 534–628 Umayyad state of Córdoba 903–1015 Taifa of Dénia 1015–1076 Taifa of Majorca 1076–1115 Almoravid Dynasty 1115–1158 Taifa of Majorca 1158–1203 [REDACTED] Almohad Dynasty 1203–1229 [REDACTED]   Crown of Aragon ( Taifa of Menorca ) 1229/1231–1287 [REDACTED]   Crown of Aragon 1287–1298 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Mallorca 1298–1343 [REDACTED]   Crown of Aragon 1343–1708 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Great Britain 1708–1756 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of France 1756–1763 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Great Britain 1763–1782 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Spain 1782–1798 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Great Britain 1798–1800 [REDACTED]   United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801–1802 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Spain 1802–1808 [REDACTED]   Kingdom of Spain 1813–1931 [REDACTED]   Second Spanish Republic 1931–1939 [REDACTED]   Spanish State 1939–1975/1982 [REDACTED]   Spain 1982–present [REDACTED] [REDACTED]   Balearic Islands 1983–present Menorca or Minorca (from Latin : Insula Minor , lit.   'smaller island', later Minorica )

1625-549: Is thought to have influenced early peoples of Menorca in imitating this practice. The end of the Punic wars saw an increase in piracy in the western Mediterranean. The Roman occupation of Hispania had meant a growth of maritime trade between the Iberian and Italian peninsulas . Pirates took advantage of the strategic location of the Balearic Islands to raid Roman commerce, using both Menorca and Mallorca as bases. In reaction to this,

1690-763: Is thought to have taken refuge there in 205 BC. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire , it became part of the Eastern Roman Empire ; it suffered raids from Vikings and Arabs until the Islamic Caliphate of Córdoba conquered it in 903. Mahón was captured in 1287 from the Moors by Alfonso III of Aragon and incorporated into the Kingdom of Majorca , a vassal kingdom of the Crown of Aragon . Its harbour, one of

1755-837: The Corpo Truppe Volontarie Air Force. Many Menorcans were also killed when taking part in a failed invasion of Mallorca . During the Pedro Marqués Barber era (July–December 1936) some Mallorcans and a priest were executed on the island. After the Nationalist victory in the Battle of Minorca in February 1939, the British Navy assisted in a peaceful transfer of power in Menorca and the evacuation of some political refugees aboard HMS  Devonshire . In October 1993, Menorca

1820-700: The English Cemetery , which was restored by the Spanish government in 2008 and is maintained in the 21st century. During the Spanish Civil War , Menorca stayed loyal to the Republican Spanish Government , while the rest of the Balearic Islands supported the Spanish Nationalists . The island did not see ground combat, but it was a target of aerial bombing by the pro-Nationalist Italians of

1885-620: The French Navy had to routinely careen its ships for maintenance. Pirates would often careen their ships because they had no access to dry docks. A secluded bay would suffice for necessary repairs or hull cleaning, and such little "safe havens" could be found throughout the islands in the Caribbean and nearly around the world. One group of islands, Las Tres Marías in Panama , became popular after Francis Drake had sailed there in 1579, and they became

1950-455: The Moors . Menorquí also has a few English loan words dating back to the period of British rule, such as "grevi", "xumaquer", "boinder" and "xoc" taken from "gravy", "shoemaker", "bow window" and "chalk", respectively. Wine production has been known on the island since ancient times, but it went into a heavy decline over the last century. Now, several new, small wineries have started up, producing wines locally. Lingering British influence

2015-572: The Peace of Paris . The British recaptured the island in 1798, during the French Revolutionary Wars . The British and the French tried (and failed) to end their hostilities with the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. Both nations agreed to cede or withdraw from certain territories, with the island of Menorca passing to the Spanish, with whom it has remained since. A small but important Royal Navy Dockyard

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2080-519: The Spanish Civil War , the island remained loyal to the Republic, but was captured by the Nationalists in 1939. During the battle to capture the islands from the republicans, Mahón was bombed by Francisco Franco 's Nationalist bomber planes, with support from Benito Mussolini 's Italian Fascist government. General Franco visited the city on 11 May 1960 to open a new thermal power station . The event

2145-658: The Xueta community. When Menorca became a British possession in 1713, they actively encouraged the immigration of foreign non-Catholics, which included Jews who were not accepted by the predominantly Christian inhabitants. When the Jewish community in Mahon requested the use of a room as a synagogue, their request was refused, and they were denounced by the clergy. In 1781, when Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, duc de Mahon invaded Menorca, he ordered all Jews to leave in four days. At that time,

2210-518: The emperor dragonfly . There are three species of amphibians: green toad ( Bufo viridis ), marsh frog and stripeless tree frog ( Hyla meridionalis ). The common lizard seen all over the island is the Italian wall lizard ( Podarcis siculus ) although the Moroccan rock lizard ( Scelaris perspicillata ) also occurs. The Balearic endemic Lilford's wall lizard ( Podarcis lilfordi ) can be found on many of

2275-529: The slave markets of Eivissa, Valencia and Barcelona , while others became Christians. After the Christian conquest of 1287, the island was part of the Crown of Aragon . For some time it was ceded to the Kingdom of Mallorca , a vassal state of the Crown, but it was retaken by the king of Aragon in 1343. Eventually the Crown of Aragon merged with the Crown of Castile , and so Menorca became part of Spain. During

2340-528: The 16th century, Turkish naval attacks destroyed Mahon , and the then capital, Ciutadella . In Mahon, Barbary pirates from North Africa took considerable booty and as many as 6,000 slaves. Various Spanish kings, including Philip III and Philip IV , styled themselves "King of Minorca" as a subsidiary title. Captured by Britain's Royal Navy in 1708 during the War of the Spanish Succession , Minorca became

2405-533: The Jewish community consisted of about 500 people and they were transported from Menorca in four Spanish ships to the port of Marseille . The Vandals easily conquered the island in the fifth century. The Byzantine Empire recovered it in 534. Following the Umayyad conquest of Hispania , Menorca was annexed to the Caliphate of Córdoba in 903, with many Muslims emigrating to the island. Manûrqa ( Arabic : منورقة )

2470-598: The Mediterranean, but some are endemic. There are 24 or 25 species of orchid found and of these most flower early in the year in late March, April and May. 30 species of butterflies have been recorded on Menorca and most are on the wing from March to late September. The species that occur include the Cleopatra , Lang's short tailed blue and the two-tailed pasha . Despite not having many large wetlands dragonflies abound on Menorca. Seventeen species have been recorded including

2535-512: The Romans invaded Menorca . By 123 BC, both islands were fully under Roman control, later being incorporated into the province of Hispania Citerior . In 13 BC Roman emperor Augustus reorganised the provincial system and the Balearic Islands became part of the Tarraconensis imperial province. The ancient town of Mago was transformed from a Carthaginian town to a Roman town. The island had

2600-707: The blue cloth. In terms of sport, Mahón has an athletics track in the Carrer de Vasallo, as well as several other sport facilities. The city also has a sports centre with a municipal pool, 2 tennis clubs. Mahón has several football teams, including UD Mahón , CD Menorca and CF Sporting de Mahón . The most noteworthy and successful club in Menorcan history, Sporting Mahonés CF , was the only football club in Menorca ever to reach Segunda División B . The team disbanded in 2013, and Sporting de Mahón took its place. As of 2024, no team in Mahón

2665-428: The crews of ships that were suspected of carrying infectious diseases, such as the plague. The crew needed to spend up to 40 days within its walls until it was clear there was no infection or until the sick recovered. It is now a national monument and can only be reached as part of an official tour. From 1815 until the mid-19th century, the U.S. Navy developed its Mediterranean headquarters at Port Mahon, leaving behind

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2730-405: The event, citing a change of government as the main reason. The two official languages are Catalan and Spanish. Natives to the island speak the variety of Catalan called Menorquí , and Spanish as well; many residents originating from the mainland are monolingual in Spanish. The language of education and of government is Catalan , with Spanish taught alongside it. A 2014 survey carried out by

2795-400: The expulsion of the ruling Jewish elite into the bleak hinterlands, the burning of synagogues, and the gradual reinstatement of certain Jewish families after the forced acceptance of Christianity, allowing the survival of those Jewish families who had not already perished. Many Jews secretly retained their Jewish faith while outwardly professing Christian beliefs. Some of these Jews form part of

2860-472: The government of the Balearic Islands found that 53.5% of participants identified themselves as Catalan speakers, 36.7% as Spanish speakers, and 7.7% as bilingual speakers. The Catalan spoken in Menorca is a variety known as Menorquí . Between Menorquí and standard Catalan, as with most Balearic dialects , the most distinctive difference is the word used for the article "the", where Menorquí uses "es" for masculine and "sa" for feminine. Menorquí thus shares

2925-407: The island back to Spain the next year in the Treaty of Versailles . Menorca was invaded by the British once again in 1798 , during the French Revolutionary Wars , but it was finally repossessed by Spain by the terms of the Treaty of Amiens in 1802. The British influence can still be seen in local architecture, with elements such as sash windows . As with the rest of the Balearic Islands, Menorca

2990-508: The last Menorquí club to do so was CF Sporting Mahonés in 2009. CV Ciutadella are a professional women's volleyball club who play in the Superliga Femenina , the top league of Spanish volleyball, having won the league championship in 2011 and 2012. They play at Pavelló Municipal d'Esports in Ciutadella . A semi-professional basketball club, CB Menorca , play in the LEB Plata , the third level of Spanish basketball. Their home court

3055-457: The longest natural harbours in the world: 5 kilometres (3 miles) long and up to 900 metres (3,000 feet) wide. The water is deep but remains mostly clear due to the port's enclosed nature. Mayonnaise is considered to have originated in Mahón. Its population in 2021 was estimated to be 29,125. The name's origin is attributed to the Carthaginian general Mago Barca , brother to Hannibal , who

3120-571: The most strategically important in the western Mediterranean, was refortified. In 1535, the Ottomans, under Hayreddin Barbarossa , attacked Mahón and took 600 captives as slaves back to Algiers , in the Sack of Mahon . Menorca was captured in 1708 by a joint British–Dutch force on behalf of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI , during the War of the Spanish Succession . The British saw the island's potential as

3185-518: The municipalities (according to the Instituto Nacional de Estadística , Spain) are: Careening The term, and similar terms in French, Spanish and Italian, derive from the term for a ship's keel — carène (French), carena (Spanish), carena (Italian). These come from the Latin term for keel, carīna . The ship was grounded broadside on a steep beach at high tide or, in dockyards, moored at

3250-518: The offshore islands. Two species of gecko can be found on Menorca, the Moorish ( Tarentola mauritanica ) and the Turkish ( Hemidactylus turcicus ) also called the Mediterranean house gecko. Four species of snake occur: the viperine snake ( Natrix maura ), grass snake , false smooth snake ( Macroprotodon cucullatus ) and the ladder snake ( Rhinechis scalaris ). Hermann's tortoise ( Testudo hermanni )

3315-405: The ship raised out of the water, maintenance work would be carried out. When the tide returned, the ship would be floated off and the process repeated if necessary on the other side. While a competent crew could careen their ship without outside assistance, it was a laborious task. In early 1843, HMS Formidable was careened at Malta Dockyard to carry out repairs after the ship had grounded

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3380-491: The small size of the island, temperatures are generally quite stable. The location of Minorca in the middle of the western Mediterranean was a staging point for the different cultures since prehistoric times. This Balearic Island has a mix of colonial and local architecture. The festes take place throughout the summer in different towns around the island, and have their origins in the early 14th century. The international opera week and international organ festival in Mahon, and

3445-453: The source of its article with many Sardinian varieties (masc. sing. su , fem sing. sa ), rather than the standard Catalan "el" and "la", similar to other Romance languages (e.g. Spanish el , la , Italian il , la ), corresponding to a form which was historically used along the Costa Brava of Catalonia , from where it is supposed that the islands were repopulated after being conquered from

3510-401: The streets and, along with a tumultuous crowd of people, encourage them to rear up on their hind legs. The brave can be found running underneath them in an attempt to touch the horses hearts for good luck. The third day sees intense competition between the riders in a harmless form of jousting that involves spearing a suspended ring with a lance at considerable speed. The festes are brought to

3575-534: The summer music festival and Capella Davidica concerts in Ciutadella are the main events of the island. Minorca's cuisine is dominated by the Mediterranean diet , which is known to be very healthy. While many of the locals have adopted modern attitudes they still uphold certain old traditions. Minorca is especially well known for its traditional summer "festes", which intrigue many visitors. The Saint John's Feast

3640-402: The traditional sense can only be done on a sailing vessel as its masts are used for hauling it over. Today, larger ships are placed in dry dock; smaller vessels can be lifted from the water by a crane or a travel lift . A procedure known as careening is still sometimes done with smaller boats, but differs from what was done historically in that the boat is not winched over by cables attached to

3705-615: Was designated by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve . In July 2005, the island's application to become the 25th member of the International Island Games Association was approved. As the major part of Balearic Islands, Menorca has a mediterranean climate ( Köppen : Csa ), with mild winters and hot summers. Menorca is generally wetter than Mallorca, with rainfall peaking in late autumn. Average annual highs range between 14 °C (57 °F) in winter to 29 °C (84 °F) in summer. Due to its offshore position and

3770-499: Was established by the British on the north side of the harbour, opposite the town, in 1715. It served as the Royal Navy's principal Mediterranean base for much of the 18th century, and remains in use today as a Spanish Naval station. Several Dockyard buildings, dating from the 1760s, can still be seen on Illa Pinto (formerly known as Saffron Island) including a Naval Storehouse with clock tower. There recently have been moves to establish

3835-428: Was lost to the French in 1756 following the naval Battle of Menorca and the final Siege of Fort St Philip , which took place several miles from the town. After their defeat in the Seven Years' War , France returned the island to the British in 1763. In a joint Franco-Spanish effort and following a long five month invasion , the British surrendered the island again in 1782; It was transferred to Spain in 1783 as part of

3900-519: Was not occupied by the French during the Peninsular War , as it was successfully protected by the Royal Navy, this time allied to Spain. A quarantine station ( lazaretto ), Llatzaret (Catalan), was constructed from 1793 to 1807 next to the entrance to the Port Mahon. It served ships from North Africa wishing to reach the Iberian Peninsula or the ports of the Balearic Islands. Lazarettos confined

3965-450: Was preferred, as it would have been equipped with the capstans and rope tackle necessary for hauling over the ship. If a dockyard was not available—for example, the ship was a pirate ship or in need of repairs while in hostile waters—a beach would have to do. The ship would have been lightened beforehand by removing all stores, and a careening wharf would have had large sheds available to protect them from weather and theft. With one side of

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4030-462: Was pulled over by ropes wound around three capstans; each was turned by 120 men. In the 18th century, careening wharves existed at overseas Royal Navy dockyards such as Port Mahon and Halifax . They were important facilities and often the first things built when the navy was establishing a new overseas base. However, dockyards in the United Kingdom typically had dry docks . Careening placed

4095-415: Was ruled first by Abû 'Uthmân Sa'îd Hakam al Qurashi (1234–1282), and following his death by his son, Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd (1282–1287). A Catalan-Aragonese invasion, led by Alfonso III (also known as Count of Barcelona Alfons II), came on 17 January 1287; its anniversary is now celebrated as Menorca's national day. Once the island was captured, most of its Muslim inhabitants were enslaved and sold in

4160-668: Was the Arabicized name given to the island by the Muslims from its annexation to the Caliphate of Cordoba by 'Isâm al-Khawlânî in 903 until the rule of the last Muslim ra'îs, Abû 'Umar ibn Sa'îd in 1287. The only urban centre of the island was Madînat al Jazîra or al Manûrqa (modern Ciutadella ). Most of the population lived in small farm communities organized under a tribal structure. In 1231, after Christian forces took Mallorca, Menorca chose to become an independent Islamic state, albeit one tributary to King James I of Aragon . The island

4225-483: Was used by the authorities to further promote Francoist Spain . Today it serves as the seat of the Island Council of Menorca ( Consell Insular de Menorca ). Towards the end of the 20th century, the renovation of its historic centre was made possible by income from tourism. A traditional cheese made on the island ( Mahón cheese ) is named after the city. In Spanish mahón is also the name of nankeen , especially

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