''For other places of the same name, see
Cartagena''.
'''Cartagena''' is a
Seaport in southeast
Spain on the
Mediterranean_Sea, in the autonomous community of
Murcia. The
Coordinates of Cartagena are '''{{coor dm|37|36|N|0|59|W|}}'''.
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's still an important naval seaport and there is a big naval shipyard.
It was founded about
230_BC by
Carthaginian General
Hasdrubal as ''
Carthago_Nova'' (''New Carthage''. Incidentally ''Qart Hadast'', the
Punic name of Carthago means "new city".) When it was taken by
Scipio in
209_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.
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 struck a compromise by having Murcia as the seat of the regional government and Cartagena as the seat of the parliament.
Cartagena has a lot of archaeologic sites. All over the old centre you can find showcases with remains of Roman buildings.
Cartagena was the birthplace of
Isidore_of_Seville, the Director of the Holy See (Vatican) Press Office
Joaquin_Navarro_Valls and the Spanish writer
Arturo_Pérez_Reverte.
Category:Municipalities_in_Spain
Category:Ports_and_harbours_of_Spain
Category:Phoenician_colonies
Ca:Cartagena
De:Cartagena_(Spanien)
Es:Cartagena_(España)
Fr:Carthagène_(Espagne)
It:Cartagena_(Spagna)
He:קרטחנה_(ספרד)
La:Carthago_Nova
Nl:Cartagena_(Murcia)
No:Cartagena,_Spania
Pt:Cartagena_(Espanha)