Ceuta

Ceuta is a Spanish exclave in North Africa, surrounded by Morocco, on the Mediterranean coast near the Straits of Gibraltar. Area approximately [[1 E7 m^2|18]] km².

Ceuta over the centuries was subject successively to Carthaginian, Roman, Visigothic and Arab domination, until it was captured by the Portuguese on August 14, 1415.

After the death in battle of the Portuguese king Sebastian I in 1578, the Portuguese throne passed to the King of Spain, and thereafter Portugal and all its possessions became part of Spain, including Ceuta. In 1640 Portugal regained its independence from Spain. However, Ceuta remained under Spanish control, and has been part of Spain ever since.

Ceuta is known officially in Spanish as Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta, the Autonomous City of Ceuta, having a rank between a standard Spanish city and an autonomous community.

Before the Statute of Autonomy, Ceuta was administratively part of the Cádiz province. It does not form part of the customs territory of the European Union. The city is a free port. As of 1994 its population was 71,926.

The Moroccan government claims integration of Ceuta into Morocco.

ISO 3166-1 reserves EA for Ceuta and Melilla

History of Ceuta

See also: Melilla, Isla Perejil

External links

• Information on the history of Ceuta (in Spanish): http://www.ceuta.com/historia/c-historia.html
• Official Ceuta government website (in Spanish): http://www.ciceuta.es/cac.htm