LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cartagena: Spanish Crown
built 652 days ago
In response to these attacks, the Spaniards built a series of forts and walls around Cartagena. It protected the town from its biggest attack, led by Edward Vernon in 1741. The defense was commanded by Blas de Lezo, a Spanish officer who had already lost an arm, a leg and an eye in previous battles. With 2500 poorly trained men, Don Blas managed to fend off 25,000 English soldiers and their 186 ships. He lost his other leg and died soon after, but is now regarded as the savior of Cartagena.
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In mid 1533, Pedro de Heredia built a settlement in the small native village of Calamari which later became Cartagena. Over the next 10 years, Cartagena had grown into a prosperous Spanish outpost due to exporting gold and other riches, and ... was a trading port for ships making their way from Peru to Cuba, then sailing their bounty back to Spain. Unfortunately, Cartagena was reduced to ashes in 1552. Following this Governor de Heredia prohibited building with materials other than bricks, roof tiles, stone masonry, and rocks.
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The Romans, Byzantines and Arabs all took full advantage of Cartagena's perfect natural harbour, surrounded by mountains that were rich in metallic ores. Today this natural harbour is still the home of the biggest Spanish naval base in the Mediterranean.
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