Minorca celebrates its recovery from the British on the feast of Saint Anthony
Every January 17th, the Mediterranean island of Menorca celebrates its liberation from British rule in 1782, a victory that coincided with the feast day of the island's patron saint, Anthony the Abbot.
The island of Menorca changed hands several times during the 18th century as European powers vied for control of its strategic deep-water harbor. In 1782, Spanish and French forces successfully reclaimed the island from the British after a long siege. Because the final surrender occurred on the feast day of Saint Anthony, the saint became a symbol of Menorcan identity.
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