The Spanish island that became a prison - BBC REEL

The Spanish island of Cabrera is a stunningly beautiful national park. But it has a dark history.
Between 1809 and 1814 the island became a prison for 11,000 defeated Napoleonic soldiers. Conditions were grim and up to 5,000 were estimated to have died of starvation, dehydration, and various illnesses.
Video by Marisa Candia Cadavid & Carwyn Jones
Commissioning Editor: Paul I. Harris
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Пікірлер: 17

  • @jonayz8655
    @jonayz8655 Жыл бұрын

    These guys were sent to that island after years of looting, killing and raping all accross Spain. I find it hard to feel pity for them and even less when you learn that they received medical care and supplies once a week, and the officers were evacuated. The surviving ones were released a month after Napoleon's defeat. Some 2,300 were sent to the Canary Islands where they received a much better treatment, being sent back to France after the war in 1815, and about 200 remained in the islands, got married with locals and formed their families.

  • @Simpaulme
    @Simpaulme Жыл бұрын

    I wondered how he could send a letter since they were abandoned with nothing - then I learned there was a supply ship every two days, even if it sometimes didn't make it for as much as a week. Hmm 🤔

  • @pawshands9706
    @pawshands9706 Жыл бұрын

    All empires have a sick and dark history.

  • @TheMariepi3
    @TheMariepi3 Жыл бұрын

    I heard long ago that French prisoners (with their wives) were held on that island at the time of Napoleon's wars. I believe that others or those same ones were sent as prisoners to the Canary Islands, when the wars were over they were offered to return to France, many decided to stay in the Canary Islands, many had made small colonies in remote parts of the Canary Islands and had no desire to return to the poverty of Paris

  • @chinchanchou

    @chinchanchou

    Жыл бұрын

    What ? Al expulsed to cabrera for die

  • @MelodyLovesMusic
    @MelodyLovesMusic Жыл бұрын

    I read that this beautiful Castle once belonged to "The Cabrera Dynasty" also known as [ The House of Cabrera 1002-1526 ] and was destroyed by the attacks made upon it by a Turkish Corsair who took possession of the entire island and all its artillery, turning the Castle into a garrison for warfare due to its strategic position. Here they housed the prisoners of war from France and left them to die from starvation, dehydration and disease. The last Cabrera from this dynasty lived till the year 1526. Were the original Caberas living there and killed in this attack made by pirates? Whatever became of them? Did they escape and migrate to another part of Spain or Catalonia? I have been wanting to know what became of them, they were Viscounts, noblemen and nothing is being written about them except for that. What were their lives like? I am researching The Cabrera Dynasty and would love to find more information about them. Thank you for this most important and fascinating video, this island is so beautiful.

  • @patrickmas6484

    @patrickmas6484

    4 ай бұрын

    Cabrera is a very strategical place. It has a perfect natural port and thats the maine cause of it being constantly occupied by loads of civilizations during History, theres a theory that Anibal was born in one of the islands of Cabrera. Anyway, as a historian of the balearic islands ive neverd heard about the Cabrera dinasty, it was probably a family that lived there, but Cabrera formed part of the Balearic Islands, mainly Mallorca. Before these prisoners arrived, on Cabrera there was only a litle army (little army is from 2 to 10 soldiers) and some shepperd. That explains why the prisoners found goats (goat in spanish is cabra, that gived the name Cabrera) and the donkey (named Martin by the prisoners) where there when they arrived.

  • @juanitoibericoloveless2879
    @juanitoibericoloveless28794 ай бұрын

    merci

  • @Lacteagalaxia
    @Lacteagalaxia Жыл бұрын

    Bailen the first Battle Lost Napoleón in.europe agaisnt spanish army

  • @serenityenderson
    @serenityenderson Жыл бұрын

    Well, you're sounding amazing for being at least 205 years old... 🤣

  • @astronautism281
    @astronautism28110 ай бұрын

    lol im named after that country (Josh Cabrera)

  • @patrickmas6484

    @patrickmas6484

    4 ай бұрын

    Its a archipelago not a country. The name of it comes from all the goats that used to be on that island (goat in spanish is cabra).

  • @jcminvestments9078
    @jcminvestments9078 Жыл бұрын

    I am a Cabrera and all my ancestors were and are from the island and Catalan too, we were busy in founding cities in America like Cordoba by my great great jeronimo Luis de Cabrera but the king in that time stole our kingdom sending to kill all my families in las americas to take over the kingdom of Catalan. Now we will think in our independent from Spain, while Catalonians pay more taxes than the Spaniards. God bless our kingdom and free Spain from the fate royal families from the actual regime.

  • @eduardosanmiguel8132

    @eduardosanmiguel8132

    Жыл бұрын

    necesitas ayuda terapéutica

  • @chinchanchou

    @chinchanchou

    Жыл бұрын

    Jajajajaja que decis ridículo? Cabrera no miming people born in cabrera this surname significa CABRA 🐐 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ READ HISOTRY IGNORANT AND CATALUÑA NEVER WERE A REPUBLIC EVER WAS A ARAGON KINDOMN AND NO ARE DIFERENT ARE IBERIANS LIKE CASTILLIAN, VASQUE AMD OHTERS

  • @ak9989
    @ak9989 Жыл бұрын

    Arriba Espana! Dupont at Bailen🤣