Charles V Wall

Charles V Wall
Part of Fortifications of Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Upper section of Charles V Wall in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar
1608 plan of the lower portion of the wall, showing lines of fire from the South Bastion, by Cristóbal de Rojas
Charles V Wall
Coordinates	36°07′56″N 5°20′54″W / 36.132143°N 5.348293°W / 36.132143; -5.348293
Site information
Owner	Government of Gibraltar
Open to the public	Yes
Site history
Built	1540 (1540)
Built by	Emperor Charles V

The Charles V Wall is a 16th-century defensive curtain wall that forms part of the fortifications of the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It was built in 1540 and strengthened in 1552 by Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The wall remains largely intact and extends from South Bastion, which was once at the water's edge in the harbour, to the top ridge of the Rock of Gibraltar.

The lower section of the wall runs up from the South Bastion which was once at the water's edge in the harbour, to Prince Edward's Gate at the base of a steep cliff. It is pierced by the Puerta de África (English: Gate of Africa), which is defended from above by the Flat Bastion.

The upper section of Charles V Wall, somewhat further south, runs from the top of a cliff up to the crest of The Rock. It zigzags up the slope of The Rock in four stages in a configuration that lets the defenders give flanking fire to each face. The Hacho (later the Signal Station) at the top of the wall was once equipped with a small tower.

Another wall continues from the lower section of Charles V Wall almost all the way up to the top of The Rock and known as the Moorish Wall. It was once thought to be an ancient wall from the Moorish period. However, the Muralla de San Reymondo (English: St. Raymond's Wall), also known as the Philip II Wall, was built during the 16th century by King Philip II of Spain as a fallback defensive line.

At the time the Charles V Wall was built, the Barbary pirates posed the main threat to the city. In September 1540 Gibraltar was attacked by a corsair force led by Piali Hamet, one of Barbarossa's captains. The town was plundered and many of the leading citizens were taken captive. The wall, originally called the Muralla de San Benito (English: St. Benedict's Wall), was built in 1540 to help defend The Rock against further attacks from the south.