The Spanish island of Cabrera, known for its breathtaking beauty as a national park, holds a haunting past that bears witness to the depths of human suffering. During a tumultuous period between 1809 and 1814, Cabrera transformed into a desolate prison, becoming the final destination for approximately 11,000 defeated Napoleonic soldiers. Trapped in a remote location surrounded by the unforgiving Mediterranean Sea, these prisoners endured unimaginable conditions.
The island’s limited resources and harsh climate posed insurmountable challenges, resulting in widespread starvation, dehydration, and rampant illnesses. Tragically, it is estimated that up to 5,000 prisoners succumbed to these merciless circumstances, their lives extinguished on Cabrera’s unforgiving shores.
Though time has softened the scars of the past, the memory of Cabrera’s role as a prison island continues to remind us of the fragility of life and the indomitable spirit of those who suffered within its confines.
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Top image: The Castle of Cabrera on Cabrera Island, Spain. Source: Николай Максимович / CC BY 3.0.
