ðˈʌs hˌævɪŋ dᵻɹˈɛkt kˈɑːntækt wɪð fɹˈɛntʃ tˈɛɹɪtˌoːɹi, ɪt bɪkˌeɪm ɐ tˈɑːɹɡɪt fɚðə bɹˈɪɾɪʃ flˈiːt dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðə nɐpˈoʊlɪən wˈɔːɹ æt ðə bɪɡˈɪnɪŋ ʌvðə nˈaɪntiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi.
Thus having direct contact with French territory, it became a target for the British fleet during the Napoleon war at the beginning of the 19th century.