CEUTA, or SEUTA, a Spanish fortress on the coast of Fez, Africa, on a peninsula opposite Gibraltar. N. Lat. 35. 56; W. Long. 5. 18. It is built on the Monte del Hacho (the ancient Abyla, one of the pillars of Hercules), and six smaller hills that run along the coast. The town is well built, and is chiefly important as a military and convict station. It contains a cathedral, the bishop of which is suffragan to the archbishop of Seville, several religious houses and a hospital. It has a small harbour, and imports provisions and military stores from Spain. Pop. 9237, exclusive of the garrison, which may be estimated at 5000 men. Ceuta was taken from the Moors by John I., king of Portugal, in 1415, and passed into the hands of the Spaniards on the subjugation of Portugal by Philip II. in 1580. It has been several times unsuccessfully besieged by the Africans.