Listed 20 sub titles with search on: History for wider area of: "ETOLOAKARNANIA Prefecture GREECE" .
ETOLIA (Ancient area) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Aetolicum Foedus, (to koinon ton Aitolon). A confederation of
the Aetolian towns, afterwards joined by other towns and cantons of Greece, and
formed in B.C. 338, after the battle of Chaeronea, to counteract the influence
of Macedonia in the affairs of Greece. Its political existence was destroyed in
B.C. 189 by the treaty with Rome by which the Aetolians became Roman subjects.
This text is from: Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities. Cited Nov 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Aetolian League : Perseus Project
THERMON (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Sanctuary of Apollo and meeting place of the Aetolian League
STRATOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
OLPES (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
STRATOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
AGRINION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
ANAKTORION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
The Corinthians sent by Cypselus and Gorgus took possession of this shore and also advanced as far as the Ambracian Gulf; and both Ambracia and Anactorium were colonized at this time. (Strabo 10,2,8)
AKTION (Ancient port) ETOLOAKARNANIA
ASTAKOS (Small town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Mythology
In ancient times western Greece was a land of two great nations -
Etolon and Akarnanon. The disputed boundary between them was the Acheloos
River.
Akarnania was comprised of the western part from the Ionian
sea till the Acheloos and from the Amvrakiko
Gulf till the Gulf of Astakos
and the estuaries of the Acheloos.
There is a legend that the area of Astakos was the land of the Cyclops,
more specifically, on the rugged slope of Veloutsas over Kasteli is located the
cave of the Cyclops who blinded Odysseas, while some impressively large boulders
in the valley are believed to be those which the angry Cyclops threw at Odysseas
and his companions in order to sink their ship.
According to mythology, and what Thoukidides tells us, the first colonizer
of the area of Astakos was Alkmeon, son of the king of the Argos, Amphiarao Alkmeon,
was thrown out by the Furies after having killed his mother. He reached the estuaries
of Acheloos and settled there. He became the head of the area and had a son, Akarnana,
whose name was later given to this area.
Antiquity
The most ancient trace of inhabitants in Etoloakarnania were found
in caves near Astakos and at the foot of Varsovas (Kryoneri) while the ruins at
St: Elias can be dated back to the Neolithic era. Settlements from this era were
not saved. However, we have important remnants of facilities and mansions of the
early age of copper at Platygiali near Astakos, (St. Pantelemonas) at Palaia Plevron
and at Palaiomanina (Savria).
During the Mycean years, the influence of the centers of Eastern Greece
becomes noticeable in many sectors of Etolia and Akarnania in the towns Koronta
and Pelasgiko, Astakos and Palero.
In the 5th century B.C. in Akarnania there were centres which were highly developed,
minting their own money and having their own armies.
From 500-300 B.C. many wars were fought in this area and many alliances
were made, according to the needs of each period of time.
During the years of the Peloponesian war, Astakos was mentioned by
Thucydides twice.
The first time was during the first year of the war when 100 Athenian
triremes attacked Astakos and overthrew Evarcho who soon asked the Corinthians
and Lakedemonians for help. They arrived at Astakos with forty ships and reinstated
the tyrant (431 B.C.). The rule of Corinth over Astakos lasted about 2 years.
The second reference takes us to the third year of the war when the Athenian fleet
approached Astakos for the second time with Phormiona as commander. A landing
force of 800 men pouched their way into the interior of Akarnania and for a rather
long period of time conducted various undertakings with the intention of strengthening
the Athenian rule over the whole land.
Thucydides also mentions another stronghold, Koronta.
Around 218-206 B.C. the decline of Etolia and Akarnania began with the attack
of Phillip 5 th. Around 30 B.C. with the founding of Nicopolis
and the Roman settlement of Patra in the 14th century B.C. The depopulation of
the area started with the population moving towards Amvrakiko and Nicopolis. From
various sources we gather that the towns Anaktorio,
Thyrrei, Livia and Metropolis
existed until the 2nd century B.C. Today they are known as Palaia manina, Astakos
and Koronta.
Byzantine Era
From the Roman era until the revolution of 1821, the area of Akarnania
and Etolia went through a period in which developments were rapid and they show
in the archeological findings and in the ruins of ancient Christian churches.
A blossoming of artistic expression from the centers of Byzantium, most especially
Constantinople and Thessaloniki, is noticed.
Akarnania, with the founding of the state of Epirus which was called
a domain (1204) suffered from barbarian raids such as Slavs, Arabs and Bulgarians
who plundered, destroyed and ruined. The whole area was later destroyed again
during the Venetian-Turkish wars. We ascertain that the area was continually under
the clouds of war during that time.
Later Years
Many conflicts of the then strong nations continued during the following
years for the domination of the area, due to the importance of its location.
In 1358 all the fortresses which belonged to the domain of Epirus
were taken over by the Albanians until 1405 when Charles I, count of Cephalonia
and Lefkada, become victorious.
In 1430 the whole area passed into the hands of Sinan Pasa, and the
long-lasting rule of the Turks in the area was strengthened. On October 7, 1571,
in the area of Astakos, near the Echinades
Islands, with 25,000 soldiers. One of the biggest naval battles of the Middle
Ages - the battle of Lepante - took place. The united Christian fleet, with 285
ships of the Venetians, Spaniards and Pope Pious and with 8,000 Greeks under Don
Juan of Austria, confronted and crushed the Turkish fleet of Kapoudan Pasa.
This naval battle was the beginning of the collapse of the myth that
Ottoman Empire was unbeatable on land and sea. The reconstruction of the nation
owes a great deal to the institution of communities which was the basic nuclear
social organization. The Akarnanians of Xiromero
were forerunners in the freedom fight and in many revolutionary movements.
The battles which took place during this period were numerous and
bloody. In the Akarnanian mountains the klephts flourished. In the area of Dragamestov,
George Karaiskakis deployed his encampment. For this reason, the old village Dragamestov,
in its new location, is now called Karaiskaki.
In Dragamesto General George also deployed an encampment in 1827. On May 25th,
1921 the revolution in Xiromero was declared with the publication and circulation
of the revolutionary proclamation written by George Varnakioti.
In August 1824, Karaiskakis lay in ambush for a Turkish convoy at
the location "Manina". On July 10, 1827, Dimos Tselios made a landing
at Dragamesto.
His units joined the forces of Rangou and together they attacked the
Turks and took possession of Mytikas
and Kandila. On November 17,
1827, Greek forces carry out a landing at Dragamesto and continue on to seize
Chrysovitsa and Ligovitsi.
Later, during the period 1940-1944, the offering and participation of the people
of the area was important. A significant battle against the occupation forces
took place at Tsapournia.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below.
ETOLIKO (Town) IERA POLIS MESSOLONGIOU
The first residents must have been fishermen. In 1204 this island
was given to the Venetians. Then, from 1370 to 1821, it belonged successively
to lord Boua, lord Spata, lord Griva, the Venetians, the Turks, Morozini and to
the Turks.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
MESSOLONGI (Town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Messolongi it is the sacred town of the immortal heroes, a town of
freedom and it is very picturesque.
It becomes known in history in the 16th century just before the sea
battle of Nafpaktos on 7 October 1571. During the pre-Christian period in this
area of Messolongi there were 3 ancient towns. They were Kalidona,
which is now Evinohori, Plevrona,
now called Castle of Kira-Rini and Alikirna which is now Hilia
Spitia built just below the historical Monastery
of St. Simeon.
The inhabitants were fishermen and Dalmatian pirates living in straw
huts positioned in the lakes of the gulf
of Patra. Later on the area was called Mezzo Langhi by the Italians which
means "between the lakes".
Messolongi played a very important role during the Greek uprising.
In 1822 the Turks tried to take it but were unsuccessful. Four years later the
inhabitants of Messolongi unfortunately succumbed to the Turks, who surrounded
the Town and on 10 April 1826 they decided on the mass Exodus of Messolongi. Unfortunately
their plan was betrayed to the Turks by someone and the consequences were tragic
.
Messolongi fell but its history stands high and illuminates hearts
throughout the ages.
In 1829 Messolongi was liberated from the Turks and started again
to flourish. In 1835 they appointed a mayor and in 1937 the government decided
unanimously to name it the Sacred Town of Greece .
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
NAFPAKTOS (Town) ETOLOAKARNANIA
Brief Description of Ancient Nafpaktos
The picturesque, mainly Venetian castle, from which ramparts descend
to enclose the little harbour, reminds us of its medieval past when it was known
in the West as Lepanto. The square, shaded by jacaranda trees, looks across the
Gulf to Mt. Panakhaikon in
Peloponnesus. Ancient Nafpaktos
was taken during the arrival of the Doric Clans in 1104 BC. The town was destroyed
by earthquakes in 583 BC. Later the town was occupied by the Ozolian Locrians,
and was taken in 454 BC. by the Athenians.Here they established a colony of Messenians,
who had been dispossessed by their Spartan conquerors. The place played an important
part in the Peloponnesian War; it was successfully defended in 429 BC. by Phormion
and in 426 BC. by Demosthenes against the Spartans. In 338 BC., Philip the 2nd
of Macedonia occupies Nafpaktos from the Achaians and delivers it to the Aetolians.
In 218 BC., Nafpaktos becomes the capital of the Aetolic Confederation. Nafpaktos
is classified in Dominant of Epirus in 1205-1295 AD. The town becomes a Venetian
Colony in the year 1407-1499 AD. Occupied by the Turks in 1499, Lepanto is chiefly
celebrated for the victory which the combined popal, Spanish, Venetian, and Genoese
fleets, under Don Juan of Austria, gained over the Turkish fleet on Oct. 7, 1571.
At last, Nafpaktos was liberated from the Turks, in 1821-1829 A.D. Saint Dimitrios,
protector of the city of Nafpaktos, was martyred in 305 A.D. defending Christianity.
He is also regarded as the Patron Saint of Thessaloniki
and its saviour during difficult moments. Nafpaktos is one of the few Greek towns
that managed to survive and to pass from prehistorical age to nowadays. The town
for more than 3.200 years of turbulent life, appeared under various names, such
as, Nafpaktos from its founding Lepanto by the Venetians, Epahtos by the Byzantines,
Enevahte and Nepahtos by the Turks. Its primary name came from the fact that the
area is located historically as naval colony, where ships were manufactured, by
Loric races and later by Doric ones. Nafs (ship) + pignimi (manufacture) = Nafpaktos.
Naval Victory-La Victore De Lepante, Le Rosaire
On October 7, 1571, Selim II, Sultan of the Turks, was utterly destroyed
in a disastrous naval defeat near the harbor of Lepanto. This great victory is
always ascribed to Pope Pius V and is mentioned in his canonization in 1712. At
the hour of the battle, a procession of the Rosary began its march to the church
of Minerva. The pope was present, and, quite unexpectedly walked to a window,
threw open its doors and stood in a trance for a considerable time. Returning
to the cardinals, he remarked, "It is now time to give thanks for the great
victory which has been granted us." Officials later compared the time of
the pope's words with the records of the battle and found them in precise accord.
But the real reason for crediting the pope with the victory came from the mouths
of the prisoners taken in battle. They attested, with unquestionable conviction,
that they had seen Jesus Christ, Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Santa Maria Di Lepanto
and a multitude of angels, sword in hand, fighting against Selim and the Turks,
blinding them with smoke.
This text is cited December 2004 from the West Greece Region General Secretariat URL below, which contains images.
ANAKTORION (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
. . . next again, five hundred Ampraciots. After these stood eight hundred Leucadians and Anactorians, and next to them two hundred from Pale in Cephallenia
CHALKIS (Ancient city) NAFPAKTOS
NAFPAKTOS (Ancient city) ETOLOAKARNANIA
1104 B.C. Descent of Doric races.
553 B.C. Earthquakes destroy the large and rich town of Nafpactos, totally.
454-396 B.C. Nafpactos takes part in the Peloponnesian War.
338 B.C. Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, occupies Nafpactos from Achaians
and delivers it to Aetolians.
218 B.C. Nafpactos becomes the capital of Aetolic Confederation.
146 B.C. Nafpactos, the entire Greece too, is occupied by Romans.
197 A.D. Nafpactos becomes head quarters of Christian Bishopric and the
first Exarhus of the entire Aetolia was Kallikrates.
1204-1294 A.D. Nafpactos is classified in Dominant of Epirus.
1407-1499 A.D. The town becomes a Venetian colony. The Venetians reinforce
the fortification and Nafpactos is a powerful, commercial center now.
1499 A.D. Nafpactos is occupied by Turks.
1571 A.D. The famous Naval Battle of Nafpactos, where the Western Christian
Navy knocked against the Ottoman one. The Ottoman Navy was defeated and the march
of Turks against Europe has been stopped.
1571-1687 A.D. Nafpactos becomes Algerian pirates fortress, who plunder
the whole area.
1700 A.D. The town is surrendered to Turks according to Carlovicz Convention.
1821 A.D. Ineffective effort for liberation of the town.
1829 A.D. Liberation of Nafpactos from Turks.
This text (extract) is cited August 2003 from the Municipality
of Nafpaktos tourist pamphlet.
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