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History of Zante


 I.ANCIENT TIMES
According to testimonies from Pafsanias and Thucydides, the island of Zakynthos was inhabited for the first time in 1500 BC by Achaians from Psofida, in Arcadia. The island's acropolis was named after these Achaians. The new inhabitants worshipped the Olympian gods, especially Apollo, a fact corroborated by the era's coins which depict Apollo, or his sacred tripod. Later, the island of Zakynthos, along with Lefkada and Kefalonia, was conquered by Laertis, son of Arkissios, king of Kefalonia. The Zakynthians founded the powerful colonies Crete and Panos on the Iberian peninsula. During the Persian War, the island remained neural. Before the Peloponnese War, Zakynthos supported the Lacedaemonians until 456 BC when the Athenians defeated Sparta. In the beginning of the Peloponnesian War, Zakynthos, supporting the Athenian Alliance, fought the Corinthians, particularly in the Battle of Lefkimi (434 BC) and in the expedition against Sicily. The island's defeat led to its conquest by Sparta. In the 3rd century BC, although the Zakynthians fought hard, supporting the Aetolic Confederacy against king Philip V', the island of Zakynthos remained under Macedonian rule until it was conquered by the Romans.


II. THE ROMAN YEARS
In the late 3rd and early 2nd century BC, Zakynthos is no longer dominated by the Macedonians, but by the Roman Titus Falaminius. During the Roman Rule, the conquerors had granted the Zakynthians with some autonomy regarding legislation. In return, the Zakynthians were obliged to pay taxes to the Romans. Although the island's inhabitants attempted repeatedly to dispense from the Roman domination, yet, whenever necessary, the Zakynthians fought together with the Romans, in order to successfully confront the attack of Archelaos and the pirate raids which were dealt with very successfully by the Roman Admiral Pompeius. Until 329 AD, the island of Zakynthos was part of the Roman Country of Achaia, along with Epirus, Peloponissos and all the islands except Crete. Later, Zakynthos became part of the Country of Iliria. The decline of the Roman Empire urged several conquerors to make the most of the circumstances and people such as the Arabs, the Vandals, the Hans and the Goths attempted to conquer the island of Zakynthos.


III. BYZANTINE PERIOD
During the Byzantine period, Zakynthos was detached from the scheme of Loggovardia and became part of the scheme of Kefalonia, as were the rest of the Ionian Islands. Also during the Byzantine Period, the Zakynthians lived in tremendous poverty, with three social classes: the workers, the merchants and the nobles. The poor quality of life was strained by the constant raids from the Vandals (467-477 AD), the Goths, the Arabs and the Saracenes. Under these circumstances, the island did not have the opportunity to develop, as the inhabitants' only interest was to preserve their land and freedom. At the end of the Byzantine Period, the island was attacked by the Crusaders, the Normands and the Franks. This was when christianity was introduced to the island, and the tradition claims that Maria Magdalene preached here in 34 AD, naming the village of Maries after herself.


IV. FRANKISH RULE
In 1185 AD, Zakynthos and Kefalonia were detached from Byzantium, thus forming the "Palatian Country of Kefalonia and Zakynthos" which Goulielmo B' of Sicily granted to Margaritonis (alias Margaritos) from Vrindisio, today known in Italy as Brindisi. During the time of 1185-1357 AD, the country was governed by the family of Orsini, who came from Italy's Pedimonte region and conquered Lefkada and Ithaki. In 1194, the new governor, the pirate Matteos Orsini, constantly raided the surrounding areas. Despite malice and murders, the Orsini family governed the island for two centuries until the death of Ioannis-Nikolaos and his wife, Anna Palaiologou. In the 1357 AD the Country was governed by Leonardo Tokka. During this period, the orthodox faith thrived, new churches and monasteries were built and the island's population increased significantly. Leonardo was very friendly with the people, unlike his successor Carlo A' who caused great misfortune to the poor. Throughout the period of Frank rule, the island's history was dominated by murders, conspiracies and intrigues, therefore prohibiting Zakynthos's development. In 1479, the Turks, making the most of the circumstances, defeated Andonis Tokkos and dominated the island of Zakynthos for five years.


V. VENETIAN RULE
In 1484 Zakynthos came under Venetian Rule because of the treaty signed by the Venetians and the Turks. According to this treaty, the Venetians were to govern the Ionian Islands, paying in return, substantial taxes to the Sultan. This period is characterized by a significant cultural development. The local features, the traditions and the local customs were influenced by the Italian traditions and customs. Thus, the infamous Ionian civilization was created. People obtained a higher quality of life and forgot their former, long period of poverty. Zakynthos's population increased considerably because of refugees from Methoni, Koroni, Nafplion, Nafpaktos and Monemvassia. The head of the government was the Prudent, who was elected and supervised by the Nobles Council. People were divided into three classes: the nobles, the bourgeoisie and the commoners (:Popolari). Although the status quo had improved in comparison with previous periods, the majority of the people, the commoners, had almost no rights. In the contrast, the nobles had many rights and privileges, written in the infamous "Golden Book" ("Libro d'oro"). In 1628 the uprising of the commoners, who wanted political freedom, was suppressed violently. After being introduced to the ideas of the French Revolution, the Zakynthians founded the Battalion of the Jacobins and fought for equal rights for everyone. In 1797 Venetian Rule came to end, as the French conquered the island of Zakynthos.


VI. FRENCH AND RUSSIAN RULE
On July 4th 1797, the French conquered Zakynthos. Napoleon gave hope to the inhabitants by promising to free the Ionian Islands. In the central square of Zakynthos, Agios Markos square, during celebratory festivities, the tree of freedom was planed and the Limbro d'Oro, the book of the nobles' names and privileges, was burnt. French Rule on the Ionian Islands became official with the singing of the treaty of Kamboformio on October 17, 1797. The Ionian Islands became part of France on November 1, 1797. This did not last for long, however, as in October of 1798, Russian-Turkish fleet disembarked on the island. These new conquerors reinstated the nobles' privileges. On March 21, 1800, the "Ionian State", which was under the Sultan's supervision, was founded in Constantinople. The government was made up exclusively of privileged rich nobles, which resulted in constant uprisings throughout the Ionian Islands. Under these circumstances, in 1802, after the treaty of Amien, the Count Georgio Motsenigo was sent to the Ionian Islands in order to carry out elections for new, more democratically elected, representatives. The latter, on December 23, 1803, drafted a new constitution, creating the "Democracy of the Ionian Islands". In 1807, after signing the treaty of Tilsit, Czar. Alexander B' granted the French command of the Ionian Islands, allowing its people to hope for a peaceful life. Their hopes were soon extinguished as the English conquered the island on September 19, 1809.


VII. ENGLISH OCCUPATION
On September 19, 1809, the English conquered Zakynthos and slowly, in spite of French' objections, subdued all the Ionian Islands and placed them under their rule. The English Occupation became official with the signing of a decree founding the "United States of the Ionian Islands" on November 5, 1815, according to the treaty of Paris. This decree stated that the island's government would be under the supervision of England and the English Lord Commissioner. The English Occupation was characterized by constant political re-arrangements and changes. It is the time when many important work prospects were executed, such as the creation of roads and the building of churches, bridges and part of the harbour.


VIII. THE REVOLUTION OF 1821 -ENGLISH OCCUPATION-UNION
Although Zakynthos remained under England's control, it played a significant role in the struggle against the Turks during the revolution of 1821. Tradition claims that in the church of Agios Georgios Filikon, the war heroes Constantinos Petmezas, Theodoros Kolokotronis and Nikitaras took their vows. The English unsuccessfully tried to prevent the Zakynthians from participating in the Greek Revolution. The Zakynthians offered money for the cause and men for the battles in the Peloponnese. After the recognition of Greece, the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands rose up and demanded changes in the constitution. Due to the crisis of the English policy in Greece and to popular demand, England resigned from the government of the Ionian Islands, which were united with the rest of Greece on September 23, 1863. On May 21, 1864, Thrassivoulos Zaimis took over the command of the Ionian Islands from Henry Storcks.


IX. RECENT YEARS
During World War II, many Zakynthians participated in the resistance against the Germans. The island of Zakynthos was free from German Occupation in 1945. Eight years later, in 1953 a strong earthquake shook the Ionian Islands causing massive destruction to Zakynthos. Most of the town's houses fell, and the inhabitants have made great efforts to restore their life to its proper state.

 

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