Island History
Thousands of years ago, violent magma flows rushed through the earths crust, upon reaching the planets surface this magma became what is known as Lava, with cooling this lava created the dramatic igneous rocks of Zakynthos...
A little bit too far back eh? Ok then, let's skip forward a few thousand years to 1500 years BC, as this is the period when settlers are said to have first inhabited the Island of Zakynthos.
The ancient history of Zakynthos is gleamed from many of the works of early storytellers and poets, who record the first settlers arriving in the Southern parts of the island under the leadership of the Trojan Prince Dardanos, together with Arcadian and Achaean settlers (Dardanos was himself originally of Arcadian descent). These ancient people held a love of music and worshipped the Greek Goddess Artemis, who was the daughter of Leto and Zeus. Artemis is the goddess of the wilderness, the hunt and wild animals. Artemis also became the goddess of fertility.
The early Zakynthians were reigned over by Odysseus, and are said to have fought with the King Of Troy during the Trojan war. After the war the Zakynthians rebelled against Odysseus, angered by the Kings slaughter of Zakynthian suitors to his wife, Penelope. The Zakynthians being independant then created their own Democracy, which stayed in place for some 650 years. During this time the islanders minted their own coins, trade and population on the island boomed, with Zakynthians even establishing colonies around the Mediterranean, the first being the colony of Zakynthi in Spain, which was later sacked by Hannibal.
The history of Zakynthos has been to say the least turbulent, much of which being caused by conflicts between neighbouring lands. During the Persian war, the Zakynthians remained neutral, although during the Peloponesian war they supported the Athenians, a friendship initially developed many years before. In 217BC Zakynthos was invaded by the Macedonian Armies under the leadership of Philip II, then, in 214BC the Romans conquered the island, although the Zakynthians fought back starting a struggle for the island which was waged until 150BC, unfortunately for the Zakynthians the Romans eventually reigned supreme, incorporating the Island into it's kingdom of Achaea.
Popular legend tells of Christianity being introduced to the island in 34AD by Mary Magdelene who visited the island on her way to Rome, another legend perhaps more probable was that St. Beatrice spread the message of Christianity.
Around the 4 century AD the Ionian islands were frequently attacked and plundered by pirates, these being the Saracens of North Africa. The Byzantines, who at this time ruled over the island fought back the pirates, the Saracens did at one stage capture the island, although not for long as the Byzantines fought them off with superior fortifications and support from their navy.
The Crusades saw the start of a succession of occupiers to Zakynthos, starting with the Venetians who took control in 1209, in 1337 the Kingdom of Naples took possession, who later gave the island to Leonardo Tocco, the Prince of Florence. The Turks were the next conquerers to ravage many of the Greek islands, although whilst Kefalonia was sacked, Zakynthos remained free upon payment by the Venetians to the Turks of 500 Ducats per year, starting a Venetian rule which was to last over 300 years.
Zakynthos was reborn under Venetian rule, becoming organised and cultured, introducing efficient health, education and law systems. It was the Venetians who introduced the name Zante to the island, along with the islands architectural style (even the Olive growing was introduced by the Venetians). The Venetians also brought with them a social heirachy, which oppressed the lower classes of the island. Being in the majority the impoverished inhabitants rebelled against the nobility, taking over control of the island for four years. This became known as the Rebellion of the Populari (1628).
In 1798 Dionysios Solomos was born on Zakynthos island. Solomos, known as the "Poet of the War of Independence" wrote the poem, "Hym to Liberty" which later became the Greek National Anthem.
The Venetians were by no means the last occupiers of Zakynthos, the French Democrats arrived in 1797, soon after the Russo-Turks besieged the French garrison, eventually conquering the island. The French would again return to power between 1807 until 1814, and the British from 1814 until 1864.
The British occupiers brought Zakynthos an organised government, established in 1814 under Sir Thomas Maitland.
The Greek War of Independance saw a succesfull independance of Greece from the Turks. Zakynthos and the rest of the Ionian Islands were re-united with mainland Greece in 1864, forty years after the start of the war. Dionysis Solomos being
a leading figure in the War of Independance, is remembered by a statue in Solomos Square, Zante Town.
The final occupiers of Zakynthos were the Nazi and Italian troops during World War II. During their occupation, the German commander in charge on Zakynthos attempted to round up the Jewish population living on the island for deportation, the Bishop of Zakynthos and the Mayor of Zante Town protected the jews until October 1944, when the Germans withdrew from the island. Zakynthos was the only community in Greece with the same number of Jews after the war as at the beginning of the German occupation.
In 1953 the Ionian Islands were devastated by a huge earthquake, Zakynthos being the worst damaged of them all, with only four buildings left standing. The new town was built on top of the ruins of the old, being designed along the same style as the old town.
Zakynthos, or as it is still also known Zante, has recently seen another invasion, this time from many different regions, the Tourist! These new short term occupiers are welcomed with great friendship, in fact the first official tourist plane to land at Zante airport was met a huge crowd of waving Zakynthians and a brass band!
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