Listed 2 sub titles with search on: History for destination: "MESSINIA Prefecture PELOPONNISOS".
Messini remained under Roman occupation and lived in a carefree way
until 395/396 A.D. when it was attacked and probably plundered by the Germans
(Visigothi) of Alarichos.
Despite that, it is probable but also without evidence that the city
kept on its historic life as it is proved by the foundation of fourty houses of
residents who lived in this contemporary archaeological site from the fourth to
the seventh century, until about 700 A.D.
When the inhabitants of Messini became Christians they forgot all
about the Religious Tolerance which was granted to all the inhabitants by the
Decree of Mediolanos and, with the frenzy of the newly-initiated, they destroyed
every ancient statue they found in front of them.
The fragments were collected by Petros Themelis who found them in
an enclosed room in the «Gymnasio», while in the area of the ancient 'Agora' he
also found architectural parts of a pro-christian basilika (temple) where the
Bishop of Messini must have been officiating as a clergyman in the fourth century.
After the seventh century and for unknown reasons the presence of
Messini is lost from the history scene and only during the last Byzantine centuries
does the Byzantine temple of the Assumption (of the Virgin Mary) make its appearance
on its land, at the top of the mountain of Ithomi
or Voulkano. Finally, the extensive area of Messinia loses even its freedom in
the beginning of the thirteenth century.
In 1205 A.D. the Frank (=French) Goulielmos Samblites along with Godefredos-Villeardouinos
disembarked at Methoni and before 1212 A.D. the French had conquered the Peloponnese
and founded sovereignty, the «Principality of Achaia» whose capital was Andravida.
So, from 1205 to 1430, Messinia, except Methoni
and Koroni, was in the hands
of those conquerors, the most important of which was the «Prince of Achaia» and
occupant of Kalamata, Nisi,
Androusa, and temporarily
Arkadia (Kyparissia), Goulielmos
the 2nd Vileardouinos.
He had been born in Kalamata and that's why Greeks called him «Kalamata»
He was a very ambitious and daring man. While taking part in a military confrontation
in 1259, however, he was beaten by the Byzantine forces in the battle of Pelagonia,
near Kastoria, he was captured
and he had to yield the castles of Mystra,
Bofor and Great Mani in 1262 to the emperor Michael the seventh the Paleologos
(1258-1282) so that the could be released. Consequently, the Despotato of Mystras
was created and the land of Messinia became a part of it, in about 1430. After
the fall of Konstandinoupolis,
in 1453, the bigger part of Messinia surrendered to Mohamet the 2nd the Conqueror
in 1460, and the surrender was completed in 1500 when the next Sultan, Vagiazit
conquered Methoni, Koroni and Navarino
which was in the hands of Venetians.
About the ancient history of Messenia, see ancient country: Messinia
This text is cited June 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
The occupation of messinian land lasted until the 23rd March 1821
when, thanks to the efforts of Filiki Eteria, the heroic captains of West Mani,
the chieftains of Messinia and their brave men, the liberation of the Country
started from Kalamata making
it the first free Greek city.
The liberation of Messinia was completed in 1827 with the intervention
of the Superpowers and the naval battle of Navarino
on 20 October 1827 but it was not until the next year that General Mezon's french
expeditionary force made Ibrahem abandon Peloponnese
via Methoni on the 28th September
1828.
Finally, after 1832, and the recognition of the Proclamation of Independence
of Greece by the Sultan, free life finally started for Greek people.
About the ancient history of Messenia, see ancient country: Messinia
This text is cited June 2003 from the Messenia Prefecture Tourism Promotion Commission URL below, which contains image.
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