ZAKYNTHOS TRAVEL GUIDE

ZAKYNTHOS (ZANTE) > HISTORY

HISTORY

Zakynthos (the full name of Zante) has been well known since the times of Homer, the ancient Greek poet, and the Trojan War, when it was part of the kingdom of Odysseus. One of the predominant factors regarding the islands colonisation was that of Dardanos, the Prince of Troy, who was its first settler. Modern historian P. Hiotis, having studied old historical works came to the conclusion that the first settlers who came to Zakynthos were Arcadians from the city of Psofida - Dardanos was originally of Arcadian descent but had immigrated to Asia. Dardanos arrived from Asia, to Zakynthos and gave his named to the new town and the name of Psofida to its castle. Particularly, what supports the connection between the Arcadians and the island was the tendency of the ancient inhabitants towards music and the worship of the Goddess Artemis, things that were typical characteristics of the Arcadians.

After the Trojan War, the Zakynthians were set free by the kingdom of Ithaca and established Democracy which remained for some 650 years. During this period of time Zakynthos was greatly developed economically and its population rose. At this time the first Zakynthian colony was established in Spain and was named Zakantha.

During Persian Wars Zakynthians remained neutral, whereas during the Peloponnesian War they supported the Athenians. Macedonians and later the Romans, governed Zakynthos giving them some kind of independence in every day activities. It is believed that Christianity first became known to the island in 34AD through Mary Magdalen who stopped at the island on her way to Rome. During the Byzantine period, the island was frequently attacked by pirates and barbarians.

With the crusades of the west, the Ionian Islands were to encounter many new adventures Zakynthos, along with the other Ionian Islands, was continually occupied by the Venetians, the Franks, inhabitants of the Andes, the kingdom of Naples and the Tokous (the Florentine princes). When the rest of Greece was seized by the Turks in 1484, Zakynthos and the other Ionian islands fell under the sovereignty of the Venetians. Under their rule, Zakynthos became both organised and was influenced by the Venetians which led to the re-birth of the island. The Venetians established themselves in the island’s capital where they built the castle and created the substructures for everyday operations to the island. The new town slowly expanded outside the boundaries of the ancient castle of Psofidas, moving down towards the sea where over the years a large, commercial harbour was created.

The lower classes became oppressed by the higher ones so when the French democrats arrived in 1797, they were welcomed with great enthusiasm. Then neither the social nor the economic problems were to be solved so Zakynthians once again sought after new protectors. In 1798 discontentment returned under the rule of the Russo-Turks lasting until 1807 followed by the succession of the French Empire (1807 - 1814) and finally, the British from 1814 until 1864.

The British were responsible simultaneously for an organised form of government and public works. The new ideas of that time and the new-found independence of Greece from the Turks created a radical movement which resulted in the re-union of Zakynthos and the other Ionian islands with Greece on the May 2nd, 1824 when the Greek flag was finally raised again on the island.