Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1209
Geoffrey de Villehardouin parcels out the Peloponnese into fiefs; he paves the way for his neph-
ew, another Geoffrey, who appoints himself Prince of Morea (the name given to medieval Pelo-
ponnese).
1453
Greece becomes a dominion of the Ottoman Turks after they seize control of Constantinople,
sounding the death knell for the Byzantine Empire.
1460
By 1460 the Morea falls to the Turks and centuries of power struggles between the Turks and
Venetians follow.
1541
Dominikos Theotokopoulos, later known as 'El Greco, is born in Candia; his subsequent cre-
ations in Italy and Spain are marked by both Cretan School influence and bold personal innova-
tion.
1684-87
The Venetians expel the Turks from the Peloponnese in a campaign that sees Venetian troops
advance as far as Athens.
1770s & 1780s
Catherine the Great of Russia dislodges the Turks from the Black Sea coast and assigns several
towns with Ancient Greek names. She offers Greeks financial incentives and free land to settle
the region.
1814
The underground Hellenic Independence organisation known as the Filiki Eteria (Friendly Soci-
ety) is established in the town of Odessa on the Black Sea coast. Its influence spreads
throughout Greece.
1821
On 25 March, Bishop Germanos of Patra (a member of the Filiki Eteria) signals the beginning of
the War of Independence on the mainland. Greece celebrates this date as its national day of
Independence.
