A Glimpse into the Seismicity of the Ionian Islands Between 1658 and 1664 - Historical Seismology: Interdisciplinary Studies of Past and Recent Earthquakes - page 42

where the Venetian strongholds of Methoni ( Modone ) and Koroni ( Corone ), the so
called “eyes of Venice” were located.
The events of the everyday life in the Ionian Islands during the war for Crete
are minutely detailed in the documents written by the Venetian officers and by
other protagonists, who took time and care to leave a written memory of their
observations.
3 The Observers and Their Documents
3.1 Venetian Officers
From 1658 to 1664, the officers selected and sent by the Republic of Venice to their
Levante (Eastern) territory were posted in the three islands as follows:
Kerkyra - Since when the island became a Venetian possession (1386), a gover-
nor with the title of Bailo was appointed by the Senate; he resided in the homony-
mous town, had both administrative and judicial authority, and was assisted by
two Counsellors. The Venetian and Greek nobility annually elected a Council
of 150 members. In the 16th century, the increasing strategic importance of the
island made necessary to appoint also a Provveditore e Capitano , in charge of
the civil and military administration, and especially of the two fortresses (Old
and New) in the town of Kerkyra. He had to take care as well of the fortress in
Angelokastro (about 30 km north-west of the town of Kerkyra), of the fortress in
the island of Paxoi, south of the island of Kerkyra, and of the fortress of Parga
on the opposite coast of Epirus (Fig. 1).
From the 16th century, Kerkyra was also the seat of the highest-in-rank Venetian
officer in the area, the Provveditore Generale alle (Tre) Isole del Levante . He had
to superintend the whole Eastern area under Venetian influence, and among his
duties there was to pay regular visits to the other two Ionian Islands.
Kefallinia -The Provveditore Ordinario was living in the fortified site of Agios
Georgios (ASVe 1660b and 1660d), situated on an inland hill about ten kilo-
metres south of Argostolion (Fig. 1). Within and nearby the Castle, there were
some 60-100 inhabited houses. Argostolion was at that time the most developed
harbour of the island, but it was to become the capital of the island in 1757 only
(Pignatorre, 1887). Business made the Provveditore spend some time at harbour
in Argostolion, taking care of special charges, such as controlling the shipping
of uve passe (raisin) (ASVe, 1660b). Another Provveditore was appointed to the
fortress of Assos, about 40 km north-east of Argostolion.
Zakynthos -The Provveditore Ordinario was living in the homonymous town.
Few other important settlements existed in the island at the turn of mid
17th century. Finding information from the rest of the island in the available
documents is a matter of luck, well into mid 18th century. The main urban