Kefalonia Towns and Villages

Mythical Age

According to mythology, the first settler of the island was Tafios, son of Neptune, the god of seas. The island was called Tafos and its inhabitants Tafioi or Tilevoes. Ptereleos, son of Tafios, conquered the islands around Cephalonia and became powerful. In Lixouri, there is an area called Tafios, and that gives a historical dimension to the myth. Later arrived at the island Kefalos and Elios. Kefalos had four sons, Palea, Kranio, Samio, and Proniso, whose names took the four towns-states of the island. In Iliad we find for the first time the name “Kefalines”, a name given to the citizens of Ulysses, that is the citizens of Cephalonia, Ithaka, Zante, Lefkas, and Akarnania. We find the name of Cephalonia again in Herodotus in the 5th-century BC, when the historian mentions the citizens of Pali.

Prehistorical Age

The history of Cephalonia starts at the Middle Paleolithic Age. According to findings of bones of mammals, in 40000 BC, the island was still united with the mainland. Then populations of nomads moved to the western part in order to find food. There are found many instruments of the Stone Age  hand axes, knives), mainly in caves at the northern and south-eastern part of the island.

Ancient and Roman Age

In antiquity Kefalonia had four towns-states, Pali, Krani, Sami, Pronnoi, therefore it was called Tetrapolis. These towns were independent, with a separate administrative and military organization. The coins and the ruins of the fortresses sue to the existence of four different authorities on the island. During the historic period, the regime of the towns was democratic, which is proved from several findings, like the absence of the representation of a lord, with the exception of Kefalos, on the coins. Despite the political independence of the towns, the civilization on the island was evolved uniformly. It seems like there was a particular blossom during the Mycenaean period since there are plenty of findings, especially tombs, from that period. The towns formed several alliances with the sovereign forces of Greece. Is renowned the alliance with the Corinthians (479-435 BC), the Athenians (431-404 BC), the Spartans after the Peloponnese war and then again with the Athenians, who dominate for several years. During the Hellenistic period (226 BC), there’s naval cooperation with the Aitolic Confederation. Romans conquered the island at the beginning of the 2nd-century BC, after Corfu and Zante(Zakynthos). From the period is renowned the besiege of Sami, that lasted four months. The town resisted strongly, but when it was conquered, it was destroyed and the citizens were sold as slaves.

Byzantine Age

There isn’t much information about Kefalonia until the 8th-century AD. From that period is renowned that the island was the center of the administrative region that was consisted of the Ionian islands and Bari, Italy. The strategical position of the island was important for the defense of the empire, especially against the attacks of the Arabs. Piracy was very popular and the Arabs, sailing from the coasts of Africa, terrified and destroyed many regions of the Mediterranean.

Frankish Domination

In 1185, Kefalonia passes under the commands of the Franks. Until 1479, lords of Kefalonia are the Norman pirate Mergaritonis, Matteo Orsini, his son Ricardo Orsini, Ricardo’s son Giovanni I, Leonardo Tocco, his son Carlo I, and Carlo’s wife Francesca. In that period is quite strange the governing of a region from a woman, especially if we take into consideration that there are several documents for a general gynecocracy.

Turkish Domination

The presence of the Turks on the island was brief, it lasted only 17 years. During the first period (1479-1481) the island was taken by Achmet Pasha of Avlona. The consequences were catastrophic: the castle was burnt and many citizens were taken to Constantinopolis. The Venetians took the island in 1481, but in 1485 they gave it back to Sultan Vagiazit II. Then was established at the castle a small Turkish force, which was capable of terrifying the local population. After intensive assertions, the locals started leaving the island, and as a consequence, there was a dramatic reduction of the population until 1500, when the Venetians took back the island.

Venetian Domination (1500-1797)

In 1500, after convergence with the Turks, Venetians took over the administration of Cephalonia and lots of things started to change. Supreme Lord of the island was the Venetian Thrift, still, the local population participated in the administration. There was the Community Council, a numerous jury consisted of local nobles, who were listed on the Libro d’Oro (book of nobles). That gave a gloss of democracy in administration, even though all important decisions were taken by Venetians. In any case, the changes to a better life were visible. Inhabitants started to increase and assumed the cultivations. There was also an afflux of the population from other places, which accompanied historical events like the conquest of Cyprus in 1570 and Crete in 1669 by the Turks. Then arrived at the island many intellectuals. Cephalonia became a node of strategical importance for the Venetian fleet, the ports blossomed, the St George’s castle was rebuilt and became capital of the island, and a few years later was built the castle of Assos. Cephalonians had access to the West, and as a result, they started traveling often for commerce and studies. This material and spiritual exchange had, as a result, the foundation of important schools and universities, like the School of Vicenzo Damodo at Chavriata. Along with the education started the organization of the health system and of the Church as well. Of course, all that had to do with the peerage and not the folk.

Russian Domination

The pleasure for the arrival of the French didn’t last long. The Russians, with methodic efforts, increased their influence, and as a result, there was a revulsion of the driftage of the population. There were arousals in Livatho and Lixouri and finally the French withdrew. In October 29th, 1798, the Russian fleet arrived at Argostoli and the Russian flag substituted the french one. This period was also brief since the efforts for the independence of the Ionian islands had already started.

State of the Ionian Islands (1800-1807)

On May 21st, 1800, was signed in Constantinopolis a convergence that recognized the independence of the Ionian islands with the name “State of the Seven United Islands”, with the suzerainty of Turkey. It’s the first independent Greek state of modern history, with its own constitution and legislation. This institutional form though didn’t last as there were autonomic arousals, especially in Lixouri, until the abolition of the State in 1807.

Second French Domination

On September 1st, 1807, the French regained the island, under the commands of general Ceaser Berthier, who was replaced by the colonel Lorenzo Pierri. The anti-french movement on the island was enforced by the scopes of the British, and as a result, this administration didn’t prosper.

British Domination

In October 1809, the French hand over the island to the British general Oswald. During the first years of British Domination, luminary personality is the Swiss military Charles Philip De Bosse, who established very important operas, like the streets of the island and the Devosseto bridge. Another celebrated personality was Charles Jacob Napier, who also constructed very important public buildings, like the famous Marcato of Lixouri. The successive conquers and the seigniorial regime led to serious armed arousals, with the aim to subvert the diversification of classes and the union with Greece. The most important took place in 1848 and 1849. These convulsions had terrible consequences for the population, like sequestrations of belongings, exile, and executions.

Union with Greece

Finally, in October 1863, Cephalonia and the rest of the Ionian islands are united with Greece. Then, all political convulsions stop, and the radical tradition of the island is expressed by Panagiotis Panas, Roccos Hoidas and Marinos Antipas, who were pioneers of socialism in Greece. Until nowadays, Cephalonia keeps pace with the political process of Greece, contributing drastically at the enforcement of democracy, political freedom, and social prosperity.