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Κέρκυρα
Kerkyra or Korife or Feakia. This last name leads us to bring in mind Homer’s epic poems… Back to the 12th B.C. century, Kerkyra (the land of Feakes) becomes the scenery where one of the finest episodes of Odyssey takes place. The island of Feakes is at its peak. Culture and hospitality are every Corfiot’s characteristic. Trading and shipyarding are in full growth .Thus, every road is tiled, horse carriages are luxurious and above all , the king’s palace is stanning! Odysseus, after having felt the Corfiot hospitality (as opposed to other places he’d been…) is given a trireme to go back home.
The science of archaeology has proven that there is human presence in the island since about 30000 B.C (palaiolithic Age) and goes on to the Neolithic Age (3000 BC).Later, at the Age of copper (1000 BC) habitations start to multiply. From 1000 BC and on, Kerkyra seems to be developing under the supervision of the Korinthians who exchange population with them. At this time Corfiots produce wine, olive oil, pottery etc. On the 6th BC century it has its own currency. At the same time they start to build the famous Corfiot navy which is admired by Atheneans and Spartians.
During the Pelloponisian war, Kerkyra has a strategic role to play. After that , peace and glory comes to the city along with a democratic government (410 BC).
On 338 BC Corfiots fight on the side of the Atheneans against Macedones and they are defeated… For about 100 years Kerkyra becomes the cause of contentions among the powerfull cities.
On 229 BC Kerkyra becomes a Roman ally, and being the nearest port to the East, becomes - once again - a very rich place for about two centuries.
Kerkyra is one of the first Greek cities that embraced Christianity. Two brilliant teachers , Jason and Zosipatrous (students of apostle Paul) brought the new religion to the Corfiots on about 48 A.D.
Since then, the island is reffered to the History as the main visiting place of the Roman emperors.
During the Byzantine years, Kerkyra which is part of the Empire, gets raided by Bandals, Gotths and Sarakynes. Corfiots are forced to move the island’s capital which is placed at Kanoni (chersoupolis), norther between the summits of two hills. They build the famous Old Fortress and the new town starts to grow. Summit in Greek is “Korifi”, so the new town - being placed between two summits - is named Korifo, which later becomes Korfu (or Corfu). At this point, Kerkyra meets a new golden age, since the Emperor wants to control shipping in the Ionian Sea and Adriatica. Kerkyra becomes an important trading point which offers services to the Byzantines and their allies Enetians. As a consequence, the island is mostly wanted by the Empire’s competitors. They attack Kerkyra repeatedly and in the end Genonates bring the island into subjection. Genonates took advantage of Byzante’s problems and they achieved several military attacks. At 1204, when crusaders possessed the Byzantine Empire, Kerkyra is given to the Enetians. Then it passes to Ipiros, one of the three independent states that consisted the former Byzantine Empire. At that time , Aggelokastro is founded in order to protect the area from Genonates pirates. After that, and for about 100 years, Kerkyra is conquested by Andigavdes. This was a very bad time. It was a time of humiliation and disaster…
(1267-1386 AD).The island is divided into four areas: Giros, Oros, Messi and Lefkimi.
This is the time that the fortress of Lefkimi is built which is later (1402) destroyed by the Enetians. Enetians governed Kerkyra for 400 years having as a goal to supervise trading towards East. They fortify the island , they resist Turkish attacks and they become popular by acting Democracy and smooth ruling. They encourage agriculture , especially olive trees growth and they make the best out of the port and trading. Due to its location and wealth, Kerkyra attracts a number of attacks from Turks. At least 5 of those attacks are repulsed successfully. From the 15th century the island accepts lots of refugees from different places within Byzantine Empire which fall into Turkish possession, such us Konstantinoupolis, Ipiros and Krete. On the 17th century , farmers rebelled against local authorities and they released prisoners from villas all through the island.Venetians help to reestablish peace and order. Civilization rises and economy grows fast when at the same time the rest of Greece is suffering under Turkish occupation.
On 1797 Napoleon of France conquers the Enetian State and Corfiots dream of a democratic government. Unfortunately, French occupation proved to be worse than the Enetian. It finally ended on 1799. Later on, due to a conflict between Russia and France, Kerkyra goes under Russian government. That didn’t last long, and on 1807 it goes back into French possession. France conquers the “Seven Islands State” (Eptanisa) and they push agriculture adding new products such us tomatoes and potatoes. They also founded the Ionian Academy. In the meanwhile, Great Britain plots against Kerkyra and they finally force France to give in the island. Finally , by the treaty of Paris (1815), Eptanisa are declared free and independent State under the protection of Great Britain.
Its formal name is “United States of the Ionian Islands”. That time was great for the State.Greek becomes the official language and people are allowed to go to church. Many works are made and Kapodistrias (the first Prime Minister ) founded the first Greek University!
On the 21 of May 1864 Ionian islands unite with Greece, which makes Ionian people very happy as well as Greek people.
On 1940, Kerkyra gets bombed by Italy and on 1943 goes under German occupation. Germans cause a lot of disaster to the island. They destroy great monuments such us the Library, the Ionian Parliament, the Theatre and many more…
By the end of World War II and the Civil War, better days seem to rise for Kerkyra. Tourism starts to grow from the inland. On Sundays, village people get down to the seaside - since their villages are built in high places, far from the sea in order to be well protected. Beaches start to get organized and on top of that, on 1950, French buy a part of the wonderful Dassia beach and they establish the famous ClubMed. Since then the island of Corfu is one of the most popular all over the world, and thousands of tourists visit it every year!
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