Μενδενίτσα/Mendenitsa - History notes, I and II

Μενδενίτσα/Mendenitsa

A brief history of Mendenitsa I

by the Initiative to promote the history of Mendenitsa

The history of Mendenitsa extends back in time for thousands of years. Its importance was determined by its strategic position and proximity to the passage of Thermopylae, as well as the vital role it should have played in the historical events in relation to that famous passage.

Ancient times. The ancient history of Mendenitsa relates closely with that of several other cities in the area, forming the ancient Greek Polis-state of Epiknimidian Lokris. The large monoliths seen in Mendenitsa’s medieval castle indicate there was a strong and important ancient acropolis. Based on Homer’s Iliad and the later writings by the ancient Greek geographer Stravon (67 BC – 23 AD), it is postulated that Mendenitsa’s location coincides with the Homeric city of Tarfis, which is known to have participated in the Trojan war. Tarfis is assumed to have been succeeded by the Hellenistic city of Farygae that was famous for its holy shrine of Farygean Goddess Hera. The ancient city settlements in Mendenitsa’s location survived through the Roman and Byzantine times. However, there are only few relevant historical references available from these periods. Also, to this date, there have been no excavations conducted, which would bring to light more, and much wanted, historical information.

Frankish rule. The best known, and possibly the brightest, period of Mendenitsa’s long history dates back to the occupation of Greece by the Franks, which occurred soon after the 1204 fall of Constantinople to the 4^th Crusade. It was at this point that the medieval castle was built and Mendenitsa (Boudoniza) became a Frankish Marquisate, flourishing and lasting for 2 centuries. Seemingly, its modern name roots in those times. The Marquisate included the provinces of Lokris and at times parts of Fokis and the Evia Island. Mendenitsa at the time was also chair of a Latin Catholic Bishop. The end of Frankish Mendenitsa coincided with the fall of its castle to the Ottoman Turks in 1414. During its 210 years of existence, the marquisate was governed by two noble Italian families, the Palavicinis followed by the Zorzis.

Turkish rule. The history of Mendenitsa (Boundonitsa) during the Turkish occupation of Greece unfolds during a long period of four centuries, from 1414 to 1820. Its castle became a Turkish stronghold and Mendenitsa a regional center (Kazas) in the Turkish administration system in Central Greece. Also the Turks established in Mendenitsa a Muslim monastery (Tekes) that became famous over the occupation years. In parallel, the Greeks of the greater region of Lokris were represented and serviced by an orthodox bishop also based in Mendenitsa. In addition the town was the host of the Armatoliki of Mendenitsa, a paramilitary police of Greek guards set up by the Turks. The last Capitan to command it, from 1790-1820, was Nakos Dyovouniotis, who later became a regional rebel leader and a national hero in the 1821 Greek revolution.

The 1821 Revolution. In the Greek national revolution, Mendenitsa played a key regional role in the northern region of Roumeli (Central Greece). After the start of the revolution with the siege of Salona (Amfissa) in the end of March 1821, the Turks in west Lokris sought refuge in the Mendenitsa castle, where they barricaded themselves hoping to receive reinforcements from Zitouni (Lamia).

The siege of the castle started the first days of April 1821 under the leadership of Dyovouniotis. Then it was reinforced by the rebel units of Komnas Trakas and Athanasis Diakos who joined in a few days later (April 8). This forced the Turks to surrender in April 13, 1821, after signing an agreement that guaranteed the saving of their lives. Unfortunately, the agreement was not respected and all the Turks were slaughtered soon after they surrendered. This horrendous incident led the armies of the Turkish generals Kiose Mehmet and Omer Vrioni to apply widespread brutal reprisals against unarmed Greek villagers and their families over the greater Mendenitsa and Zitouni region. The struggle in northern Roumeli continued until the end of Greek revolution in 1829, with Mendenitsa playing in this region a central role in this fierce battleground.

Liberation. After persistent negotiations, and because of its contributions to the success of the Greek revolution, Mendenitsa was finally included in the liberated Greek territories with the September 13, 1829 treaty, thus it became one of the northmost regions of the newly established independent Greek state. From 1829 to 1833, Mendenitsa was granted a capital role in the western Lokris region which included in addition the villages and towns in the Kifissos river valley between the Kallidromos and Parnassos mountain ranges. After Mendenitsa lost its regional capital status in 1833, it was gradually driven to decline and secondary roles, remaining, however, a large and important town in the young Greek state for several more decades.

Occupation 1941-1944. An important page in Mendenitsa’s recent history relates to the period of German and Italian 2^nd world war occupation of Greece. Since 1942, the mountainous village of Mendenitsa was gradually evolved to a regional stronghold of the national resistance movement. After the losses suffered by the occupation army during an ambush by the partisans near the Thermopylae pass in September 21, 1943, the Nazi forces invaded the villages of Mendenitsa and Karavidia and burned them down to the ground, in October 9, 1943. A few of these destroyed houses are still scattered in Mendenitsa today, to remind this horrible incident of the Nazi occupation.

Nowadays. After the Holocaust in 1943, and the following disastrous years of the Greek civil war and large emigrations, Mendenitsa never recovered since, seeing its population to decline steadily. Thus, from its over one thousand inhabitants before the 2^nd world war, the permanent village residents in the last 2011 census dropped to less than 220. However, and in spite its inevitable decline, Mendenitsa still retains its fascination and unique natural beauty, with its long and rich history to remind us its great past and importance.

View of Mount Kalidromos from the Castle

The Castle inside gate and tower

A brief history of Mendenitsa II

MENDENITSA

A Historic Recursion

by Athanasios Fafoutis

The text below has been published in the newspaper "I Foni tis Mendenitsas" (the "Voice of Mendenitsa") No. 5, and 6, of June and July 1989.

Athanasios Fafoutis (1930-2006), in addition to his profession as an agronomist, was engaged in the historical study and writing of texts and articles on the timeless historical course of Epiknemidian Lokris. He is the author of a historical book, a life work, entitled "Thermopylae - Historical Recursion", Athens 1996.

Mendenitsa : A brief historic recursion

Mendenitsa is one of the most beautiful villages of Central Greece and undoubtedly the most beautiful in Lokrida. It is amphitheatrically built at the edge of the forest, on the slopes and between four hills, which are cut short by vertical rocks to the east and north. The highest hill is crowned by a Frankish castle, which is kept in good condition.

The village is located on a natural balcony, at an altitude of 550 m, and open views to the east, north and west. To the south it is blocked at a considerable distance from the elongated fold of the top of the mountain. As it is immediately apparent, this is an extremely fortified position, which could not go unnoticed.

It was recognized quite early, based on the architecture of the base of the castle walls, that the site had been inhabited in antiquity. Based on reliable indications it was concluded that the city of Tarfi must have been located there, which is mentioned in the description of the fleet with which Ajax the Lokros (of Oileos) took part in the Trojan campaign.

In the history of Demetrieon (Vienna 1791), Mendenitsa is mentioned as the homeland of the Homeric hero Patroclus, the closest friend of Achilles.

At the beginning of our chronology, Stravon testifies that the place of Tarfi was inherited by the hellenistic city of Pharyges. The reasons for the substitution remain unknown. It is considered probable that Tarfi in a period of decline was inhabited by immigrants from Nafplia, if we take into account that in the new city the Pharygean Godess Hera was worshiped and, according to Stravon, the inhabitants kept a vivid memory of their origin (in Nafplia there was a city called Pharyges).

Until recently, the existence of ancient settlements was determined by the architecture of the base of the castle walls (huge parallelepiped stones without mortar). Noticeably, by chance in 1980, very important burial finds of post-classical antiquity came to light that confirmed this possibility. However, until there are epigraphic testimonies, the enigma of the name of the ancient settlements will remain unsolved.

Also, it is not known when the name Bodonitsa appeared. According to G. Kordatos, it was founded by Hellenized Christian Slavic nomads. Possibly, however, the post-classical ancient city was revived during the early Byzantine period.

With its new name, the settlement was to play an important role in the historical developments, during the periods of Frankish rule and Ottoman rule.

The beginning was made by the king of Thessaloniki Bonifatio Momferatiko, from whom the eponymous Marquisate was founded based in Bodonitsa, immediately after the occupation of Constantinople by the Franks (1204).

The main area of the state was determined with great approximation by the current province of Lokris. Its purpose was the protection of the Strait of Thermopylae, through which passed the most important roads that connected Thessaly with Southern Greece.

The first ruler of Bodonitsa Marquisate was appointed the Italian patriot Guido Pallavicini. According to W. Miller, in his classic book "The Frankish rule in Greece", a total of 15 lords of the Marquisate are mentioned. In fact, two women are included among them. (In Greece, the principle of the Salio Law did not apply, which forbade the succession of lords by women).

W. Miller, who has written a special treatise (unknown to many) entitled "The Marquisate of Bodonitsa", gives valuable information about the history of the State and the traces left by the Franks.

Bodonitsa maintained its importance during the Turkish occupation, when it appeared for the first time as the seat of an Orthodox diocese.

The importance of the village during the 17th century is determined by the fact that it was inhabited by 250 families. According to the same source (Evliva Tselebi) Bodonitsa was Voidovoliki (with voevoda at the head) and the seat of an Imareti. This was a Turkish monastery and a poorhouse, built on the site of the tomb of the Muslim saint Sheikh Sultan Veliullah.

In the later years of Ottoman rule, Bodonitsa became the seat of an Armatoliki. Her last and only known captain was Giannis (Nakos) Diovouniotis, a well-known hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

Diovouniotis proclaimed the revolution in Bodonitsa on April 8, 1821. The Turks, who were locked in the Castle, surrendered in a few days by making an agreement with the greek rebels. Unfortunately all the surrended Turks were slaughtered. Many Turkish buildings were destroyed then, including the Turkish monastery.

After the liberation, Mendenitsa (Bodonitsa) ceased to be defensively significant, as it found itself behind the borders of the newly formed State.

For the last time its fortified position was appreciated during the German Occupation, when it was chosen as the headquarters of a guerrilla battalion and the center of the liberation struggle in Locris region.

In the autumn of 1943, shortly after fierce clashes in the Straits of Thermopylae with the guerillas, very strong forces of the Nazi occupation troops invaded the village and burned it from end to end. Only the church and 5-6 houses survived. A real holocaust.

It was rebuilt with myriad sacrifices, fortunately without significant deviations from its simple traditional architecture, with its stone-built, two-story, plaster-free, tiled houses.

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A brief history of Mendenitsa I

by the Initiative to promote the history of Mendenitsa

The history of Mendenitsa extends back in time for thousands of years. Its importance was determined by its strategic position and proximity to the passage of Thermopylae, as well as the vital role it should have played in the historical events in relation to that famous passage.

View of Mount Kalidromos from the Castle

The Castle inside gate and tower

A brief history of Mendenitsa II

MENDENITSA

A Historic Recursion

by Athanasios Fafoutis

The text below has been published in the newspaper "I Foni tis Mendenitsas" (the "Voice of Mendenitsa") No. 5, and 6, of June and July 1989.

Mendenitsa : A brief historic recursion

In the history of Demetrieon (Vienna 1791), Mendenitsa is mentioned as the homeland of the Homeric hero Patroclus, the closest friend of Achilles.

Also, it is not known when the name Bodonitsa appeared. According to G. Kordatos, it was founded by Hellenized Christian Slavic nomads. Possibly, however, the post-classical ancient city was revived during the early Byzantine period.

With its new name, the settlement was to play an important role in the historical developments, during the periods of Frankish rule and Ottoman rule.

The beginning was made by the king of Thessaloniki Bonifatio Momferatiko, from whom the eponymous Marquisate was founded based in Bodonitsa, immediately after the occupation of Constantinople by the Franks (1204).

The main area of the state was determined with great approximation by the current province of Lokris. Its purpose was the protection of the Strait of Thermopylae, through which passed the most important roads that connected Thessaly with Southern Greece.

W. Miller, who has written a special treatise (unknown to many) entitled "The Marquisate of Bodonitsa", gives valuable information about the history of the State and the traces left by the Franks.

Bodonitsa maintained its importance during the Turkish occupation, when it appeared for the first time as the seat of an Orthodox diocese.

In the later years of Ottoman rule, Bodonitsa became the seat of an Armatoliki. Her last and only known captain was Giannis (Nakos) Diovouniotis, a well-known hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

After the liberation, Mendenitsa (Bodonitsa) ceased to be defensively significant, as it found itself behind the borders of the newly formed State.

For the last time its fortified position was appreciated during the German Occupation, when it was chosen as the headquarters of a guerrilla battalion and the center of the liberation struggle in Locris region.

In the autumn of 1943, shortly after fierce clashes in the Straits of Thermopylae with the guerillas, very strong forces of the Nazi occupation troops invaded the village and burned it from end to end. Only the church and 5-6 houses survived. A real holocaust.

It was rebuilt with myriad sacrifices, fortunately without significant deviations from its simple traditional architecture, with its stone-built, two-story, plaster-free, tiled houses.

Πρωτοβουλία Ανάδειξης της Ιστορίας της Μενδενίτσας

email: mendenitsa.group@gmail.com

A brief history of Mendenitsa I

by the Initiative to promote the history of Mendenitsa

The history of Mendenitsa extends back in time for thousands of years. Its importance was determined by its strategic position and proximity to the passage of Thermopylae, as well as the vital role it should have played in the historical events in relation to that famous passage.

View of Mount Kalidromos from the Castle

The Castle inside gate and tower

A brief history of Mendenitsa II

MENDENITSA

A Historic Recursion

by Athanasios Fafoutis

The text below has been published in the newspaper "I Foni tis Mendenitsas" (the "Voice of Mendenitsa") No. 5, and 6, of June and July 1989.

Mendenitsa : A brief historic recursion

In the history of Demetrieon (Vienna 1791), Mendenitsa is mentioned as the homeland of the Homeric hero Patroclus, the closest friend of Achilles.

Also, it is not known when the name Bodonitsa appeared. According to G. Kordatos, it was founded by Hellenized Christian Slavic nomads. Possibly, however, the post-classical ancient city was revived during the early Byzantine period.

With its new name, the settlement was to play an important role in the historical developments, during the periods of Frankish rule and Ottoman rule.

The beginning was made by the king of Thessaloniki Bonifatio Momferatiko, from whom the eponymous Marquisate was founded based in Bodonitsa, immediately after the occupation of Constantinople by the Franks (1204).

The main area of ​​the state was determined with great approximation by the current province of Lokris. Its purpose was the protection of the Strait of Thermopylae, through which passed the most important roads that connected Thessaly with Southern Greece.

W. Miller, who has written a special treatise (unknown to many) entitled "The Marquisate of Bodonitsa", gives valuable information about the history of the State and the traces left by the Franks.

Bodonitsa maintained its importance during the Turkish occupation, when it appeared for the first time as the seat of an Orthodox diocese.

In the later years of Ottoman rule, Bodonitsa became the seat of an Armatoliki. Her last and only known captain was Giannis (Nakos) Diovouniotis, a well-known hero of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

After the liberation, Mendenitsa (Bodonitsa) ceased to be defensively significant, as it found itself behind the borders of the newly formed State.

For the last time its fortified position was appreciated during the German Occupation, when it was chosen as the headquarters of a guerrilla battalion and the center of the liberation struggle in Locris region.

In the autumn of 1943, shortly after fierce clashes in the Straits of Thermopylae with the guerillas, very strong forces of the Nazi occupation troops invaded the village and burned it from end to end. Only the church and 5-6 houses survived. A real holocaust.

It was rebuilt with myriad sacrifices, fortunately without significant deviations from its simple traditional architecture, with its stone-built, two-story, plaster-free, tiled houses.

Πρωτοβουλία Ανάδειξης της Ιστορίας της Μενδενίτσας

email: mendenitsa.group@gmail.com

The main area of the state was determined with great approximation by the current province of Lokris. Its purpose was the protection of the Strait of Thermopylae, through which passed the most important roads that connected Thessaly with Southern Greece.