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| History & Culture |
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The exceptional geographical position of Corfu determined the role that the island was destined to play. Crossing point and meeting place of ideas and of human coexistence, melting pot of civilizations, managed to fuse together harmoniously the often-contradictory trends and to exhibit a cultural identity quit unique and different from the rest parts of Greece.
The coexistance of Romans and Byzantines with locals, enriched with immigrants from southern Italy and Sicily, Venice and later France, England, Malta and other Mediterranean countries, fused together with Jews and waves of refugees from the Turk-occupied Greece and Crete (especially after the fall of Candia), makes the city a place of exemplary complexness, the multicultural character of which, is reflected on the arts and the lettered, on the social life of the city and suburbs. |
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The inclination of Corfiots to the spectacles, the music and the opera is the result of the living history and coexists with the deepest respect for the national and religious symbols.
The western style of the buildings and of the artistic expression, of the customs and the musical tradition constitutes the expression of the cultural osmosis of Corfu with the West. A procedure that, despite the predictions to the opposite, left the Eastern Greek Orthodox Dogma untouched, in times that the Eastern Christianity, in its historical borders, was either savagely oppressed or ceased to exit. |
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Corfu is identified by most archaeologists with the mythical island of Phaeacians. It was here, according to those that accept the identification of Scheria with Corfu, that Homer placed the penult station where a necked castaway the ingenious Odysseus arrived after days of straggle with the sea-waves.
The ancient Corfiots were proud that they were the descendants of the mythical Phaeacians, Nausikaa and King Alcinous, and they named their military harbour, "Alcinous Harbour". Until today, despite the efforts of famous archaeologists like Drpfeld and Bulle, the palace of King Alcinous and the Mycenean Scheria has not yet been found, though Mycenean potsherds were found in the western part of the island.
Apollonius of Rhodes is referred to Phaeacians in the 'Argonautica, where Jason and the Argonauts, having stolen the Golden Fleece and pursued by the inhabitants of Colchis, found refuge in the palace of King Alcinous and Arete. There, in the cave Makris, the marriage of Jason and Medea took place. |
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Mythology delivered the current emblem of city to the present-day Corfiots. The "Apidalos Naus" (Unhelmed Ship) remains the symbol of the naval virtuosity of Phaeacians. In literature, apart from the Homeric name Scheria, we meet various other names for the island, like Drepanë or Arpi, Makris, Cassopaea, Argos, Keravnia,Phaeacia, Corkyra or Kerkyra (in Doric), Gorgo or Gorgyra and much later the medieval names Corypho or Corfoi, because of the two characteristic rock-peaks of the Old Fortress of Corfu
The great importance of the geographical position of Corfu, on the sea route to the shores of the Adriatic and Italy, caused, according to Diodorus Siculus, Strabo and Plutarch, the interest of the Eretrians (people from the island of Euboea) around 750 BC. Thucydides mentions that the oldest sea battle known to have been taken place between the Greeks occurred in 664 BC, between Corinth and Corfu, in which Corfu triumphed. During this period, by the influence of Corinthian artists, great works of art were made, like the lioness on the cenotaph of Menecrates at Garitsa, the doric temple at Kardaki, and the temples of Hera and Artemis with the famous pediment of Gorgon. The pediment is exhibited in the archaeological museum of the city and is the oldest stone pediment that has been found until today.
The Romans used the island as naval base for their expeditions in mainland Greece and the East. Nevertheless, in 31 BC, on the eve of the naval battle in Actium, Agrippa, an ally of Octavian, destroyed the city, to punish the Corcyreans for having sided with Mark Antony. A long period of decline began. Later the Roman Emperors granted a number of privileges to Corcyra in acknowledgement of the assistance that the city offered to the roman fleet. The city maintained a relative autonomy with her own laws and currency. During this period many notable Romans bought land-properties and built luxurious villas in various parts of the island. Amongst the Romans that visited Corcyra was the notorious rhetor (speaker) and politician Cicero, the Emperors Vespasian, Antoninus Pius, Septimius Severus, and Nero, who, as tradition has it, sang before the altar of Zeus Cassius in Cassiope, (a city of great acme during that time). |
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After the conquest of Byzantine Empire by the crusaders of the Fourth Crusade and on the basis of the terms of the treaty known as Partitio Terrarum Imperii Romaniae (October 1204), the Venetians laid claim to Corfu and other imperial territories on the Adriatic. Showing determination to seize these territories, the Venetian fleet appeared in front of Corfu and the admiral Giacomo Morosini succeeded in overthrowing the Genoese corsair Leone Vetrano, who for a short period had occupied the island.
By mid-16th century the Corfiots asked the Venetians to approve the appointment of schoolteachers to teach Greek and Latin to their children. Later, the economic growth allowed an easier access to education so that educational institutions and Academies were established on the island (Academy of the Fertile or Fruitful, Academia degli Assicurati, Academy of the Wanderers) and this way many important personalities of the Greek Enlightenment evolved, like the scholars Eugenios Boulgaris and Nikiphorus Theotokis. Venice did not prohibit the foundation of colleges in the metropolis, like that of the Corfiot Thomas Flangini, where indigent students from Corfu and Cyprus studied.
The latin clergy, even though of a higher level of education, could not conquer the souls of the Orthodox population, who remained faithful to the Eastern Church and its doctrines. Focal point and national awareness of the Corfiot Orthodox was the relic of St. Spyridon, which was brought to the island from Constantinople together with the relic of St. Theodora the Empress at the end of the 15th century. The relic of Saint Spyridon was put in a brilliant church that was built in 1590 and the Corfiots assigned to the Saint the island's protection from threats of epidemics, plagues, famines and Ottoman arms. It is characteristic that St. Spyridon at his name-day (12 December) and at his splendid litanies, which took place four times per year in commemoration of four miracles of the Patron Saint, managed to unite all the faithful on the island, overcoming even the dogmatic differences.
 With the Turkish expansionism in his climax, in 1537 the devastating raid of the Turkish admiral Khaireddin Barbarossa took place with the consequent obliteration of the agricultural cultivations (vineyards, olive-trees) of the island and the enslavement of nearly all the population of the countryside (roughly 20.000 Corfiots were sold as slaves in Istanbul). Luckily the Old Fortress was well defended by a 4,000-strong garrison with 700 guns and when several assaults failed to carry the fortifications, the Turks reluctantly re-embarked. Several complaints were expressed for the role of the protector that Venice had undertaken and with the Turkish danger always active, the completion of the fortifications was decided. The work was undertaken by the military architect Michele Sanmicheli, who, in 1557, constructed two powerful pentagonal bastions on the western side of the Old Fortress (named Savorgnan and Martinego), rendering Corfu the uncontested recipient of the application of the new theories about the defensive architecture. The demand for more effective protection returns imperatively after the second Turkish siege in 1571, during which the authorities remained secure behind the walls of the Old Fortress, but the houses, churches and the public buildings of the 'borgo' (suburb) were burned and all the inhabitants were annihilated.
The defensive fortifications were supplemented in the 17th century on plans of the military engineer, F. Verneda who added a second wall on the exterior of the western side of the first wall.
The works were not yet completed when on 5th July 1716 a Turkish fleet of 35,000 infantry and cavalry was sighted on the sea opposite Corfu. During the siege, the city suffered several furious attacks, but was saved thanks to the defensive plan of the newly appointed Captain-General of the Venetian forces on the island, Count Johann Matthias Von der Schulenburg, who had served with distinction under Marlborough and Charles XII of Sweden. After the end of the siege Schulenburg, who was suitably honoured by the Republic (his stature still stands on the Spianada sq.), carried out the last stage of the defensive fortifications of Corfu, which lasted 10 years. The hills of Avrami and Sotiros were fortified, a small redoubt was constructed in the suburb of San Rocco and the defences of the harbour and the opposite island of Vido were reinforced. The impressive fortifications of Corfu were chartered on detailed naval, military and topographical maps in order not only to inform, but also to impress and deter every potential invader. Today they are regarded as works of art. |
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The fact remains that Corfu, after the loss of Crete and for the whole of the 18th century, was at the centre of interest and was identified with the maritime State of Venice. The end of the 18th century found Europe in arms and the history of Corfu cannot be isolated from the international developments and the military antagonisms that the foreign powers sought in the Ionian region.
In 1797, Napoleon Bonaparte abolished the Venetian State and Campo Formio's Treaty transferred to France the sovereignty of the Seven Islands and the Venetian possessions on the opposite coast of Epiros. The last Venetian governor of the island, Carlo Aurelio Widmann, delivered the island to the French soldiers of the Corsican Lieutenant-General Anselmo Gentili, who was accepted with great enthusiasm by the population of Corfu.
According to the proclamations of the French Revolution, which were already known to the island, the first concern was the abortion of the aristocratic regime, the formation of a municipal council under the leadership of the democratic party and the presidency of Spyridon Theotokis, and the application of the French Constitution of 1795. Amidst celebrations the Tree of Freedom was planted in the Esplanade Sq. in Corfu, the golden book of the Nobles, "Libro d'Oro", was burned and the French flag was raised on the Fortresses. However, shortly afterwards the celebrations were replaced by doubt and resentment. The imposition of new taxes, the levy under the term "loan", the looting, the pillages and the desecrations of the churches and of the religious symbols, and the disproval of the hopes for the liberation of the rest of Greece from the Turks, turned the initial enthusiasm of the Corfiots into an open animosity.
Among the beneficial works of this period were: the foundation of a municipal library, the organisation of the public education, the establishment of the first on "Greek" soil printing press, the care for better operation of the courts and policing, the protection of the public health as well as the wide use of the Greek language in the public documents. |
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| RUSSO-TURKISH OCCUPATION-SEPTINSULAR REPUBLIC |
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The Russo-Turkish alliance was formed to counteract Napoleon's expansionary plans in the East. The allied forces begun to capture the islands (1799-1807) exploiting the resentment of the inhabitants of the Ionian Islands against the Republican French.
After a four-month siege, in March 1799, the Russian admiral Ushakov gained control of Corfu and assigned a provisional government on the island consisted by a number of nobles and certain bourgeois.
The constitution of Septinsular Republic in 1800 was considered an important event. It was the first Greek State after 1453 and was recognised as semi-autonomous republic, with Corfu as capital, obliged to pay tribute to Turkey. The delegates of the Ionian Islands in Istanbul drew up a Constitution, which was approved by the "Sublime Porte". It was named "Byzantine" and was very liberal for its time. |
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| SECOND FRENCH OCCUPATION (IMPERIAL FRENCH) |
In September 1807 Napoleon, already Emperor of France, sent his General Cesar Berthier in Corfu, who became governor-general of the island. He abolished the Septinsular Republic and turned the islands into provinces of the French Empire. Because of the strategic position of Corfu in the Adriatic, Napoleon had the island's fortifications brought up to date, assigning the administration of the seven islands to the wise General Francois-Xavier Donzelot, who was ordered to 'hold the Seven Islands at all costs in the event of a British attack'. The line of defence was strengthened with the construction of new redoubts (Lambovitissa and Vido) and also the six new independent peripheral batteries, the ground between them being protected by the artillery's crossfire.
The French improved the street-layout and the architecture of the city. Trees were also planted in the Spianada sq. and on its western side, a long row of buildings with arcades on the ground floor, today known as "Liston", was constructed on the plans of the French engineer Lesseps, who reproduced the architectural style of the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. They introduced new cultures, among which those of the potato and tomato, the institution of vaccination, and the foundation of the School of Fine Arts. However, their most important work was the foundation of the Ionian Academy (1808), the first university of modern Greece.
By 1814 the star of Napoleon was setting. Following the political developments, General Donzelot received the order to surrender Corfu to the British General Sir James Campell on 26 June 1814. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 adopted the proposal of the representative of Russia, Ioannis Kapodistrias, and the Ionian Islands were recognised as a free and independent state, under the name "United States of the Ionian Islands", with Corfu as capital, under the sole protection of Great Britain. |
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| BRITISH RULE |
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Sir Thomas Maitland, governor of Malta, the second son of Lord Lauderdale, was appointed by the British first Lord High Commissioner of the island (1816-1826) and was called to impose the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1815) by which the "United States of the Ionian Islands" were independent and free states, but under foreigner (British) protection. The first Constitution that the Lord High Commissioner himself drew up was undemocratic and very shortly caused resentments.
Contrary to the Treaty of Paris, England considered the islands as colony and Ioannis Kapodistrias asked for the replacement of "King Tom", as he was sneeringly nicknamed, because of his autocratic ways. The anti-Hellenic attitude of Maitland during the Greek War of Independence, his betrayal of Parga to the Turks, the execution of the patriots and the confiscation of their properties made his replacement imperative.
In 1824 Maitland died in Malta and Sir Frederick Adam, head of the Army on the Seven Islands, succeeded him. Tough in the beginning, almost philhellene later, he built the countryseat of the Lord High Commissioners in Palaeopolis, later to be named Mon Repos, he looked after the road system and solved permanently the problem of the water supply of the city with the construction of an aquadact, a pioneer work for its age. During his governorship the Ionian Academy was re-established thanks to the philhellene Frederic North fifth Earl of Guilford.
After Sir Frederic Adam the Lords High Commissioners governed the Heptanese according to the British interests, lawfully to the British government's decisions and as a result the Corfiots were showing increasing displeasure towards to Protector. Nevertheless, the British took care of the public services, the drainage system and the sanitary system.
Among the beneficial works of this period was: the recognition of the Greek language as the official language of the State, the revision of the Constitution in 1848, which did not prohibit the freedom of the press, and the foundation of artistic, literary and financial institutions (School of Fine Arts 1815, Reading Society 1836, Philharmonic Society 1840, Ionian Bank 1837). The presence of the national poet of Greece, Dionysios Solomos, in Corfu (1828-1857) stimulated the already flourishing cultural life and became the basis for the creation of the 'Heptanesian School' in the Arts and the Letters.
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| THE UNION OF CORFU WITH GREECE |
On May 21st 1864, after several intensive diplomatic consultations, Corfu and the rest of the Ionian Islands were united with Greece. The Ionian Parliament of the XIII period had previously taken the decision, which was ratified by the British government. The Union was facilitated by the election in the throne of Greece of a Danish prince as King Georgios I of Greece (a figure trusted by the British) and from that time onwards the Ionian Islands shared the same fait as the rest of Greece.
Although the treaty provided a regime of 'permanent neutrality' for Corfu, the island became involved in the military conflicts of the 20th century. |
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The enlisted Corfiots soldiers participated with the 10th infantry regiment in the war of 1897 and that of 1912-13. In the Balkan Wars the 10th infantry regiment was part of the III Division and took part in decisive battles. The Corfiot regiment had 522 dead and 1367 wounded during the Balkan Wars and its war-flag was honoured with the War-Cross of the First Class and the Bravery Medal of the First Class.
During the First World War, the island was used as a base for the British, French and Italian allied armies, while the Serbian troops were allowed to set up camp here after their defeat in 1916. For some time the Municipal Theatre of Corfu was the seat of the Serbian Parliament and since that time strong bonds of friendship exist with the Serbian people.
In 1923 the city was bombarded and temporarily occupied by the Italian navy, on the pretext of the assassination of general Tellini on the Albanian borders. |
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During the Second World War the 10th infantry regiment was assigned with the defence of Corfu. The regiment took part in the so-called 'Latzides attempt', which, despite the misfortune that met, the heroism and self-sacrifice Corfiot soldiers were made obvious once more. After Greece's surrender to the overpowering German might, Corfu was occupied once more by the Italians.
The first Sunday of November 1941 pupils of the High Schools of Corfu demonstrated their opposition to the occupation and confronted the Italian army. It was the first act of Resistance in Greece. Many Corfiots were enlisted as partisans in E.L.A.S. and E.D.E.S. (partisan groups) and crossed to the opposite coast of Epirus were the active Resistance to the conquerors was taking place. In September 14th 1943 Corfu was bombarded by the Germans. The incendiary bombs destroyed churches, houses, whole blocks of neighbourhoods, especially the Jewish getto, and many important buildings, the Ionian Parliament, the Municipal Theatre, the Municipal Library and others.
The Germans departed from Corfu on October 9th 1944, but they had previously sent about 2000 Jewish Corfiots in concentration camps in Germany. |
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| During the years of dictatorship in Greece (1967-1974) many Corfiots were enlisted in resistance groups, but the case of Kostas Georgakis is unique in the whole of Greece. The 22years-old Corfiot student of geology with an act of self-sacrifice and a spirit of dynamic protest, which could not bear to see Greece under the military regime, set himself on fire the first morning hours of 19th September 1970 in the Matteoti Sq. in the Italian city of Genoa. For security reasons his body was buried in Corfu four months later, his self-sacrifice though, a rare event for that time, caused international sensation and was considered as one of the most important resistance acts of that period. Later the Hellenic State and his homeland Corfu honoured the man, who with his life became a symbol of resistance and patriotism, herald of the students' sacrifice in Polytechnion in 1973. |
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The second half of the 20th century reserved a better luck for Corfu. The island healed the wounds of the war and set forth a new journey to the productive activities and energetic offer, exploiting the resources of the historic past with respect to the peaceful invasions of people and civilisations that started visiting the island.
In 1952 'Club Mediteranee' begins to operate and a new concept starts to become reality. From 1960 onwards tourism becomes one of the two most important wealth-producing resources. The gradual economic growth brings consequently the rising of the cultural level, which after 1984, will be materialized with the foundation of the Ionian University and the beginning of a new intellectual life for Corfu. |
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| Grand Sea Services - For the Best All-Round Services |
| 18, Ethn. Antistaseos, 49100 Corfu, Greece |
| Tel.: +30 26610 21177, +30 26610 81222 Fax: +30 26610 26426 |
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