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SKYROS  == HISTORY PREHISTORIC AGES

It is not know when was the island first inhabited. The occasional findings are dated since the palaeolithic period. The clues show that the location where the castle is now found was inhabited.

The first palaeolithic settlement (5000BC) is believed to have been at the East of Hora, close to the seaside. A later settlement is that at the castle. After that the Mycenaec Age begun. The marks of that age are still present all over the island.

HISTORIC AGES

‘Pelasgoi' is the name of the first inhabitants of Skyros - as well as of the rest of Greece. Afterwards, there was an establishment of the bellicose Dolopes, who were pirates. During the age of colonization, Skyros became a subject to Halkida. The most important facts, from that point on are the following: 475BC The Dolopes pillage merchant vessels from Thessalia. The merchants report them to the authorities, but with the votes of the Dolopes of Thessalia the pirates were found not guilty, so it comes to the Skyrian people to compensate the merchants. The Skyrians refuse to pay and se the whole situation as an opportunity to rid their island of the pirates. The call the Athenians for help, who conquer the island under the leadership of Kimon, they sell the Dolopes as slaves and divide the land to certain Athenian masters. Then the Athenians, wishing to fulfill an old prophecy, they transfer the remnants of the legendary Athenian king, Theseas, to Athens.

404BC During the Peloponesian War, the island demands its independence from Athens. 394BC During the Corinthian War, the Athenians occupy Skyros once again. 86BC The island passes to the authority of the Roman Empire. 165AC The people of Skyros get annihilated by cholera. 268AC The tribes of Eruls along with the Goths come from the sea and pillage Skyros (as well as the rest of Greece). BYZANTIUM - VENETIAN DOMINATION

For the Byzantines, Skyros had been a land of banishment for many Byzantine masters. Some of them made families and stayed in the island, creating a new leading ‘class', which ruled Skyros along with the Byzantine governor. Years of prosperity follow whereupon all kind of folk art flourish. After that: 825AC The Arabs conquer Crete. Skyros - along with all the coastal locations - suffer from pirate attacks. The island gets desolated with the exeption of the castle that holds the pirates out. 900AC The Saracens ravage the island.

After the fall of Constantinople by the Crussaders, Skyros passed to the authority of the Venetians. It became province of the Ducat of Naxos, which was run by Marco Sanuto. He divided the islands to the adventurers who followed him. Skyros - along with the rest of North Sporades and Tinos, Kea and Mykonos - were given to the brothers Jeremy and Andrea Gizi. There follows a period of competition and war among the heirs, after which the island passes to the authority of Michael Paleologo. 1296 Skyros is ruled by William Delacarceri. 1308 The Catalan fleet, under the leadership of Ferdinand de Mayorca, destroy Skopelos and sail to Skyros. A terrible tempest ruins his fleet and the Skyrians attribute its salvation to Saint George. Tradition has it that the only ship that was rescued was that of the leader, which turned to stone and became a rock close to Achilli. 1400-1450 The pirate attacks force the Skyrians to leave their land. The island gets almost desolated.

TURKISH OCCUPATION

After the fall of Constantinople, Skyros is governed by a Venetian rector. And then: 1537 Hyderrin Barbarosa took over the island with a turkish fleet. After that, a peaceful time follows. 1675 During the Venetian-Turkish war in Crete, the Venetian admiral Leonardo Foscolo takes over the castle of Skyros, he has the turkish guards killed and makes the Skyrian men oarsmen for his galeons. Women and children became the only inhabitants of the island. A few years later the castle is being repaired and they start to develop farming and cattle-breeding. 1667 The Venetian admiral Morozini pillages Skyros on his way to Tenedos. 1770 Many Skyrians are forced to join the army against the Turks in Minor Asia. 1790 Labros Katsonis, a national hero, attacks anchored turkish fleet unsuccesfully.

After the Russian-Turkish War, the Turks abandon the island probably because the pirate attacks made them feel insecure. The government of the island passes to three voted senators. In the meantime, embassies are found on the island. Just before the revolution against the Turks (1821), many Greeks found refuge in Skyros. The years of the revolution were particularly harsh for the Skyrians, as they were ailed by both the Turks and the Greeks. www.skyroson.gr