{"id":5773,"date":"2023-01-04T00:47:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T22:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emthrace.org\/?page_id=5773"},"modified":"2024-04-10T14:57:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-10T11:57:53","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/emthrace.org\/en\/thrace\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/div><\/div>
\n
\n

The<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

history<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

of Thrace<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Historical Timeline <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div><\/div>
\n
\"\"<\/div>

45.000-10.000 b.c<\/p><\/div>\n

Prehistoric <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Palaeolithic Era, during which human presence in
Thrace can be dated, based on archaeological finds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

45.000-10.000 b.c<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6.500-3.000 BC<\/p><\/div>\n


The Neolithic Era in Thrace, based on archaeological
finds.
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

6.500-3.000 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3.000-1.100 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

The Bronze Age in Thrace, based on archaeological finds.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

3.000-1.100 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1.100-700 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

The Iron Age.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Appearance of Thracian tribes, which move
from the Dniester and Danube rivers to the Aegean Sea
and from the Black Sea to the River Pineios.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1.100-700 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

700-600 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

Antiquity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ionians settled in the coastal section of Thrace. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

700-600 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

600-500 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

The Persians move into the Thracian hinterland.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

600-500 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

480 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

Creation of the first Thracian kingdom, that of the Odrysians.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

480 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

400-300 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

Macedonian Period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thrace is incorporated into the kingdom of Macedonia.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

400-300 BC<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

200 BC -300 AD <\/p><\/div>\n

Roman Period<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Romans built the Via Egnatia. Thrace acquires a network for the transport of people, goods, and ideas.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

200 BC -300 AD <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

46 AD<\/p><\/div>\n

Thrace became a Roman province.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

46 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/div>

330 AD<\/p><\/div>\n

Byzantine Period<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Constantine the Great inaugurates the new capital of the Empire, New Rome, which came to be known with his name as Constantinople.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

330 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

550 AD<\/p><\/div>\n

Flavius Belisarius, or simply Belisarius, one of the greatest
military figures of the early Byzantine period, was born in
Ormenio in northen Evros. (Germania, Chernomen).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Belisarius mosaic, Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

550 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

527-565 AD<\/p><\/div>\n


Cities and castle are built in Thrace under Justinian I.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

527-565 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

6th-7th century<\/p><\/div>\n


Descent and settlement of Slavic tribes in the northern
section of Thrace, a development that significantly
changes its demographic co<\/strong>mposition.<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

6th-7th century<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

813<\/p><\/div>\n

Bulgarian raids on Thracian cities.<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

813<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

7th-9th Century<\/p><\/div>\n

The end of antiquity, which takes place in the so-called
Dark Ages, signifies a shift in the agricultural economy of
Thrace with the foundation of the themata
(administrative units) of Thrace (late 7th century) and Boleron (9th century).<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

7th-9th Century<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

10th -11th Century<\/p><\/div>\n

Urban reorganisation of Thrace.<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

10th -11th Century<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

999-1017 AD<\/p><\/div>\n

Emperor Basil II prevents the second wave of Bulgarian
expansion in northern Greece (hence his epithet
Voulgaroktonos, or \u201cBulgar Slayer\u201d), using Mosynopolis
(Maximianopolis) in Thrace as his base.<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

999-1017 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1151-1152 AD<\/p><\/div>\n

Kosmosoteira<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The sebastokrator Isaac Komnenos founds the Monastery
of Panagia Kosmosoteira in Vira (today\u2019s Ferres).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

1151-1152 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1193 AD
1204 AD
1324-1328 AD
1321-1341 AD<\/p><\/div>\n


John III Doukas Vatatzes, the second emperor of Nicaea,
is born in Didymoteicho (1222-1254).

Fourth crusade. After the fall of Constantinople to the
Franks, Thrace is renamed Roman\u00eda.

Dynastic wars between the Palaiologans Andronikos II
and Andronikos III.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Andronikos III attempts the settlement and military reorganisation of Thrace and Macedonia, building
fortresses and castles.<\/h5>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>

1193 AD
1204 AD
1324-1328 AD
1321-1341 AD<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1332<\/p><\/div>\n

Emperor John V Palaiologos is born in Didymoteicho. He
was to rule officially from 1355 until his death in 1391.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Restored \u2212and digitally enhanced\u2212 mosaic of emperor John V Palaiologos (r. 1341\u20131391) in the Eastern Arch of Hagia Sophia, probably the last one made in the Empire’s history.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1332<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1341 (October)<\/p><\/div>\n

John VI Kantakouzenos is crowned emperor at
Didymoteicho, as co-king and co-emperor with Ioannis V
Palaiologos.<\/h5>\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Code Mutinensis gr. 122 (folio 294v) Library of Este in Montena. <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1341 (October)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1341-1351
1346
1347
1347 (May)<\/p><\/div>\n

Dynastic Wars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n


Dynastic wars between John V Palaiologos and John VI
Kantakouzenos. During these wars, troops from the
Turkish emirates of Asia Minor are used for the first time
by the rival Byzantine emperors. They disembark in
Thrace and cause, for a time, extensive destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


John VI Kantakouzenos is crowned emperor in
Adrianople.

The metropolitan bishop of Traianopolis transfers the
seat of his diocese to Mosynopolis, due to barbarian
raids.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John VI Kantakouzenos is crowned emperor for the third
time in Constantinople and rules until 1354.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1341-1351
1346
1347
1347 (May)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1352<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottomans capture the fortress of Tzympi in Gallipoli
and form their first permanent base in Thrace.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1352<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

1361<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottomans occupy Didymoteicho.
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1361<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1362-1364<\/p><\/div>\n

Independent Turkish beys occupy Philippopolis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1362-1364<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1364-1365<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottomans capture G\u00fcm\u00fclcine (today\u2019s Komotini).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1364-1365<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1366<\/p><\/div>\n

Amadeus VI, Count of Savoy, head of the Frankish knights,
captures Gallipoli and gives it to the Byzantines.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1366<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1369<\/p><\/div>\n


Independent Turkish beys capture and pillage
Adrianople.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1369<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1371<\/p><\/div>\n


The Ottomans, led by Lala \u015eahin and Evrenos Bey,
capture Vira, today\u2019s Ferres (Ferecik).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1371<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1371 (September)<\/p><\/div>\n

The battle of Chernomen (Ormenio) on the River Evros.
The Byzantine Empire and medieval states of Serbia and
Bulgaria are defeated by the Ottomans and recognise its
suzerainty.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1371 (September)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1373<\/p><\/div>\n

The Turkish beys offer Adrianople to the Turkish sultan,
who makes the city the capital of his state.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1373<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1371-1374<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottomans capture almost all the fortified towns and
settlements of today\u2019s Greek Thrace.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1371-1374<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1376<\/p><\/div>\n

Murad I recaptures Gallipoli.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1376<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1385-6<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottomans capture Xanthi and rename it Eskice.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1385-6<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1420<\/p><\/div>\n

Sultan Mehmed I unveils a grand mosque in
Didymoteicho.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1420<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1453 (early April\u201329 May)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II besieges and captures
Constantinople and makes it the capital of the Ottoman
Empire.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1453 (early April\u201329 May)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1483<\/p><\/div>\n

MODERN HISTORY<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A berat of Sultan Bayezid II indicates that the following
metropolitan dioceses are to be found in Thrace:
Herakleia, Raidesto, Silivria, Ainos, Adrianople, Medeia,
Sozopolis, Anchialos, Mesimvria, Philippopolis and Vizyi.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1483<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1575<\/p><\/div>\n

The Selimiye Mosque built by Mimar Sinan is completed
in Adrianople.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1575<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1685<\/p><\/div>\n

The \u201cEsnaf\u201d (guild) of the abatzides is founded in
Philippopolis, the best-known professional guild for the
processing and production of coarse woollen fabrics in
Thrace.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1685<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1714<\/p><\/div>\n

The Greek school of Adrianople is built, opposite the
metropolitan cathedral.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1714<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1728<\/p><\/div>\n

Meletios Mitros, in his work \u201cGeography Old and New\u201d,
describes the Thrace of his day and includes it as part of
Greece.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1728<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1770<\/p><\/div>\n

The Central Greek School is founded in Philippopolis.
<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1770<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1780-1820<\/p><\/div>\n

Establishment and operation of Greek community
schools in the towns of Tyroloi (1784), Madyto (1784),
Myriofyto (1788), Raidesto (1790 ), Ganochora (1790),
Epivates (1796), Silivria (1799), Skopos (1810), Sozopolis
(1817), and Mesimvria (1817).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1780-1820<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1791<\/p><\/div>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The \u201cDimitrieis\u201d, Daniel Philippides and Grigorios
Konstantas, publish their work \u201c\u039d\u03b5\u03c9\u03c4\u03b5\u03c1\u03b9\u03ba\u03ae \u0393\u03b5\u03c9\u03b3\u03c1\u03b1\u03c6\u03af\u03b1\u201d
[Modern Geography] in Vienna, in which they describe
Thrace, including it in the \u201cprovinces\u201d of \u201cEuropean
Greece\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1791<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1814-1821<\/p><\/div>

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Friendly Society recruits members from Thracian
cities such as Philippopolis, Mesimvria, Maroneia, Ainos,
Varna, G\u00fcm\u00fclcine, Adrianople, Sozopolis, Anchialos,
Madyto, L\u00fcleburgaz, and Agathoupolis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1814-1821<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1821<\/p><\/div>\n

After the declaration of the Greek War of Independence
in Thrace, the Ottomans quash the revolutionary groups
with harsh reprisals.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1821 (April)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Metropolitan Bishop Paisios declares the uprising of
the local Christians in Sozopolis. The Ottomans crush the uprising and pillage Sozopolis.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821 (April)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1821 (18 April)<\/p><\/div>\n

The former Ecumenical Patriarch, Cyril VI, is hung in
Adrianople. The previous day, Christian notables of the
city were also executed by the Ottoman authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821 (18 April)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1821 ( 2May)<\/p><\/div>\n

The uprising Christians of the region of Lavara are
defeated by the Ottomans.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821 ( 2May)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1821 (May)<\/p><\/div>\n

The revolutionary movement of the Christians of Gallipoli
extends to the neighbouring villages of the Thracian
hinterland (Kessani, Malgara, etc.) but is soon crushed by
the Ottomans.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821 (May)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/div>

1821 (September)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Ottoman fleet, during its return from revolutionary
Greece, lands military detachments on Samothrace, which
cause extensive destruction. Over 700 of the island\u2019s
Christians are slaughtered and many are driven to the
slave bazaars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cApr\u00e8s le Massacre de Samothrace\u201d (\u00ab\u039c\u03b5\u03c4\u03ac \u03c4\u03b7 \u03c3\u03c6\u03b1\u03b3\u03ae \u03c4\u03b7\u03c2 \u03a3\u03b1\u03bc\u03bf\u03b8\u03c1\u03ac\u03ba\u03b7\u03c2\u201d) (1827)<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1821 (September)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1828-1829<\/p><\/div>\n

Russo-Turkish war. The Russians march as far as Thrace.
C. Sayger and A. Desarnod, in the service of the Russian
army, produce a splendid study of eastern and northern Thrace in \u201cRelation d’un Voyage fait en Turquie\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1828-1829<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1835 (April)<\/p><\/div>\n

The five neomartyrs of Samothrace protest in Makri:
Manuil, Theodoros, Georgios, Michail and Georgios.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1835 (April)<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1839-1856<\/p><\/div>\n

Reform decrees (Tanzimat): Hatt-i Sherif (1839) and Hatt-
i humayun (1856).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1839-1856<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1861<\/p><\/div>\n

The Greek Philological Association of Constantinople is
founded.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1861<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1865-1900<\/p><\/div>\n

Associations and societies are established in almost all
the towns and villages of Thrace, which play an
important role in the national, religious and spiritual self-
consciousness of Thracian Hellenism \u2014 in Saranta
Ekklisies (1865), Vizyi (1865), Philippopolis (1869), Ainos
(1871), Adrianople (1872), Arkadioupolis (1872), Madyto
(1875), Babaeski (1878), Mesimvria (1881), Ferres (1885),
Didymoteicho (1885), Komotini (1895), Kavakli (1896),
Raidestos (1897), Xanthi (1900) and Soufli (before 1920).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1865-1900<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1866-1867<\/p><\/div>\n

As part of the administrative reorganisation of the
Ottoman Empire, which takes place with the Tanzimat
(1839-1856), \u201cgreater Thrace\u201d is, until 1878, a unified administrative region with the name Vilayet of Edirne
(Adrianople).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1866-1867<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1869<\/p><\/div>\n

The Association for the Propagation of Greek Letters is
founded in Athens. Together with the Greek Philological
Association of Constantinople, it undertakes the great
task of establishing and operating schools throughout the
whole of Thrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An agreement is signed between the Ottoman Empire
and Baron Hirsch for the construction of a railway
network, which, with one line and four branches, will
connect Constantinople with Central Europe. One branch
will connect Adrianople with Dedea\u011fa\u00e7 (Alexandroupolis
after 1920).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1869<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1870<\/p><\/div>\n

The Bulgarian Exarchate is recognised with a sultanic
firman.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div>

1870<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1872<\/p><\/div>\n

The connection between Dedea\u011fa\u00e7 and Adrianople is
completed and parallel work on the construction of the
port at Dedea\u011fa\u00e7 progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n