Kallergis family
Encyclopedia
The Kallergis family is a Cretan
family said to be descended from Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (Latinized: Nicephorus II Phocas, Greek: Νικηφόρος Β΄ Φωκᾶς, Nikēphoros II Phōkas), and were at one stage rulers of Crete
.
(Greek: Αλέξιος Β’ Κομνηνός, Alexios II Komnēnos) sent twelve noble Byzantine
families to Crete, in order to strengthen the ties between the island and the city of Constantinople
. The families were credited important land and administrative privileges. Ioannis Phokas was one of those 12 Byzantine rulers.
The Phokas name changed to "Kallergis" during the Venetian dominion. As Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi describes in his book An idea conquers the world the Kallergis name is composed of the Greek word kalon (=beautiful) and ergon. (Greek: Καλλ(ι)έργης > Καλλέργης, known in many versions as Kalergis, Calergis, Kallergi, Callergi, Calergi).
Large areas of Crete
were attributed to each of those families. That is the reason that villages named Kallergiana (Greek: Καλλεργιανά) in Kissamos or Kallergo (Greek: Καλλέργω ή Καλλέργο) in Rethymno
exist today. On the White Mountains
(Greek: Lefkà Ori, Λευκά Όρη) there is also a mountain hill called Kallergis (altitude 1.650 meters).
Heraldic ensembles
containing the Kallergis family coat of arms
(bendy argent and azure) can be found all over the island of Crete, in churches and other monuments. The name reappears many times in the turbulent history of Crete but also of modern Greece.
Their prominent position and privileges survived during the Venetian dominion of Crete as they were part of the "privilegiati" (Greek: Αρχοντορωμαίοι) and sometimes of "nobili Veneti". They served many times the Venetian regime but at the same time defended the welfare of the Cretan people, being head of revolutionary movements against the Venetians.
During the Venetian dominion and after the Ottoman
conquest of the island of Crete (1669 AD) many of the Kallergis moved to the Ionian islands
and Euboea
, Venice
and Russia
.
In Venice the family, hereafter named Calergi in this branch, built bonds with the families of Vendramin
, Crespi and Grimani
through marriages .
The family is also connected to the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, which is found in Venice
on the Grand Canal.
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
family said to be descended from Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (Latinized: Nicephorus II Phocas, Greek: Νικηφόρος Β΄ Φωκᾶς, Nikēphoros II Phōkas), and were at one stage rulers of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
The history of the twelve byzantine rulers
Emperor Alexios II KomnenosAlexios II Komnenos
Alexios II Komnenos or Alexius II Comnenus , Byzantine emperor , was the son of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and Maria, daughter of Raymond, prince of Antioch...
(Greek: Αλέξιος Β’ Κομνηνός, Alexios II Komnēnos) sent twelve noble Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
families to Crete, in order to strengthen the ties between the island and the city of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. The families were credited important land and administrative privileges. Ioannis Phokas was one of those 12 Byzantine rulers.
The Phokas name changed to "Kallergis" during the Venetian dominion. As Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi describes in his book An idea conquers the world the Kallergis name is composed of the Greek word kalon (=beautiful) and ergon. (Greek: Καλλ(ι)έργης > Καλλέργης, known in many versions as Kalergis, Calergis, Kallergi, Callergi, Calergi).
Large areas of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
were attributed to each of those families. That is the reason that villages named Kallergiana (Greek: Καλλεργιανά) in Kissamos or Kallergo (Greek: Καλλέργω ή Καλλέργο) in Rethymno
Rethymno
Rethymno is a city of approximately 40,000 people in Greece, the capital of Rethymno peripheral unit in the island of Crete. It was built in antiquity , even though was never a competitive Minoan centre...
exist today. On the White Mountains
Lefka Ori
Lefka Ori or Madares is a mountain range located in Western Crete, in the Chania prefecture. The White Mountains or Lefka Ori occupy a good part of the centre of West Crete and are the main feature of the region...
(Greek: Lefkà Ori, Λευκά Όρη) there is also a mountain hill called Kallergis (altitude 1.650 meters).
Heraldic ensembles
Achievement (heraldry)
An achievement in heraldry is a full display of all the heraldic components to which the bearer of a coat of arms is entitled...
containing the Kallergis family coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
(bendy argent and azure) can be found all over the island of Crete, in churches and other monuments. The name reappears many times in the turbulent history of Crete but also of modern Greece.
Their prominent position and privileges survived during the Venetian dominion of Crete as they were part of the "privilegiati" (Greek: Αρχοντορωμαίοι) and sometimes of "nobili Veneti". They served many times the Venetian regime but at the same time defended the welfare of the Cretan people, being head of revolutionary movements against the Venetians.
During the Venetian dominion and after the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest of the island of Crete (1669 AD) many of the Kallergis moved to the Ionian islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
and Euboea
Euboea
Euboea is the second largest Greek island in area and population, after Crete. The narrow Euripus Strait separates it from Boeotia in mainland Greece. In general outline it is a long and narrow, seahorse-shaped island; it is about long, and varies in breadth from to...
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
In Venice the family, hereafter named Calergi in this branch, built bonds with the families of Vendramin
Vendramin
The Vendramin were a rich merchant family of Venice, Italy, who were among the case nuove or "new houses" who joined the patrician class when the Libro d'Oro was opened after the battle of Chioggia...
, Crespi and Grimani
Grimani
The Grimani family were a prominent Venetian patrician family, including three Doges of Venice. They were active in trade, politics and later the ownership of theatres and opera-houses...
through marriages .
The family is also connected to the Palazzo Vendramin-Calergi, which is found in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
on the Grand Canal.
See also
- CalliergisCalliergisCalliergis is a genus of moths of the Noctuidae family.-References:* *...
, a genus of moth s of the Noctuidae family - Calliergis ramosaCalliergis ramosaCalliergis ramosa is a moth of the Noctuidae family. It is found in central and southern Europe, from France north to The Netherlands, east to Poland, south through eastern Europe to Greece.The larvae feed on Lonicera species.-External links:***...
, a moth of the Noctuidae family