Messolonghi
Encyclopedia
Missolonghi is a town of 12,225 people (2001) in western Greece
. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania
and is also its third largest town. It is the seat of the municipality of Iera Poli Mesolongiou (Sacred City of Missolonghi). Missolonghi is linked to, although bypassed since the 1960s by, GR-5
/E55
. The road to Astakos is to the northwest and there is also access to GR-48
to the east. The town had a railway station on the line to Agrinio
but this has been abandoned since the 1970s.
and the Evinos rivers and has a port on the Gulf of Patras
. It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The Arakynthos
mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons
complex lies to the west and is also a swampy area. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf.
The municipal unit Missolonghi is subdivided into communities, including Evinochori
.
called Paruta
when he was describing the naval Battle of Lepanto
near Nafpaktos. According to predominant historical opinion, its name came from the combination of two Italian words, MEZZO and LAGHI which means "in the middle of lakes" or MESSO and LAGHI (Messolaghi) which means "a place surrounded by lakes". Until 1700, Mesolonghi was under Venetian domination. Its inhabitants were mostly fishermen. They lived in cabins which were made of a kind of waterproof straw and reed and stood on stilts above sea water. These cabins or stilt-houses have always been called "pelades".
North-west of Missolonghi are the remains of Pleuron
('Asfakovouni'), a town mentioned in Homer
's works. It participated in the Trojan
expedition and was destroyed in 234 BC by Demetrius II Aetolicus. The new town, which was built on the remains of old Pleuron, was one of the most important towns in Aitolia. Its monumental fortification comprised thirty towers and seven gates. The remains of the theatre and an enormous water tank with four compartments still exist.
During the Orlov Revolt
in 1770 the fleet of Missolonghi was defeated and the town passed to the Ottomans
. Missolonghi revolted on May 20, 1821 and was a major stronghold of the Greek rebels in the Greek War of Independence
, being the seat of the Senate of Western Continental Greece
. Its inhabitants successfully resisted a siege by Ottoman
forces in 1822. The second siege started on April 15, 1825 by Reşid Mehmed Pasha
whose army numbered 30,000 men and was later reinforced by another 10,000 men led by Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali Pasha
of Egypt. After a year of relentless enemy attacks and facing starvation, the people of Missolonghi decided to leave the beleaguered city in the "Exodus of its Guards" (The Sortie) on the night of April 10, 1826. At the time, there were 10,500 people in Missolonghi, 3,500 of whom were armed. Very few people survived the Ottoman pincer movement
after the betrayal of their plan.
Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, the town of Missolonghi received the honorary title of Hiera Polis (the Sacred City), unique among other Greek
cities. The famous British poet and philhellene
Lord Byron, who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died in Missolonghi in 1824. He is commemorated by a cenotaph
containing his heart and a statue located in the town.
once lived in some of them. The mansion of the Trikoupis family, Palamas' House, Valvios Library, Christos and Sophia Moschandreou Gallery of Modern Art emphasize the fact that Missolonghi has always been a city of some wealth
and refinement. In addition, the Centre of Culture and Art, Diexodos, which hosts cultural events and exhibitions as well as the Museum of History and Art is housed in a neo-classical
building in Markos Botsaris
Square and hosts a collection of paintings indicative of the struggle of Missolonghi, further boosting the city's cultural and artistic profile.
Today, the Entrance Gate remains intact and so does part of the fortification of the Free Besieged which was rebuilt by King Otto
. Past the gate, there is the Garden of Heroes where several famous and some anonymous heroes who fought during the Heroic Sortie are buried. The Garden of Heroes is the equivalent of the Elysian Fields
for modern Greece
. Every year the Memorial Day for the Exodus is celebrated on Palm Sunday
(the Sunday before Easter); the Greek State is represented by high-ranking officials and foreign countries by their ambassadors.
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. The town is the capital of Aetolia-Acarnania
Aetolia-Acarnania
Aetolia-Acarnania is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of West Greece. It is located in the western part of Greece; the regional unit is a combination of the geographic regions Aetolia and Acarnania. Its capital is Missolonghi for historical reasons, with its biggest...
and is also its third largest town. It is the seat of the municipality of Iera Poli Mesolongiou (Sacred City of Missolonghi). Missolonghi is linked to, although bypassed since the 1960s by, GR-5
Greek National Road 5
Greek National Road 5 is a highway in Western Greece. It runs from 2 km south of Rio at GR-8/GR-9 , or at the beginning of the Patras By-Pass in the south up to the city centre of Ioannina. It is now connected with a new bridge, the Rio-Antirio bridge and for 5 km is a joint with GR-48...
/E55
European route E55
European route E 55 is a E-route. It passes through the following cities:Helsingborg … Helsingør – Copenhagen – Køge – Vordingborg – Nykøbing Falster – Gedser … Rostock – Berlin – Lübbenau – Dresden – Teplice – Prague – Tábor – Linz – Salzburg – Villach – Tarvisio – Udine – Palmanova – Mestre...
. The road to Astakos is to the northwest and there is also access to GR-48
Greek National Road 48
Greek National Road 48 is a highway in Western and Central Greece. It runs from 2 km south of Rio at GR-8/GR-9 , or at the beginning of the Patras By-Pass in the south up to near Levadia. It is now connected with a new bridge, the Rio-Antirio bridge and for 5 km is a joint with GR-5...
to the east. The town had a railway station on the line to Agrinio
Agrinio
Agrinion is the largest city and municipality of the Aetolia-Acarnania peripheral unit of Greece, with 96,321 inhabitants. It is the economical center of Aetolia-Acarnania, although its capital is the town of Mesolonghi. The settlement dates back to ancient times...
but this has been abandoned since the 1970s.
Geography
The town is located between the AcheloosAcheloos River
The Achelous , also Acheloos, is a river in western Greece. It formed the boundary between Acarnania and Aetolia of antiquity. It empties into the Ionian Sea...
and the Evinos rivers and has a port on the Gulf of Patras
Gulf of Patras
The Gulf of Patras is a branch of the Ionian Sea. On the east, it is closed by the Strait of Rion between capes Rio, Greece and Antirrio, near the Rio-Antirio bridge. On the west, it is bounded by a line from Oxeia island to Cape Araxos...
. It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The Arakynthos
Arakynthos
Arakynthos is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio, of which it is a municipal unit. It consists of the villages of Ano Kerasovo, Kato Kerasovo, Zevgaraki, Papadates , Mataranga and Grammatikou....
mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons
Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoons
The Mesolonghi-Aitoliko lagoons complex is located in the north part of the Gulf of Patras in the central west coast of Greece . It is one of the most important Mediterranean lagoons. It is a shallow area of 150 km2, extended between the Acheloos and Evinos rivers...
complex lies to the west and is also a swampy area. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf.
Municipality
The municipality Missolonghi was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 3 former municipalities, that became municipal units:- AitolikoAitolikoAitoliko is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Messolonghi, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located north of the Acheloos delta. The Greek National Road 5/E55 passes through the...
- Missolonghi
- OiniadesOiniadesOiniades is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Messolonghi, of which it is a municipal unit. In 2001, it had a population of 10,227. The seat of the municipality was in Neochori Mesolongiou. The...
The municipal unit Missolonghi is subdivided into communities, including Evinochori
Evinochori
Evinochori is a Greek town located east of Messolongi in the southern part of Aetolia-Acarnania. Evinochori is in the municipality of Messolongi. Evinochori had a 2001 population of 1,683 for the village and 1,706 for the municipal district...
.
History
Missolonghi was first mentioned by a VenetianVenice
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...
called Paruta
Paolo Paruta
-Biography:He was born at Venice of a Luccan family. After studying at Padua he served the Republic of Venice in various political capacities, including that of secretary to one of the Venetian delegates at the Council of Ten...
when he was describing the naval Battle of Lepanto
Battle of Lepanto (1571)
The Battle of Lepanto took place on 7 October 1571 when a fleet of the Holy League, a coalition of Catholic maritime states, decisively defeated the main fleet of the Ottoman Empire in five hours of fighting on the northern edge of the Gulf of Patras, off western Greece...
near Nafpaktos. According to predominant historical opinion, its name came from the combination of two Italian words, MEZZO and LAGHI which means "in the middle of lakes" or MESSO and LAGHI (Messolaghi) which means "a place surrounded by lakes". Until 1700, Mesolonghi was under Venetian domination. Its inhabitants were mostly fishermen. They lived in cabins which were made of a kind of waterproof straw and reed and stood on stilts above sea water. These cabins or stilt-houses have always been called "pelades".
North-west of Missolonghi are the remains of Pleuron
Pleuron, Aetolia
Pleuron was an ancient city in Aetolia, Greece. The town is said to have been founded by Pleuron, son of Aetolus. It was the birthplace of the ancient Greek poet Alexander Aetolus....
('Asfakovouni'), a town mentioned in Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's works. It participated in the Trojan
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
expedition and was destroyed in 234 BC by Demetrius II Aetolicus. The new town, which was built on the remains of old Pleuron, was one of the most important towns in Aitolia. Its monumental fortification comprised thirty towers and seven gates. The remains of the theatre and an enormous water tank with four compartments still exist.
Greek War of Independence
Orlov Revolt
The Orlov Revolt was a precursor to the Greek War of Independence , which saw a Greek uprising in the Peloponnese at the instigation of Count Orlov, commander of the Russian Naval Forces of the Russo-Turkish War...
in 1770 the fleet of Missolonghi was defeated and the town passed to the Ottomans
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...
. Missolonghi revolted on May 20, 1821 and was a major stronghold of the Greek rebels in the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
, being the seat of the Senate of Western Continental Greece
Senate of Western Continental Greece
The Senate of Western Continental Greece was a provisional regime that existed in western Central Greece during the early stages of the Greek War of Independence.- History :...
. Its inhabitants successfully resisted a siege by 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...
forces in 1822. The second siege started on April 15, 1825 by Reşid Mehmed Pasha
Resid Mehmed Pasha
- Early life :Reşid Mehmed was born in Georgia, the son of a Greek Orthodox priest. As a child, he was captured as a slave by the Turks, and brought to the service of the then Kapudan Pasha Husrev Pasha. His intelligence and ability impressed his master, and secured his rapid rise...
whose army numbered 30,000 men and was later reinforced by another 10,000 men led by Ibrahim Pasha, son of Muhammad Ali Pasha
Muhammad Ali of Egypt
Muhammad Ali Pasha al-Mas'ud ibn Agha was a commander in the Ottoman army, who became Wāli, and self-declared Khedive of Egypt and Sudan...
of Egypt. After a year of relentless enemy attacks and facing starvation, the people of Missolonghi decided to leave the beleaguered city in the "Exodus of its Guards" (The Sortie) on the night of April 10, 1826. At the time, there were 10,500 people in Missolonghi, 3,500 of whom were armed. Very few people survived the Ottoman pincer movement
Pincer movement
The pincer movement or double envelopment is a military maneuver. The flanks of the opponent are attacked simultaneously in a pinching motion after the opponent has advanced towards the center of an army which is responding by moving its outside forces to the enemy's flanks, in order to surround it...
after the betrayal of their plan.
Due to the heroic stance of the population and the subsequent massacre of its inhabitants by the Turkish-Egyptian forces, the town of Missolonghi received the honorary title of Hiera Polis (the Sacred City), unique among other Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
cities. The famous British poet and philhellene
Philhellenism
Philhellenism was an intellectual fashion prominent at the turn of the 19th century, that led Europeans like Lord Byron or Charles Nicolas Fabvier to advocate for Greek independence from the Ottoman Empire...
Lord Byron, who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died in Missolonghi in 1824. He is commemorated by a cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
containing his heart and a statue located in the town.
Modern Era
The town itself is very picturesque but also modern with functional, regular urban planning. Some very interesting buildings representative of traditional architecture can be seen here. People whose names were related to modern Greek historyHistory of Greece
The history of Greece encompasses the history of the territory of the modern state of Greece, as well as that of the Greek people and the areas they ruled historically. The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied much through the ages, and, as a result, the history of Greece is similarly...
once lived in some of them. The mansion of the Trikoupis family, Palamas' House, Valvios Library, Christos and Sophia Moschandreou Gallery of Modern Art emphasize the fact that Missolonghi has always been a city of some wealth
Wealth
Wealth is the abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The word wealth is derived from the old English wela, which is from an Indo-European word stem...
and refinement. In addition, the Centre of Culture and Art, Diexodos, which hosts cultural events and exhibitions as well as the Museum of History and Art is housed in a neo-classical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
building in Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris
Markos Botsaris was a Souliote captain and a hero of the War of Greek Independence. Markos Botsaris is among the most revered national heroes in Greece.-Early life:...
Square and hosts a collection of paintings indicative of the struggle of Missolonghi, further boosting the city's cultural and artistic profile.
Today, the Entrance Gate remains intact and so does part of the fortification of the Free Besieged which was rebuilt by King Otto
Otto of Greece
Otto, Prince of Bavaria, then Othon, King of Greece was made the first modern King of Greece in 1832 under the Convention of London, whereby Greece became a new independent kingdom under the protection of the Great Powers .The second son of the philhellene King Ludwig I of Bavaria, Otto ascended...
. Past the gate, there is the Garden of Heroes where several famous and some anonymous heroes who fought during the Heroic Sortie are buried. The Garden of Heroes is the equivalent of the Elysian Fields
Elysium
Elysium is a conception of the afterlife that evolved over time and was maintained by certain Greek religious and philosophical sects, and cults. Initially separate from Hades, admission was initially reserved for mortals related to the gods and other heroes...
for modern Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Every year the Memorial Day for the Exodus is celebrated on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
(the Sunday before Easter); the Greek State is represented by high-ranking officials and foreign countries by their ambassadors.
Landmarks
- Museum of the History and the Art of the Holy City of Missolonghi, Website
Notable people
- The heart of Lord Byron is buried in Mesolonghi April 1824
- Epameinontas DeligeorgisEpameinontas DeligeorgisEpameinondas Deligiorgis was a Greek lawyer, newspaper reporter and politician from Mesolonghi. Deligiorgis studied law at the University of Athens and entered politics in 1854...
(1829–1879), former Prime Minister of GreecePrime Minister of GreeceThe Prime Minister of Greece , officially the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic , is the head of government of the Hellenic Republic and the leader of the Greek cabinet. The current interim Prime Minister is Lucas Papademos, a former Vice President of the European Central Bank, following... - John LykoudisJohn LykoudisJohn Lykoudis was a general practitioner in Greece who treated patients suffering from peptic ulcer disease with antibiotics long before it was commonly recognized that bacteria were a dominant cause for the disease....
(1910–1980), major and medical doctor involved in the treatment of peptic ulcer disease - Miltiadis Malakasis (1869–1943), poet
- Kostis PalamasKostis PalamasKostis Palamas was a Greek poet who wrote the words to the Olympic Hymn. He was a central figure of the Greek literary generation of the 1880s and one of the cofounders of the so-called New Athenian School along with Georgios Drosinis, Nikos Kampas, Ioanis Polemis.-Biography:Born in Patras, he...
(1859–1943), Greek poet, co-author of the Olympic Hymn - Antonis Travlantonis (1895–1896), Greek educator, former director of Zosimaia SchoolZosimaia SchoolThe Zosimaia School of Ioannina has been one of the most significant Greek middle-level educational institutions during the last period of Ottoman rule in the region...
- Charilaos TrikoupisCharilaos TrikoupisCharilaos Trikoupis was a Greek politician who served as a Prime Minister of Greece seven times from 1875 until 1895....
(1832–1896), former Prime Minister of Greece - Nikolaos TrikoupisNikolaos TrikoupisNikolaos Trikoupis was a Greek general and politician.Born in Mesolongi in 1869 to Themistoklis Trikoupis, he entered the Greek Army Academy, which he graduated in 1888 as an Artillery Second Lieutenant. He furthered his studies in France, where he remained from 1889 to 1895. He competed at the...
, Greek general in the Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) - Spyridon Trikoupis (1788–1873), former Prime Minister of Greece, father of Charilaos Trikoupis
- Dimitrios ValvisDimitrios ValvisDimitrios Valvis was a Greek politician and Prime Minister. Born in Messolonghi, he was the brother of another Prime Minister, Zinovios Valvis. He served as President of the Supreme Court from 1872 to 1885...
(1814–1886), former Prime Minister of Greece - Zinovios ValvisZinovios ValvisZinovios Zafirios I. Valvis was a Greek politician and Prime Minister. Valvis was born in 1800 in Missolonghi. He first studied theology but switched to law, furthering his studies in Italy. Valvis married Arsinoe Ratzikosta and fathered nine children...
(1800–1872), former Prime Minister of Greece - Sperantza VranaSperantza VranaSperantza Vrana was a Greek actress and writer.She was born as Elpida Homatianou in Messolongi on 6 February, either in 1926 or 1932. She wrote several books with the most famous autobiogrqaphy Tolmo . She died of a heart attack on 29 September 2009, aged either 77 or 83.-Film:-External links:...
(1926–2009), actress
Historical population
| Year | City | Municipality |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | 11,375 | - |
| 1991 | 10,916 | 16,859 |
| 2001 | 12,225 | 17,988 |
External links
- Municipality of Missolonghi
- Missolonghi's guide
- Information about Missolonghi
- The Acheloos delta forms the Messolongi Lagoon
| Northwest: Aitoliko Aitoliko Aitoliko is a town and a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Messolonghi, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located north of the Acheloos delta. The Greek National Road 5/E55 passes through the... | North: Arakynthos Arakynthos Arakynthos is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio, of which it is a municipal unit. It consists of the villages of Ano Kerasovo, Kato Kerasovo, Zevgaraki, Papadates , Mataranga and Grammatikou.... | Northeast: Makryneia Makryneia Makryneia is a former municipality in Aetolia-Acarnania, West Greece, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Agrinio, of which it is a municipal unit. Population 5,241 . The seat of the municipality was in Gavalou... | |
| West: Messolonghi Lagoon | Iera Poli Messolongiou | East: Chalkia | |
| South: Gulf of Patras |
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