Evia Tourist Guide -- Evia during the Byzantine and Roman period and the Turkish Occupation

Evia during the Byzantine and Roman Period
and the Turkish Occupation

The church of
Saint Paraskevi

When Byzantine Empire was flourishing Evia was subject to its laws. The Emperor Justinian, in the 6th century A.D. fortified the city of Chalkida to protect it from the Barbarian raids. Evia was a Byzantine province of great naval importance for the Byzantine Empire.

After Constantinopolis fell into the hands of the Franks in 1204 A.D. Boniface of Monferrato occupied Evia which was referred to as «Negroponte». The island was divided into three feudal lots and with this system of triumvirate the Frankish period was established. The numerous towers which can be found on the island date from this period.

During the Venetian occupation the «Kingdom of Negroponte» became an important commercial centre well - organised by the Venetians to facilitate the business transactions with Central and Southern Greece.

During the first Turkish - Venetian war, we had the siege and fall of Chalkida (1470 A.D.) by the Turks, which without doubt, constitutes one of the most important events in the medieval history of Evia.

After the conquest of Chalkida, Evia, together with the Northern Sporades which were soon conquered was brought under Turkish rule and it's name was changed to Ebriboz (from Evripos).

After many years of Turkish occupation the Venetians made another attempt to capture the city. In 1688 Francesco Morosini campaigned against Evia, with the cooperation of Greek volunteers. During the movement of Christian forces in the channel of Evripos, some inhabitants of Southern Evia revolted and tried to capture the fortress of Caristos without success.

Not even the forces of Morosini were able to occupy the well fortified fortress of Chalkida, although the siege lasted for three months.

So Evia remained under Turkish rule, comprising together with the Easten mainland of Greece an important administrative district, known as «Santzaki» of Evripos. The «Santzaki» was subject to the wider administrative area of the islands of the white sea (the Agean).