When researching your Karytaina ancestor’s story it’s important to
When researching your Karytaina ancestor’s story it’s important to understand the critical historical events that influenced their lives. This timeline will grow as we continue our Karytaina Ancestry work, please come back from time to time.
| DATE | EVENT |
|---|---|
| EARLY BYZANTINE PERIOD (Unknown – 1209) | |
| ~1100s | Karytaina exists as unfortified Byzantine village |
| 1111 | First mention of “Morea” name in Greek manuscript |
| FRANKISH PERIOD – Principality of Achaia (1209-1320) | |
| 1209 | Geoffrey I of Villehardouin establishes Principality of Achaia |
| 1209 | Karytaina becomes capital of Skorta barony under Renardos of Vrijeri |
| 1254 | Karytaina Castle built by Geoffrey de Briel (Geoffrey of Vrigière) |
| 1275 | Death of Geoffrey of Vrigière, castle passes to Villehardouin family |
| LATE BYZANTINE PERIOD – Despotate of Morea (1320-1461) | |
| 1320 | Byzantines under Andronikos Palaiologos Asan capture Karytaina fortress |
| 1404-1405 | Large-scale Albanian migration to Peloponnese begins |
| 1440 | Alpheus bridge renovated by Byzantine lord Raoul Manuel Melikis |
| 1460 | Karytaina delivered by Sgouromallis Palaiologos to the Turks |
| FIRST OTTOMAN PERIOD (1461-1685) | |
| 1464 | Karytaina designated as kaza (administrative district) capital |
| 1481-1512 | Islamic institutions established: mosques, schools under Sultan Bayezid Khan |
| 1512-1520 | Ottoman Census of Karytaina under Suleiman I |
| 1566-1574 | Ottoman Census of Karytaina under Suleiman II |
| VENETIAN PERIOD – Kingdom of Morea (1685-1715) | |
| 1685 | Venetian occupation begins; locals revolt and help capture castle |
| 1687-1696 | Venetians establish urban community system |
| 1700 | Venetian Census of the Peleponnese by Francesco Grimani |
| 1708 | Thanasis Koulas leads local armed forces |
| 1711 | Athanasios Korfinos ordained Metropolitan of Christianoupolis |
| SECOND OTTOMAN PERIOD (1715-1821) | |
| 1715 | Ottoman reconquest of Peloponnese |
| 1755 | Karytaina becomes separate kaza with expanded territory |
| 1795 | Theodoros Kolokotronis appointed kapobasis (local military chief) |
| 1816 | Yannis Deligiannis beheaded by Ottoman authorities |
| GREEK WAR OF INDEPENDENCE (1821-1832) | |
| Mar 25, 1821 | Theodoros Kolokotronis enters Karytaina with Maniot escort |
| Mar 27, 1821 | Theodoros Kolokotronis defeated the Turks in the battle near Karytaina |
| Apr 1, 1821 | Karytaina definitively liberated from Ottoman control |
| Apr 28, 1821 | Assembly at Chrysovitsi establishes Kolokotronis as commander-in-chief |
| May – Jun 1821 | “Peloponissiaki Gerousia”, the temporary government of the liberated Peloponnese established in Stemnitsa |
| 1821 – 1829 | Greek War of Independence |
| 1826-1827 | Kolokotronis repairs castle fortifications |
| GREEK STATE PERIOD (1832-Present) | |
| 1833 | Prefecture of Arcadia created; Karytaina becomes provincial capital |
| 1840 | Male Registry begins |
| 1850 | Voter Registration |
| 1854 | Administrative center transferred from Karytaina to Dimitsana |
| 1865 | Voter Registration |
| 1872-1873 | Voter Registration |
| 1880’s | Substantial emigration to USA begins |
| 1907 | Male Register |
| 1912 | Municipal system abolished; Karytaina becomes community |
| 1914 | Municipal Register |
| 1914-1918 | First World War |
| 1920’s | USA progressively limits immigration to Greeks, effectively stops in 1924 |
| 1923 | Population exchange between Greece & Turkey |
| 1939 | Second World War Begins |
| Oct 1940 | Italy invades Greece |
| Apr 1941 | Nazi occupation of Greece |
| Oct 1944 | Nazi withdrawal from mainland Greece |
| Dec 1944 – 1949 | Greek Civil Wars |
| 1950 -1953 | Greeks conscripted for the Korean War |
| 1974 | Hellenic Republic established |
Historical Context for Family History Researchers
Understanding which power controlled Karytaina helps place your ancestors within the proper historical and cultural context:
- Byzantine Empire (Unknown-1209, 1320-1461): Greek Orthodox Christian rule
- Principality of Achaia (1209-1320): French Catholic feudal system
- Ottoman Empire (1461-1685, 1715-1821): Islamic administration with Christian subjects
- Republic of Venice (1685-1715): Catholic maritime republic
- Kingdom of Greece (1832-1973): Independent Greek Orthodox state
- Hellenic Republic (1974-Present): Parliamentary Republic and secular state
Each period brought different tax systems, religious practices, legal codes, and opportunities that would have directly affected your ancestors’ daily lives, occupations, and family decisions.
Karytaina Ancestry 