Kefalonia History

Kefalonia History

According to mythology, the island derives its name from the Athenian, Kephalos (Cephalus), who sought refuge here, shattered by the death of his wife whom he himself had accidentally killed during a hunt, mistaking her for his quarry.

During the Trojan war, it lent its support to the king of neighbouring Ithaca, Odysseus. The archaeologists, by studing the important finds from the excavations, came to the conclusion that Kefalonia was divided into four warring kingdoms: those of Krani, of Pronnoi, of Sami and of Pahli, which flourished during the 5th century BC and minted their own coins. They took part in the Persian wars, allying themselves initially with Athens and later with Sparta, and finally in the 4th century BC they became members of the Athenian Confederacy after their defeat by the Athenian general, Iphicrates. During the time of Roman rule, the island became a Roman province. Around 50 BC the entire island submitted to the Romans, and the only city to put up a resistance was Sami, which, however, finally yielded and payed a heavy price in blood and destruction for her opposition.

During the Byzantine period Kefalonia was often raided and plundered by pirates. Administratively it belonged to the province of Achaea, later to the theme of Lombardy, and finally to the theme of Kefalonia, which included all the Ionian islands except Kythera and possibly also Zakynthos. Between the 11th and the 12th century the island suffered repeated destructive raids by the Normans and by the Crusaders of the First Crusade. At the end of the first Turko-Russian war (1463-1479), the Turks took Kefalonia together with Lefkada and Ithaca. It was later retaken by the Venetian Tocco family, then came into Venetian hands and finally was conquered by the Turks in 1484. In 1500 the Venetians once more took possesion of the island, which remained under their domination until 1797. After the end of Venetian rule, Kefalonia shared the fate of the other Ionian islands. After a period in French hands, another under the Turk Sultan, and again under French and British rule, the Ionian islands were united with Greece, on the 21st of May 1864.

The Kefalonian also took an active part in th Greek War of Indipendence, by contributing men and ships. During World War II and the German (and Italian) occupation many Kefalonians partecipated in the resistance movement and suffered severe reprisals. On a summer's day in August 1953, a terrible earthquake struck the island. The violent seismic shocks flattened the beautiful town of Argostoli, destroying its traditional houses, its churches, stately mansions and farmhouses. The entire island became a mound of rubble.