Chalcis or Chalkida is the capital and the main port of the
Regional Unit of Evia, in the Region of Central Greece. It is built
on both sides of the Strait of Evripos, where part of it occupies
part of the island of Evia, and the other has been built in Central
Greece. On its mainland, on the hill of Kanithos, dominates the
Ottoman castle of Karabamba, which, together with the Bridge of
Evripos and the unique phenomenon of changing the direction of the
waters, every six hours and in between (approximately) a ten minute
stagnation (tide) Evripou, are its most important features.
According to the 2011 census, Chalkida has a population of 59,125
inhabitants.
The Municipality of Chalcis was established in
1835 and included Chalcis, seat of the Municipality, as well as the
settlements of Anemomylos, Afrati, Vasiliko, Doko, Karabambas,
Fylla, Petroto, Agios Nikolaos and Mytikas.
Chalcis, with its two ports in Evripos, was
one of the most active cities in ancient Greece. It created colonies
from Thrace to Italy and Sicily. Its current geographical and
strategic position often forced it to submit to the conquering
aspirations of various powers throughout its historical course, but
also to be an integral part of the empires of both antiquity and the
Middle Ages.
Prehistory and antiquity
The current city of
Chalcis is spread on the small peninsula of Central Evia and has as
its natural boundaries small hills, which extend to the north, east
and south of the city. It is therefore in a strategic position in
every respect and the fact of controlling the Strait of Euripus
contributes to this. This fact was noticed by the first inhabitants
of the city and they tried to take advantage of it because it seemed
that it would offer power and wealth to the city. The first traces
of habitation of the city can be found since the Paleolithic period,
but the first important settlement that can be characterized as a
settlement was around 3000 BC. at the beginning of the Neolithic
Period. This first city of Chalcis was located on the northern
outskirts of today in the area of Manika. This first city will
live for a millennium and as it emerged from the archaeological
excavations it was a well organized city with large building blocks,
highways and houses that were arched or square ground floors or with
a floor, while it also had a sanctuary, hearth, wells and pebble
floors. In the process, the other settlements that develop around it
seem to indicate the general prosperity that occurs with the
permanent habitation and thus acquires its first competitors.
The existence of Chalcis in the Mycenaean years is proved only
indirectly, by sporadic evidence, and mainly through the Homeric
Epics, since the Chalcis are included in the famous "List of
Islands", having offered 40 ships. In the geometric years the city
is inhabited and experiences famous prosperity, while together with
Eretria they are the two most important cities of Evia. Its
inhabitants are engaged in trade, ceramics and metallurgy. The name
of the city of Chalcis came from the presence of copper deposits in
the wider area, which were also a factor of development. According
to another etymological version, the name of the city indicates the
presence of copper processing laboratories but not deposits.
According to Donford, Chalcis was named after the word chalki or
kalchi, which means the purple shell, which the Phoenicians supplied
with purple. The development of the city consequently leads to the
increase of the population and finally to the colonization with the
establishment of many important cities in the West, but also in
Greece.
The same development follows in the archaic years
with the strong element of colonization. The most important event of
these years, however, is not the colonization, but the war of the
Lilantian field that took place between Chalcis and Eretria. It is
generally believed that this war was not judged in a battle, but
many followed and in them helped the fighters and allies from other
Greek cities. The final winners in this war seem to have been the
Chalcidians.
In classical times, Chalcis helped in the common
struggle against the Persians by participating in the naval battles
of Artemisio, Salamis and the battle of Plataea, while it seems that
it also participated in the First Athenian Alliance. Its attempt to
secede from the Alliance resulted in its subjugation by the
Athenians and the establishment of Athenian heirs in its
territories. During the Peloponnesian War there was an important
military and naval base. The following years until 342 BC. are
particularly disturbed, when the "Common of Evia" is created and
thus an attempt is made to stabilize the situation. The capital of
the Common is the city of Chalcis, but many adventures follow until
the appearance of the Macedonians.
In the middle of the 4th century BC. and after the unification of
all the Greek cities under the Macedonian power and until the Roman
conquest the period is full of conflicts, but this does not mean
stopping the development of the city and its artistic progress.
Characteristic is the fact that in 323 BC. The Stagirite philosopher
Aristotle comes to Chalkida to die next year at his mother's house.
Then, during the Hellenistic period, settlers from Chalkida founded
Chalkida in Syria, by order of Seleucus I, from which settlers
founded another Chalcis in the valley of Lebanon, as well as another
Chalcis in Arabia.
In 200 BC. The city was destroyed by the
Roman general Gaius Sulpicius Galva and thus the Roman occupation of
Evia was inaugurated, while in 146 BC. With the complete conquest of
Greece by the Romans, Chalcis was re-established, as was the case
with other cities. The years of Roman rule for the city are also in
their entirety years of prosperity and progress both for the city of
Chalcis and for Evia in general, where it has a permanent and
unquestionable primacy.
Middle Ages and recent years
With
the end of Roman times and the entry into the early Byzantine years,
the city becomes the first diocese that belongs to the jurisdiction
of the metropolitan of Achaia, as well as administratively belongs
to the province of Achaia. The period of Byzantine times is
characterized by the transfer of the city closer to the sea, to the
place where it is today, with an important port that of Agios
Stefanos. The city was fortified again in the years of Justinian,
probably to withstand various hostile invasions. Thus the city
survived the Arab invasions of the 7th century. Chalcis continued to
be an important trading post throughout the Byzantine and Late
Byzantine years, until it was destroyed by the Norman attacks in
1146 led by Roger of Sicily.
In 1204, with the occupation of
Constantinople by the Crusaders, Evia was given as a fief to the
Flemish knight Jacques d 'Avesnes for a while, as it was later
divided into three parts and each was given to Lombard knights:
delle Cartes (Delle Carceri), in Pecorari and the barony of Chalkida
(Negroponte) in Giberto Aida da Verona. These were the famous
thirds. Giberto I was succeeded by his son William I and his son
William II. The years of Frankish rule are years of prosperity for
the barony of Chalcis, both due to the developed trade, as well as
the processing of purple and the operation of the Venetian banking
institutions. Gradually the power of Evia passed to Venice and
Vailos ruled the island. In fact, after the recapture of
Constantinople in 1261, the Latin patriarch of Constantinople
settled in Chalcis. During these years until 1470, when the city
passed to the Turks, it remained in the hands of its Venetian lords
and it suffered many times from pirates.
During the Turkish
occupation, due to its current position, it became the seat of
Kapudan Pasha and Pasaliki of Agripos was an administrative division
that included almost all of Central Greece. In that period until the
17th century, the wealth of Evia attracted the settlement of agades,
but at the same time many times it was a pirate target. At the end
of the 17th century, Chalcis was besieged by the famous Venetian
admiral Morosini, but to no avail. During the outbreak of the Greek
revolution in 1821 and despite the fact that the island of Evia
became the scene of many battles, the powerful Turkish forces on the
island did not allow its final liberation. He finally got rid of the
Turkish yoke with the surrender of Chalkida on April 7, 1833 and
Karystos two days later to join the borders of the newly established
Greek state.
The castle of Chalkida
Karabamba castle is
located on the mainland side of the city, on a hill called Fourka,
in the district of Kanithos. Its location is strategic, as it
controls the strait of Euripus and the city of Chalcis. The location
of the Castle is identified by some scholars with the ancient city
of Kanithos, as sporadic traces of buildings and tombs are preserved
on the ground. The hill was probably fortified for the first time
during the Roman period, but it is certain that it had no
fortifications in Byzantine times and during the Venetian occupation
and the first centuries of Ottoman rule.
The fortress that survives today was built by the Turks in 1684,
in order to protect Chalcis from the Venetians. It was designed by
the Venetian Gerolimo Galopo and its architecture is more European
and less Turkish, with an oblong enclosure, oriented A-W, with a
north wall, three bastions and a large tower. The southern part of
the wall is kept in poor condition. Ancient architectural members
have been built into several parts of the enclosure. The most
complex, hexagonal bastion is located on the east side, towards
Chalcis. Two 19th-century Russian cannons are preserved on the
ramparts. The only gate of the fortress is located on the SE side of
the wall, while military buildings have been built around it. On the
east wall of the enclosure, between the gate and the east tower,
there is a bell tower, built on the site of the fortress alarm bell.
The only well-preserved building in the courtyard is a church
dedicated to the Prophet Elijah, dating to 1895. The western end of
the wall is occupied by a seven-sided tower, the most majestic
defensive structure of the fortress. The entrance to the tower is
through a narrow vaulted corridor, reminiscent of a labyrinth.
The fortress was unsuccessfully besieged by Morosini in 1688 and
the Turks managed to maintain its ownership until the liberation of
Greece, when they handed it over to the Greek state.
In the
castle of Karabamba is the tomb of the writer Giannis Skaribas, who
lived and worked in the city of Chalcis.