History of Corfou

Corfou (in Greek modern Κέρκυρα / Kérkyra ) is most septentrional of the Ionian islands. It is at the border (symbolic system) between the Occident and the East. Corfou is the Greek area nearest to the Italy, while being with less than three kilometers of the Albanian coast . Its geographical position confers a rich person history to him. It was an obvious stage on the road of Raising, in the two directions. Its situation at the exit of the Adriatic Sea conferred to him in the history a strategic role.

In the Antiquity, the island and its principal city were called Corcyre . During the Byzantine time , they would have become Korypho (starting from Κορυφαί , the two peaks on which is built the fortress of the city or Πόλις τῶν Κορυφῶν ) about the 14th century. The name would have been corrupted at the time of the Venetian presence in Stous Korphous then Corfou .

It is sometimes difficult, throughout the history to make the difference between the facts which refer only to the town of Corfou and those which relates to the island in general.

Corfou was founded by Corinthe. Its difficult relations with its metropolis are regarded as one of the causes of the Peloponnesian War. When Rome turned to the East, the island was the first stage of the expansion of the Empire. After the division of the Empire, it remained at the border between the Western Empire and the Byzantine Empire. After 1054, it was at the border between Greek rite and Latin rite. With the Fourth crusade, Corfou was with the contact between Latin and the Byzantines, belonging initially to the Despotat d' Épire, then passing to the Angevins and then to the Vénitiens: its position with the outlet of the Adriatic Sea was strategic for the defense of the trade of “Sérénissime République of Saint-Marc” in the Mediterranean. After the creation of the Ottoman Empire, it was the last Christian ground before the Muslim world. Outpost of the Occident, it was used by the powers which had sights on the Empire, become “the sick man of Europe”. Corfou passed between the hands of revolutionary France and Napoleonean, of the Russia then the United Kingdom. The island became again Greek in 1864.

Corfou accommodated the Serb army diverts of it at the time of the First World War. It was occupied by Italy at the time of the Second world war and its capital was devastated by the German troops when those took over Italy.

Prehistory

It is in the North-West of the island, towards Sidari and on the small island of Diaplo which one finds oldest the traces of a habitat. They go up with the Mesolithic and the beginning of the Neolithic , towards the thousand-year-old Life before the common era. They are very close to the Campanienne culture present at the same moment in the south of the Italy. On the other hand, the layers of the Bronze Age, later, differ from it. In Aphiona, potteries of the end of IIIe and beginning of thousand-year-old IIe were discovered. If a part makes up of coarse red potteries, one finds also Céramique S fines, brown with a geometrical decoration in black painting. It is considered that they are of apulien type and known as Molfetta to which one identifies Phéaciens Homeric.

Antiquity

Colony of Corinth

The first mention of Corcyre is at Hérodote. He teaches us that Corcyre was a colony of Corinth and that since the foundation, the two cities did not cease being in dissension. Corcyre would have been rested by Corinthe towards the XVIIe Olympiade (734 before the common era). It would seem that the Corinthians drove out Érétriens which were already installed there. The island was a stage on the road towards another Corinthian colony: Syracuse. The Oikiste would have been a Héraclide: Khersikratès. The first city (on the site called nowadays Paleopolis ) was installed on a headland of the east coast of the island, which made it possible to have a port on each side. This headland was called Korkyra or Kerkyra , the “tail”.

The city very quickly became very powerful, at the point to found its own colonies: Épidamne and Apollonie in Épire towards 626 or 625 before the common era. Épidamme would have been founded by Corcyre which for that had called upon a Corinthian, Phialos, wire of Ératocléidès, Héraclide, to take care of the role of oikist. Colonists come from Corinth and countries doriens had joined the movement. This ambiguity gave to Corinthe arguments to assert rights on the colony. The competition with the metropolis, Corinth, was such as the two cities clashed in a naval battle, perhaps in the Sybota islands towards 660 before the common era.

When Hippocrates, tyrant of Géla overcame Syracuse, its inhabitants were saved by Corcyre after their military defeat.

At the time where the Pisistratides were reversed with Athens, last king de Corcyre would have been Lycophron. He would have been replaced by a republican government. Thucydide and Polybe evoke the presence of a Senate. The currencies show a preponderance of the worships of Zeus, Poséidon, Hermes and Apollon. The island promised to send its assistance and armed sixty ships. They did not exceed the course Ténare, initially waiting to know the exit of the battle to know in which camp to line up. The excuse was ready: “because of the winds étésiens, they had not been able to double the course Malée”. In fact, Corcyre had refused to enter any alliance since its victory over Corinthe at the 7th century before the common era, neither against the Carthaginois nor against the Perses. The city had also refused to conclude from conventions of arbitration of maritime litigations with the other cities, which enabled him to preserve intact its maritime and commercial power.

When it was ostracized, Thémistocle took refuge on Corcyre. It had indeed been a benefactor of the city when it had arbitrated a conflict with Corinthe. He had judged in favor of Corcyre by condemning Corinthe to pay 20 talents of fine. He had also granted to the two cities a joint government of Leucade.

The Peloponnesian War

Does Corcyre, cause war?

According to Thucydide, the origin of the Peloponnesian War would be a conflict between Corcyre and its Corinthe metropolis in connection with the colony of Corcyre Épidamme in 435 before the common era. Information over this period, comes us mainly from the Athenian historian who concentrated especially on the history of his city. Sometimes also, it is necessary to reconstitute the history of Corfou/Corcyre starting from the disparate elements which Thucydide provides. Épidamne was in prey with repeated attacks of these neighbors, “barbarians” combined with the aristocratic party expelled a few years earlier. The city called with its assistance its Corcyre metropolis which refused to carry help to him is regarded by Thucydide as concerning “the old tactics”: a confrontation of Hoplite S embarked on board ships. Corcyréens inserted the Corinthian right wing but were demolished on their left wing. This situation involved the Athenian intervention. The battle was regarded as a victory by Corcyre but also by Corinthe. Thucydide writes however that “thus Corcyre had the top in the war against Corinthe”. It was also the rupture of fragile peace between Athens and the Peloponnese and the beginning of the Peloponnesian War.

The civil war

The war in Greece had consequences with Corcyre even which was in prey with the civil war according to Thucydide.

In 427 - 426 before the common era, the civil war made rage with Corcyre between the democrats and the aristocrats. The prisoners who had been made at the time of the battles in connection with Épidamne had been released, either in exchange of an enormous ransom, or in exchange of the promise which they would make very to reconcile their city and Corinthe. They tried to keep to their commitment, but, following a vote, it was decided that Corcyre would remain the ally of Athens. It would seem that the aristocratic party was favorable to Corinthe, whereas the popular party leant for Athens. The various chiefs of the two parties quoted themselves initially in justice. Péithias, chief of the popular party, was discharged loads, policies, which weighed against him. It then assigned its adversaries in justice, this time, on a charge of sacrilege. The five members of the aristocratic party were condemned to a very heavy fine. Péithias, character influential of the Council, insisted that this one was paid. The aristocrats and their partisans were caught some physically to the democrats then. Péithias was attacked and killed in the room even of the Council, with an about sixty other people present. Its partisans took refuge on an Athenian trière. The aristocrats then joined together the Parliament of the citizens and made him vote the neutrality of the city in the war. A Corinthian trière transporting of the emissary of Sparte approached in Corcyre and little time after, the aristocratic party launched a new attack against the democratic party. This last was initially overcome. The survivors took refuge on the Acropolis. They were also still Masters of the Hyllaïque port. The democrats succeeded in joining the slaves, in their promising freedom, while the oligarches made come eight hundred mercenaries. The following day, a new confrontation took place. The democrats gained it. The aristocrats, to avoid the catch of the arsenal reflect fire with the buildings around the agora.

The following day, Nicostratos, a Athenian Strategist, arrived with 12 ships and 500 hoplites messéniens. He obliged the various parties to accept his arbitration. The aristocrats responsible for the rebellion and in escape were to be judged for their acts; an amnesty would be declared for all the others; and an alliance would be concluded with Athens. It was also decided to exchange men-of-war between the two cities. The democrats thought of being able to get rid of their political adversaries by sending them to Athens. Rather than to embark, the partisans of the aristocrats, nearly four hundreds, took refuge in the temples of the Dioscures and Héra. They were persuaded to leave there and were exiled on a small island.

A fleet péloponnésienne of an about sixty ships tried to benefit from the situation. Corcyre armed with the trières in the urgency and sent them as they were ready. They thus arrived vis-a-vis the enemy ships in dispersed order. Moreover, the civil war made rage on board even vessels corcyréens. Some deserted. On others, the sailors fought between them. The fleet in general was in difficulty. The Athenian trières were in numerical inferiority and could only prevent the total defeat of Corcyréens who beat a retreat after having lost thirteen ships.

The partisans of the oligarches were repatriated of their small island in order not to be able to be helped by the fleet péloponnésienne. Democrats and aristocrats negotiated a reconciliation then. It was a question, for all, of defending the city above all. The aristocrats agreed to be used for edge of the warships. Corcyre also prepared with a seat, but it was not attacked. Péloponnésiens were satisfied to devastate the course Leukimmè then were folded up. In fact, sixty Athenian trières arrived in reinforcement. Then, the democrats massacred all the oligarches which had remained with ground. Those which had taken refuge in the temples were convinced to leave there, were considered and condemned to death. Some finally preferred to commit suicide. The survivors, about five hundreds, seized the continental territories of the city, from where they carried out raids against the island. They caused sufficient damage to create a famine in the city. Not having succeeded in convincing Corinth or Sparte to help them to return in their fatherland, they engaged of the mercenaries and unloaded on the island. There, they burned their ships to be able to move back and were installed on the Istônè mount from where they took again their raids. They seized the control of the campaigns quickly.

In 425 before the common era, Athens sent a fleet to help its partisans on Corcyre. The idea was to make safe the road towards the Sicily. An exit of the democrats helped of the Athenian hoplites was right of the oligarches which went. They obtained to be sent to Athens to be judged there. Fearing that the courts of their allies do not condemn to dead their enemies, the democrats used of a stratagem to lose them. They pushed them to seek to flee, which made null and void the agreement with Athens. In addition, the Athenian strategists, in a hurry to go to Sicily, were not dissatisfied with being able to discharge from their prisoners on Corcyriens. The democrats massacred their enemies oligarches wildly and sold the women like slaves.

The civil war took thus fine, with the quasi complete disappearance of one of the two parties.

The Forwarding of Sicily

Corcyre remained then in Athenian alliance and took part in its various forwardings. Thus, it provides fifteen ships and of the Hoplite S for the second task force ordered by Démosthène sent by Athens against Syracuse in 413 before the common era. However, their presence with the Battle of Épipoles décontenança Athenians. With each time Corcyriens entonnaient the Péan, they made panic their allies. Indeed, Corcyre and Syracuse, bound by bonds of colonization, had very close péans. The Athenian hoplites believed each time have-that Syracusiens had bored their rows.

With the return of peace, Corcyre took again its traditional marketing activities.

Roman power

A coveted position

The geographical position of the island between the west and is of the Mediterranean and between Rome and Greece continued to make its possession an strategic issue. If she knew one moment of relative respite after the Peloponnesian War, which saw the stay of Aristote and its pupil Alexandre, the various sovereigns hellenistic disputed the domination of it.

In 299 before the common era, Corcyre besieged by Cassandre was released by Agathoclès, tyrant of Syracuse which became thus Master of the island. He ignored some immediately to leave in Africa.

In preamble with its wars in Italy, Pyrrhus seized the island, with its second attempt, that is to say in 295.

Benefitting from the general atmosphere, Corcyre sought to seize the Crete. It assembled a forwarding which unloaded on the large island. It ends however up repatriating its troops. Corcyre consequently became faithful allied of Rome, after having been faithful combined of Athens. The island took part in Roman forwardings against Démétrios de Pharos in Illyrie or Philippe V of Macedonia then against his/her son Persée. Practically besides Paul Emile made a first Triomphe in Corcyre before its return to Rome.
In 146 before the common era, Corcyre was, because of the long competition which opposed it to its metropolis, at the sides of the Romans when they shaved Corinthe.

Civil wars

At the time of the Roman civil wars, Corcyre took the party of Pompée which made the center of its naval operations of it. Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus was held to with it with permanently a hundred of vessels. It held also Epidamne. Caton and Cicéron was found then on Corcyre before leaving, one towards Africa, the other towards Rome. César forgave in the Greek city. In the following civil war, Corcyre took the party of Brutus and Cassius. Then after their defeat vis-a-vis Marc Antoine (31 before the common era), the island submitted itself to their winner. It is there that he married Octavie. It remained there while it conducted its campaigns in the East. Octave thus started by putting the seat at the city which once taken was severely punished. It assembled there then its fleet before the Bataille of Actium. It was only under Caligula that Corcyréens obtained a lightening of their sorrows: their freedom and their privileges were returned to them. In 67, Néron would have, according to Suétone, sung and danced in front of the furnace bridge of the temple of Zeus with Kassiopi.

Beginnings of the Christian era

Two disciples of Saint Paul: Holy Jason of Tarsus, bishop of Icon and Holy Sosipater of Achaia, bishop of Tarsus, are supposed to have evangelized the island by building a sanctuary in the honor of Etienne, the first martyr of his founder, the Jovien bishop: this bishop, who is known only by another inscription, on the mosaic of the nave, praises himself there to have made build the church after having destroyed pagan sanctuaries, with the support of the emperor. This epigram is the only text in Greece which testifies locally to a violent transition between Christianity and paganism, whereas this iconoclasme Christian is well attested in the East. The basilica, originally equipped with five naves, in fact was built a little front 450 on the ruins of a odéon of Roman epoch, rather than on a temple. It was rebuilt about the 12th century with only one nave.

The fleet of Corcyre to the service of Byzance?

Louis Lacroix, a French historian of the 19th century, affirms the naval power of Corcyre in the first times of the Byzantine Empire. Unfortunately, it does not specify which sources it used. Its assertions are thus to take with the conditionnel.

Of Corcyréens would have taken part in the forwarding which made it possible Bélisaire to take again Italy with the Ostrogoths of Vitigès for Justinien in 535. They would have been distinguished particularly in defense from Rome. Also, the island would have had to undergo the revenge on Totila in 541. In 562, the city was moved ancient site (Paléopolis in the south of the current city) for the peninsula, easier to defend during an invasion of Goths. Corcyre would have provided ships to Maurice in his fight against the Dalmates. It would have also helped Héraclius against the Lombards. The fleet corcyréenne would have brought its assistance to Constant II (fifty vessels) then Constantin IV against the Sarrasins.

In the wars against the Bulgarian ones, the fleet of Corcyre would have still played a part. It would have taken part in the defeat the fleet of Pépin of Italy in the Adriatique. It would have prevented a descent of the Bulgares in Italy under the reign of Nicéphore Ier. It would have also made unload: 8000 men close to the capital to push back a Bulgarian invasion under Leon V the Armenian, then it would have sent forty vessels to release Constantin VII Porphyrogénète.
Corcyre would then have gotten along with the rising naval power of the Adriatic: Venice. Their combined fleets would have practically made this sea a Byzantine lake. More probably, they would be pirates of origin croate.
It would be then against the Sarrasins that the fleet would have helped the emperors of Theophilus to Leon VI (842 - 912). It would have even made it possible the island to avoid being conquered by Buckwheats after the naval defeat of Crotona. However, Jean Skylitzès (385.57-58) affirms that they would have burned Corcyre in 1033, or after a long resistance according to Anne Comnène. Robert Guiscard died on Céphalonie in 1085. Its death made it possible Alexis Ier Comnène to again control Corcyre. The fleet of this one released Durazzo, new name of its old Épidamne colony, besieged by Bohémond in 1108.

Regularly threatened by the Norman ones of Sicily, Corcyre was besieged, without success, during six months during the winter 1122 - 1123 by Venice in which Jean II Comnène had just withdrawn its commercial privileges in Constantinople and which sought to be avenged.

The island was again conquered by Norman, carried out this time by Roger II of Sicily in 1147. It installed in the citadel a garrison of: 1000 men. Manuel Ier Comnène released it after a long seat at the time of the winter 1148 - 1149.
Benefitting from the disorders with died of the emperor Andronic, the Norman king of Sicily Guillaume II tackled the Byzantine Empire, while following the usual road, by Durazzo and Corcyre taken in 1185 and reconquered by the Byzantines, combined like each time with Venetian, in 1186. Venice was shown increasingly interested, commercially and strategically by the island at the exit of the Adriatic.

The Emperor Manuel had created a Duchy of Corcyre, Épire and Étolie which it gave to his son Alexis then with Michel. The installation of an archbishop's palace métropolite of Janina and Corcyre could go back to this time.

In 1054, the Schisme placed Corfou, belonging then to the Byzantine Empire, in the bosom of the orthodoxe Église. There were then no catholics on the island. The first catholic bishop is attested only starting from 1228.

The Despotat d' Épire

A sicilian admiral Margaritone de Brindisi had seized Corcyre (and Céphalonie, Ithaque and Zante) in 1185. His/her son-in-law, the count Maio Orsini still directed these islands when the Crusaders of the Fourth crusade made there stopover in spring 1203. However, after the reconquest of 1186, it had become vassal of Venice, the itself vassal one of Constantinople. However, the island of Corcyre often changed hands. She knew the Venetian domination (1203-1204), then génoise (1205) with the occupation by the Vetrano pirate.

Michel had married Marie, the girl of the emperor Theodore II Lascaris. From this marriage were born two girls Helene who married Manfred Ier of Sicily and Anne which married Guillaume II of Villehardouin, Prince d' Achaïe. Helene brought to Manfred Corcyre and Durazzo in dowry; in fact, the Norman sovereign had seized some in 1257, the marriage did nothing but ratify one accomplished fact. Michel who had then taken the title of Despote of Corcyre, Épire and Étolie decided to walk with his two sons-in-law on Constantinople. It wished to be made crown Empereur. He ran up against Michel VIII Paleologist who had just put under his supervision the last Latin emperor Baudouin II and which could not let the Despot of Épire seize Constantinople before him. However, the troops of Manfred and Guillaume had to face only the troops of the Empire of Nicée to the Bataille of Pélagonia. Michel II Doukas believed indeed that his/her sons-in-law were going to betray it. He preferred to betray them the first. Manfred succeeds in fleeing, but it lost little time after Sicily vis-a-vis Charles of Anjou. Prince d' Achaïe was made prisoner. In 1262, it submitted to Michel VIII Paleologist who had just taken again Constantinople. Michel II Doukas tried a new forwarding. His/her Theodore son overcame and captured Alexis Strategopoulos, the general of the Emperor. This capture allowed the Despot of Épire and Corcyre to negotiate a peace. However, the armies of the two States did not cease devastating the areas located on other side of their border One finds here the antique opposition between popular party and party aristocratique.
Charles of Anjou accepted the homage of all the population from Corfou to which it granted, in thanks to preserve his many privileges. He however organized the new shape of government: an unlimited capacity was entrusted to three “judges”. The orthodoxe bishop of the island also chooses to embrace the Latin rite. These two fact dissatisfied Corfiotes, however, they remained subjected and faithful to Angevins. Thus, in the fight which opposed them to the Aragon, Corfou remained in the camp angevin and resisted the attacks of Jacques II of Aragon. New negotiations had begun as of 1366, with Philippe who had just inherited his brother, then with Jacques of the Beams after 1373 and Charles III of Naples his suzerain. In parallel, Venice sent on the island of the agents in charge to make the promotion of the Republic in order to push Corfiotes to accept the Venetian domination. The Venetian consul had, in addition to his diplomatic and commercial role, to draw up an exhaustive list of the privileges of which to lay out the island and to send it to the Senate, so that Sérénissime grants the same advantages as soon as it would have taken possession of Corfou

It was at that time, about 1300, that the Latin rite was introduced on the island, until there only orthodoxe. A good part of them was at the base originating in Thèbes from where Roger of Sicily had moved them towards the Sicily, in order to develop the sériculture to with it. They migrated then towards Corfou, under Angevins. The Synagog of Corfou is now oldest of Greece.

Venetian domination

Barberousse and Lépante

The young republic corfiote was of short duration. Its position remained gravitational and it was protected any more by no power. Genoa also started it to negotiate with Charles III to obtain control from it and did not cease overbidding on the Venetian proposals. Quickly, Corfou had to face a new enemy: Othoman . Corfiotes intervened very often to protect thestrong continental ones (Butrinto or Parga for example) threatened by Mehmed II in the Années 1450 - 1460. The troops and the galères provided to Venice made it possible Corfou to see its increased privileges: nomination completely corfiote of the commanders of the galères as well as commanders de Butrinto and Parga (1503) and starting from 1528, the Council Decisions of the nobility could not be any more called into question but by the Venetian Senate itself.

In 1537, Barberousse conducted a new Othoman attack on the island for Soliman. The August 25th, unloaded: 25000 men and thirty guns which started to devastate the island around its capital. Four days later, a new quota of: 25000 men arrived in reinforcement. Plundering continued. The seat was terrible. The city had not had time to be completely supplied before the Othoman ships do not block the port. Soliman settled on the continent opposite the island to attend the seat. The Othomans ended up giving up, discouraged by the bad weather, the food shortage and the epidemics. The seat was raised the September 7th, but the island had suffered much. Its campaigns were almost depopulated (the population of the island had passed from: 40000 before the war with: 19000 in 1588). The nobility had been decimated by the engagements. It was necessary to make come from Venice of the sowing and the animals from ploughing.

Before the Battle of Lépante (1571), at spring, the Turkish fleet not daring to engage in the Adriatic , trap which could be closed again on it, attacked Corfou. The island was evacuated on order of Venice. The Othomans unloaded and devastated the campaigns: in 1576 still, when the proveditor Giustiniano traversed the island, it found the plains almost empty. They produced only for four months of cereals (but the island exported wine and oil).
The September 16th, it was in Corfou that gathered the Christian fleet ordered by Don Juan of Austria. The island had provided vessels and crews. André Thevet compared Corfou with Vienna and Malta. He said that these places were the ramparts of Christendom (allusion for example to the Siège of Vienna of 1529). Venice had set up a strict organization of the defense of Corfou. The governors of the forts and the island were changed every three years, so that they cannot be bought by the enemy. They did not have the right to engage or lay off their soldiers without the downstream of the Republic. The reserves of vivres and ammunition were planned for three years. The port was permanently protected by three to four galères, in order to dissuade the pirates.

Various migrations transformed the population corfiote with. In the Years 1430, of the Christian Albanians, driven out by the projection of the Othoman troops found refuge in Corfou.

The seat of 1716

The defense of the island was reinforced in 1716, with the creation of an arsenal in the roads of Govino. However, on July 5th, 1716, the ships corfiotes could not prevent the passage of twenty-two ship of the lines escorting of transport even more many.

The Traité of Passarowitz of 1718 brought peace between Venice and the Ottoman Empire. That brought back peace and commercial prosperity to Corfou, for a temps.

Administration at the 18th century

The island remained controlled from Venice. The general provéditeurs, the commanders of the garrison were appointed by the metropolis. The local government was reserved for the local nobility. It had the right to meet in order to discuss management of the island. However, it could do it only in the presence of the general proveditor. Venice feared the development of conspiracies. The assembly of the nobility elected the Council of Corfou, composed of one hundred fifty members. The Council named with the local loads. There were three syndics in charge of the police force; supply: monitoring, inspection and provisioning of the stores of grains and the markets (checking of the weights and measures); ordinary justice (lawsuits not exceeding ten Sequin S); etc They had also the right to sit at the lawsuits which could condemn to the capital punishment and to appeal. However, this privilege was used little. The syndics were regarded as the first among Corfiotes. They came just after noble the vénitiens.
The Council named three intendants of health ( proveditori went sanità ) who directed inter alia the Lazaret; three judges of first authority; three Justice of the Peace; three administrators of the mount of piety; three inspectors of the streets as well as the governors of Parga, Paxos and of the castle Saint-Angel. All these functions were not remunerated. In 1760, the island counted: 1171 Jews|contenu=

Antonio Foscarini 1699 - 1701
Bernardino Semitecolo 1701 - 1703
Marcantonio Trevisano 1703 - 1706
Giovanni Foscarini 1706 - 1707
Benetto Bollani 1707 - 1709
Pietro Loredano 1709 - 1711
Pietro Donato 1711 - 1713
Iseppo Barbaro 1713 - 1716
Nicolò Foscari 1716 - 1720
Zaccaria Bembo 1720 - 1722
Francesco Badoer 1722 - 1724
Francesco Semitecolo 1724 - 1726
Giovannadrea Pasqualigo 1726 - 1728
Alberto Donato 1728 - 1730
Marino Minio 1730 - 1732
Pietro Balbi 1732 - 1733
Giulio Balbi 1733 - 1734
Daniele-Lodovico Balbi 1734 - 1736
Girolamo Bonlini 1736 - 1741
Nicolò Venier 1741 - 1743
Gianfrancesco Sagredo 1743 - 1745
Lucio-Antono Balbi 1745 - 1747
Franceso Soranzo 1747 - 1749
Marco Sailor 1749 - 1751
Vincenzo Longo 1751 - 1753
Giambattista Lippomano 1753 - 1755
Franceso-Antonio Barbo 1755 - 1758
Alessandro Simitecolo 1758 - 1760
Francesco Diedo 1760 - 1762
Gianluigi-Maria Donato 1762 - 1764
Giorgio Loredano 1764 - 1766
Nicolò Soranzo 1766 - 1768
Alessandro Bollani 1768 - 1770
Francesco Soranzo 1770 - 1772
Angelo Maria Giorgio 1772 - 1775
Alessandro Morosini 1775 - 1777
Luigi-Antonio Condulmer 1777 - 1779
Andrea Bono 1779 - 1781
Giorgio Marin 1781 - 1782
Carlo Giorgio 1782 - 1784
Barbarigo Rivetted 1784 - 1786
Paolo-Antonio Condulmer 1786 - 1788
Giorgio Barozzi 1788 - 1790
Jacopo Soranzo 1790 - 1792
Carlo Balbi 1792 - 1794
Gionvan-Carlo-Maria Girogio 1794 - 1796
Domenico Zeno 1796 - July 1797

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The economy corfiote at the end of the 18th century

The island could not nourish its population any more. The wine and the cereals were not produced any more in sufficient quantities. The cattle missed. There remained just of the herds of goats. The only important productions of Corfou were the Olive oil (: 250000 earthenware jars) and the sel.
Venice practiced the system of the colonial Exclusif. As of 1518, Sérénissime had required conveyers at the beginning of Crete, Nauplie or Corfou to create deposits in the metropolis, in order to be sure that the goods would be brought to Venice. Oil and salt could be sent only in metropolis. Principal export was oil (: 180000 earthenware jars about for a value of 2 franc million. The annexation of the Ionian islands in 1797, involved the creation of three French departments of Greece: Corcyre, Ithaque and Sea-Égée. The revolutionary French drove out the catholic archbishop of the island, Msgr Fenzi. It had on Corfou only one third of its division. Chub could not count on the reinforcement of the Army of Italy, then in difficulties. He had however believed in the insurances that had given him Ali Pasha de Janina when he had approached France with an aim of making itself independent of the Ottoman Empire.
Because of their strategic importance, Russia sent a body of occupation in the islands which settled with Holy-Moor. The executive was consisted a Senate of twelve members resulting from Corfou, Zante and Céphalonie. He elected a prince-president. All the administration was also with the hands of the nobility. The Greek became official language, after centuries of domination of the Italian . The religion considered as dominant also changed: Roman Catholicism was détrôné by Greek orthodoxy. Ioannis Kapodistrias, future directing from Greece independent and native of Corfou, was one of the men who controlled the Republic.

Russian governors” and he regarded them as “more interesting for us than all Italy”. He proposed to the Tsar Alexandre Ier his support in exchange of the Ionian Islands. The archipelago was yielded to France at the time of the peace of Tilsit in 1807. Convention remained secret in order to protect transport from the troops since the south of Italy. Become “Commander de Corfou”, César Berthier settled in Fortezza Vecchia, in the building occupied before him by the provéditeurs of Venice, the Gentili generals and Chabot, then Mocenigo. Napoleon had promised that the Seven Islands would preserve their independence, however, the fact that Berthier made hoist the Tricolor on the citadel was not regarded as an encouraging sign by the local population. Moreover, that dissatisfied Napoleon, like all the policy followed by Berthier.

Nothing was changed in operation constitutional, administrative or legal of the Republic and political and administrative work French on the island to the imperial police chief Julien Bessières is due.

The various religions of the island were recognized with equality: orthodoxy, Catholicism or Judaism. Other measurements were installation from September in November 1807: introduction of a Forty to avoid the contagion of the Cholera, Variola and Plague, endemic in the Adriatic; rationalization of the customs; creation of a postal service on the island of Corfou; Vaccination (with a strong opposition in the campaigns of the island); public lighting (400 lanterns in the town of Corfou); sale of the National Goods (properties of the convents and churches nationalized in 1798); reform agriculture (abandonment of the monoculture of the olive-tree for a mixed-farming). In December 1807, of new measurements followed: attempt at drafting of a civil code harmonizing the legislation corfiote by Bessières; repair of the arsenal of Govino; installation of a Stamped paper to restore finances of the island; creation of the first industry of Corfou, on December 21st, a factory of soap pertaining to Georges Rizzi; rationalization of the trades of surgeons and pharmacists (obligation to have a diploma); creation of a printing works.

The Berthier governor had to make a certain number of agreements with his powerful neighbor Ali Pasha. Corfou did not nourish its population. The British blockade prevented a regular supply, except if it arrived of Épire neighbor, since the crossing was very short. Corfou imported oxen and corn of it. The Klephte S corfiotes, which were constrained in their activity on the island by the French troops, operated on the continent and took refuge on the island. Berthier committed himself at Ali Pasha sending the heads of the culprits to him. He held word. Berthier integrated in his regular troops a few thousands of Albanians driven out of the continent by Ali Pasha.

From 1809 to 1814, the French garrison of Donzelot resisted the English blockade and evacuated the island only after the Traité of Paris, without capitulation. However, the situation of Corfou was degraded: the standard lamps (400 in 1807) were not any more that 15 in April 1814 and the Senate corfiote decided to remove them to realize savings. The Papier stamped was in its turn removed the next month. From 1807 to 1814, France had spent 60 Franc million in Corfou, mainly in the maintenance of the fortifications.
The English general Campbell asked for the rendering of the city on May 7th. May 19th, Donzelot made recognize by the Senate corfiote Louis XVIII like new guard of the island; Lesseps then became general police chief of the French government and either imperial police chief. June 3rd, the general of Boulnois, police chief of Louis XVIII announced in Donzelot the imminent arrival of a fleet intended for the peaceful evacuation of the French troops. June 6th, the white royal house floated on the citadels. June 12th, the French troops embarked. The convention of Paris of April 23rd, 1814 authorized to carry only 39 pieces of artillery (for: 1000 men). Hundred thirty parts were embarked. The Campbell general protested. Donzelot put it at the challenge to come to seek them. The British left faire.
June 24th, the British flag floated on Fortezza Vecchia.

French general governors:

César Berthier (1765 - 1819) August 1807 - May 29th, 1808
François Xavier, count de Donzelot May 29th, 1808 - 1814

President of the Senate of Province.
It made adopt a constitution of the Republic of the Ionian Islands by a constituent Assembly Ionian in December 1817. A Senate ( Gérousia ) of six members and a Parliament ( Ball ) of forty-two deputies controlled the Republic, but all their decisions were submitted to the British Governor who had the right to veto (from where the nickname of “Abortionist” given to Maitland by the Greeks). The Senate was elected by the deputies of the Parliament, but its president was named by the Governor. The Parliament aristocratic and was elected by the various islands according to their population. The Governor was in charge with the Foreign affairs, the police force and the public health. He resided at Corfou. Its residence was built since 1816. It became then the “royal palace”.
The constitution recognized like official religions only the rites orthodoxe or Anglican whose worships could be public. The other religions were tolerated and protected. The Greeks, as for them, called it “the Abortionist” because of his attitude at the time of the Guerre of Greek independence. He indeed decided the neutrality of the islands at the time of the conflict, but made imprison the Greek patriots and ordered even the execution of some of them.

The modernization of the islands (roads, bridges, schools, university, hospital, development of the trade and industry) date of the British period. A college, a college and a library were built on Corfou. Lord Guilford made open the university of Corfou on May 29th, 1824. Sir Howard Douglas allowed the installation of the Ionian Bank (which exists still nowadays) in order to encourage the loans with the farmers locaux
The task is not despite everything step easy for the following governors, whatever their qualities (Gladstone, future Prime Minister is governor of the islands a few months in 1858). The last governor, Sir Henry Storks, was as unpopular and as dictatorial as “King Tom”. The restitution of the Ionian islands, and thus of Corfou was thus a gesture of good will.

However, if Great Britain agree to separate from the majority of the Ionian islands without difficulties, it was not the case for Corfou. Foreign Secretary (Foreign Minister) British, Lord John Russell declared that because of the military and maritime interest that Corfou representrepresented, the United Kingdom wished to preserve the possession of it. Of course, the opposition of the other European powers prevented some. Thus, on November 14th, 1863, a Treaty of London was signed by Great Britain, France, Austria, Prussia and Russia (makes of them the countries signatories of the Treaty of Paris which in 1814 gave the islands to the United Kingdom). This treaty stipulated the perpetual neutrality of Corfou, as well as prohibition to make there station troops in great number, for some reason that it was (except ensuring the police force). Lastly, the fortifications of the island were to also be dismantled, but the ground fortifications “” exist always today.

The Jews in the whole of Greece had at the end of the 19th century all the rights and civic and political duties, like any other citizen. The constitution of the country did not make indeed a difference between the religions. This situation was due to the particular history of Corfou. The privileges and freedoms of the Jews corfiotes were extended to the whole of the Jews of Greece during the retrocession of the Ionian Islands. The Ionian Senate had been ensured some, with the suggestion of Adolphe Crémieux, then president of the Alliance universal Jew.
More precisely:

Population of the town of Corfou: : 27397, of which: 4000 catholics: 2700 Jews and: 1400 Malteses
Garitsa (suburb of the town of Corfou): 2411
Anemomylos (suburb of the town of Corfou) 681
Stratia (suburb of the town of Corfou) 274
San Rocco (suburb of the town of Corfou): 2551
In the remainder of the island:

Analipsis 153
Kondokali 261
Govino 244
Hypso 50
Spartillas 783
Skripéro 953
Pellékas 825
Santi-Déka (Haghii Déka) 889
Gastouri: 1181
Benizza 344

The departures of Jews continued, in 1928, the Jewish community of Corfou counted: 1820 people. January 12th, 1916, of the French troops settled on the island, in order to make safe the stay of the Serb allies. The French presence did not contravene the treaty of London of 1863, because, by subtle distinctions of international law.

Italian bombardment

In August 1923, Mussolini used the pretext of the assassination with Ioannina of the Tellini general and of two other Italian diplomats, chair and members of the Charged commission to fix the border between Albania and Greece. “Albania of the South” or “Épire of north” constituted the stone of obstacle of the negotiations. The Greeks wished to integrate the “Épire of North” into their territory, while Albania wished to preserve “Albania of the south”. The Italians were them also interested in the problem, in particular because of the control of the Adriatic. They did not wish that the same country occupied this disputed area and Corfou. The geostrategic situation of the island was still in question. It was about a double exchange: “Albania of the South” in Albania and Corfou in Greece or “Épire of north” in Greece and Corfou in Italy. The world powers did not wish that Corfou passed to Italy mussolinienne which claimed it by nationalism.

It would seem that the incident with Ioannina was only villainous. Albanian gangsters without political motivation were suspected. The commission of international survey judged that Greece had made any possible sound to stop the culprits who were however never found. But, Duce benefitted from it to try to seize Corfou. Italy bombarded the island and militarily occupied it (like Paxos, Antipaxos, Merlera and Samothrace) of August 31st, 1923 until September 27th and the payment by Greece of an allowance of 50 million liras (a little more than 2 million dollars of 1924). This occupation contravened the Treaty of London of November 14th, 1863, because Italy had not belonged to its signatories and could not thus evoke the “safety reasons” which had functioned for France in 1917.

Corfou then became a “area border specific” of 1924 to 1961. The majority of the engagements proceeded then in Épire and Albania, on the continent opposite Corfou.

April 6th, 1941, the Nazi Germany assisted from its Italian ally in bad posture vis-a-vis Grecs.
The island was occupied by the Italians of 1941 with 1943. The Italian capitulation vis-a-vis the allies on September 1st, 1943 had important consequences for Corfou. The Italian soldiers joined themselves the government Badoglio. The Germans then decided to disarm them. The island then was bombarded and conquered by the Nazi Germany (from September 13rd to 23rd 1943). The combat were bloody between the helped Greek partisans of the last Italian soldiers on their side and the German troops. The Anglo-American bombardments at the end of the conflict worsened the situation. A quarter of the city was thus destroyed, of which Ionian Parliament, the library and its: 70000 volumes like fourteen churches and their frescos of the Ionian school. June 9th, 1944, the Alliés bombarded Corfou massively, to divert the attention of the Débarquement in Normandy. The following day, the mayor of the town of Corfou, but also the chief of the police force and the prefect made post a proclamation announcing the arrest of the Jews of the island and the “just reward of the economy of the island in the hands of its Christian citizens” of It does not remain any more at the beginning of the 21e century but eighty Jews on Corfou which remained until 1946.

Tourists: a new invasion?

Since the Second world war, Corfou is, as the remainder of Greece, converted with the Tourisme. At the beginning of the Years 1960, the government made the economic choice of the tourist development.

On the island, a certain number of testimonys evoke “the mixture without grace and not planned hotels, apartments, taverns, coffees, discotheques, minis-markets and gravers selling memories and sun lotion”. This evolution is however not completely negative: “Corfou changes, thanks to tourism, and some of these changes, contrary to the generally accepted ideas, improved the way in which one saw there, for the tourists as for the inhabitants”. The airport, the telephone, the medical ones, hygiene benefitted from the repercussions of tourism and between: 120000 and (in 2002): 130000 beds in the other types of tourist lodgings (apartments, villas, more or less official rooms of hosts, etc). These tourist companies less employ all than one hundred people. Certain guides of voyage even disadvise going there.

At the time of the season 2006, Corfou accommodated: 528000 of the eleven million tourists who came to Greece, by making the fourth destination in the country, after Athens, Thessalonique and Héraklion.

The other most outstanding facts were creation in 1984 of the Ionian university and in 1994 the European top and the signature of the Traité of Corfou in connection with the widening of the European Union.

References

Internal bonds

Ionian Islands
Phéaciens
Corcyre and Peloponnesian War
Corfou, Corfou (city), Kassiopi and Towns of Corfou
Heptanèse, Republic of the Seven-Islands and Kapodistrias

External bonds

Corfou Article of the '' Jewish Encyclopedia.com ''
History of the Jews of Corfou

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