Thessalonique (in Greek Θεσσαλονίκη / old Thessaloníkê in Greek, modern Thessaloníki in Greek, in Slavic Солун, Soloun , in Judeo-Spanish סלוניקה, Turkish Selânik) or Salonique is a town of Greece, chief town of the names same name, located at the bottom of the Golfe Thermaïque. Today, it is the capital Nome of Thessalonique and the periphery (area) of central Macedonia in Greek Macedonia. It counts 800.764 inhabitants (2001).

History

See also: History of Thessalonique

Ancient Greece

Thessalonique was founded by Cassandre of Macedonia in -315, and was thus baptized in the honor of his wife to whom it offered the city in pledge of her love. The name of Thessalonique, girl of Philippe II of Macedonia and half-sister of Alexandre the Large one, comes from the contraction from the Θεσσαλών words (Thessaliens) and νίκη (victory), in commemoration of the victory of the Macedonians on the inhabitants of Phocide with the assistance of Thessaliens (see Thessalie).

Ancient Rome

After the Roman conquest , it became the capital of the province of Macedonia. The Romans by creating the Via Egnatia , way which connects Dyrrachium to Byzance, makes thrive the city by making of Thessalonique a stage city impossible to circumvent. In 50, Saint Paul comes to preach there Christianity, number of Saloniciens convert secretly.

Later, the emperor Galère chooses to elect residence there and launches out in the construction of his palate and many public edifices. In its fight against Christendom, it makes of Dimitri Saint a martyr who became patron saint and guard of the city. Constantin Ier starts into 322 the construction of the fortifications as well as the artificial harbor which continues the economic development of the city. However the foundation of Constantinople, and the concentration of the political power and monk which results from this, removes in Thessalonique the central role which it could hope for from its geographical location. In 390, Théodose Ier makes massacre the population, which had revolted, making between seven and ten thousand victims.

From the century following Thessalonique of the prefecture of the It becomes the capital, vast district of the empire which includes the near total of the Balkan Peninsula.

Worsen Byzantine

During the first centuries of the Byzantine Empire the city knows a constant economic advancement. Its strategic position with the outlet of the Balkan Peninsula and on via Egnatia supports the trade and, strong of an intense port activity, the city is in direct relationship with Pirée, Genoa and Constantinople. This period sees the city growing rich by many monuments and imposing churches the such Holy-Sophie church, the church of Acheiropoiètos, and the basilica of Saint-Démétrius, owner of the city.

From the end of the 6th century of many Slavic tribes settle in the area of Thessalonique. Several attacks take place against the city throughout the 7th century and the empire, very committed on the Eastern face, intervenes mollement. This period of fold lasts until the beginning of the 10th century. Thessalonique is taken by the Sarrasins in 904. The priest Jean Caminiatès left us the realistic account of the atrocities which proceeded there. Leon Tripolitain, renegade Byzantine originating in Attalia in Pamphylie, attacks the city with 54 ships Sarrasins and a little more 10  000 men. Caminiatès and the other inhabitants of the city who were not killed are reduced in slavery or are exchanged against ransom. Tripolitain set out again with its spoils and 22  000 young people.

However the 10th century and the beginning of the 11th century correspond to one period of rectification and the empire is reorganized in topics . Thessalonique becomes the capital of a topic intended to last until the 15th century. The city then falls to the hands from the Croisés, on order of the pope of the time, which was afraid to lose an important share of its pontifical authority, the religious leader from what was going to become orthodoxe Christendom being the Byzantine emperor, order supported by the economic power of the Dukes of Genoa, who saw in this attack a means of plundering the richnesses of the city and of sitting their maritime domination on the Mediterranean. In 1313, it was again reinstated in the Empire of Constantinople. In 1430, it was taken by the Turks which called it Selanik .

Ottoman Empire

Following the expulsion of the Jews of Spain of many Jews Sépharade S settled in Thessalonique forming one of the most important Jewish communities of the East and constituting during several century the majority of the inhabitants of this city. As from the 17th century and until fastening in Greece in 1912, the city was center of the Jewish Messianic movement, started by Sabbataï Tsevi. The Sabbatéens were gathered there until the exchange of populations which led them in Turkey in the years 1920.

At the 19th century, it was the fourth city of Turkey, and an important political center. The Left Union and Progress was born with Thessalonique, as well as the first Turkish maconnic cabins. The revolution constitutionnalist of 1908 began here, which was worth the nickname of the to him Kaaba of Freedom in Turkey. After being détrôné, the Sultan Abdülhamid II was assigned with residence in this city, in the residence of Allatini.

Thessalonique is also the birthplace of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1881. Its native house is a museum today.

Modern Greece

Salonique at the beginning of the 20th century is a multiethnic city: it counts around: 120000 inhabitants, of which: 80000 Jews: 15000 Turks and: 15000 Greeks: 5000 Bulgarian and: 5000 Westerners. It is one of the four plus big cities of the Ottoman Empire. It is one of the most modern cities and one of the largest ports. Salonique also became an important center of political boiling. Thus, the Othoman Committee of the Freedom, which plays a big role in the direction of the movement of the Young person-Turks is born with Thessalonique in August 1906.
During the First Balkan war, one of the objectives of Greece, within the framework of the Grande Idea is Thessalonique. It is conquered in November 1912. As of the first day of the new Greek occupation, the not-Moslems give up the port of the fez, and of many Turks leave the city. The Greek language again is largely used, while the use of Turkish decreases considerably. In the same way, the Byzantine churches, transformed into mosques by the Othomans, become again of the places of worships chrétiens.
The First World War intervenes at the time when Thessalonique starts to be integrated at the Greek State. At the beginning of the conflict, Greece is a neutral country, but passes through a political serious attack between partisans of the Triple Entente and in favor of Triplice. Part of the evacuated troops of the Dardanelles to the autumn 1915 is sent to the help of Serbia and settles in Thessalonique, which constitutes a logical base to carry out their objective. Vénizélos, the Prime Minister favorable to the Agreement authorizes there. In 1916, a total of: 400000 French, British and Serb soldiers are present in the ville.
The presence allied in the city plays a decisive political role: driven out post of Prime Minister, Vénizélos leaves Athens and joined Thessalonique on September 26th, 1916. A “Government of national defense” is organized. Thessalonique becomes capital then of an area in revolt, but also the general headquarter of Allied which supports this movement. After the abdication of the king in June 1917, Vénizélos goes back to Athens and Thessalonique loses its statute of capital of Grèce.
In August 1917, all the center of the city is devastated by a catastrophic fire. : 9500 buildings are destroyed, leaving: 70000 people without shelter. The rebuilding of the city allows a complete reorganization of its plan and its space organization.

It is in Thessalonique that the Germans installed their General headquarter at the time of their Occupation of Greece during the Second world war. The Jews of Salonique are the principal community Sépharade touched by the Shoah, one estimates that 98% of the community were exterminated.

After the Second world war and the beginning of the Cold war, the city has problems. The Iron curtain cut of its commercial hinterland: all trade route which had made its fortune is stopped. In the years 1950, the city knows a new urban transformation, mainly in the low city. The International exhibition of Thessalonique, heiress of the fairs of the Saint-Dimitri of the Middle Ages, recreated in 1926, is the greatest center of exposure of the country making of Thessalonique before a whole business district and a large international exhibition, rather than a tourist destination.

Gallery

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