Crete tourist guide

110th anniversary of the union of Crete with Greece

2023-12-01 20:59:14

110 years ago, on December 1, 1913, the union between Crete and Greece was finally sealed, ending the rule of foreign powers on the island. Today's anniversary is one of the most important moments in the history of Crete, because the conclusion of the union definitively closed the era of the centuries-old Cretans' fight for freedom.

On this occasion, state celebrations began in Chania this morning, the first point of which was a mass in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chania. Later, traditionally dressed Cretans, assisted by representatives of institutions, the army and citizens, carried the Greek flag through the Port of Venice to the Firkas Fortress, where it was hoisted.

Spiros Kayales - one of the heroes whose actions brought the unification of Crete with Greece closer

Raising the flag is a symbolic gesture to commemorate the events of sunny Sunday, December 1, 1913. Then two old Cretan revolutionaries, 94-year-old Anagnostis Mantakas and 81-year-old Hatzimichalis Giannaris, raised the Greek flag on the mast of the Firkas fortress in Chania. This historic moment was watched by the Greek King Constantine, Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos and the political leaders of Crete.

Anagnostis Mantakas and Hatzimichalis Giannaris (back) raised the Greek flag on behalf of the Cretan revolutionaries
and descend from the tower of the Firkas fortress in Chania. The photo comes from candiadoc.gr

The Greek flag was tangible proof of the strong ties between Crete and mainland Greece. Despite hundreds of years of dependence on other powers, the Cretans have never given up their culture and traditions. Although they adopted some of the norms imposed on them by the occupiers, over time adopting them as their own, in the end, any attempts at greater assimilation were clearly rejected by them.

During the 465 years of Venetian rule and over two centuries of Ottoman troops' presence on Crete, the occupiers could never feel too confident on this island. The subsequent Cretan uprisings were a clear reminder of who is the real host of these lands. Even though most of the rebellions were bloodily suppressed, the inhabitants of the island never gave up the idea of finally freeing themselves from the yoke of slavery. Finally, after many centuries of efforts, at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, there was a chance to carry out a successful uprising, which ultimately opened the way to freedom and unification with Greece. Turkish troops tried to suppress these ethnic uprisings until the very end. However, the weakened Ottoman Empire could not remain deaf to the international outrage caused by these brutal Turkish interventions.

Finally, after nearly seven centuries of occupation and captivity, in 1898 the last Turkish soldiers left Crete, and the island gained autonomy, although still under a Turkish protectorate. Cretan revolutionaries, however, did not just fight to throw off the Turkish yoke. They wrote "Union or death" on their banners. This was the reason they never accepted the autonomy of Crete under Turkish rule. However, they had to wait another 15 years for the unification of Crete with Greece.

The union with Greece was actually signed in 1912 and was the last stage of efforts for independence. The ceremony that took place on December 1, 1913 was only a symbolic seal of the unification of Crete with Greece.

Gosia,  2023-12-01 20:59:14

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