Summary of Kytherian Chronology

Many thanks to Peter Vanges and the Kytherian Association of Australia for their kind permission to reproduce this excerpt from Kythera, a History (1993), which is still available from the Association. For the contact information, please see the Associations section under "Culture".

3,000 B.C.
Evidence of organised life on the island with trade connections with Crete.

2,000 B.C.
Cretan civilisation at its peak. City of Skandia built and flourishing. Island is known by the name Porphyrousa; the capital city under construction.

1,400 B.C.
Volcanic eruption of Santorini. Knossos falls and Cretan civilisation disappears. Skandia and settlements of the island destroyed.

1,300 B.C.
Phoenicians establish trading posts on the island. Worship of Aphrodite introduced to the island that is known by the name Kythera.

1,900 B.C.
Trojan War begins. Mention of the Kytherians. Lykophron and Amphidamas.

1,150 B.C.
Dorians occupy Kythera. The city of Kythera built.

800 B.C.
Greek colonisation of Mediterranean regions.

600 B.C.
Kythera under Spartan rule.

456 B.C.
Kythera taken by the Athenians.

439 B.C.
Philoxenos, the Kytherian, was born.

421 B.C.
Kythera returned to Sparta.

393 B.C.
Kythera taken by Athenians.

378 B.C.
Kythera retaken by Spartans.

344 B.C.
Alexander chosen supreme General of Greek Armies for the invasion of Asia.

323 B.C.
The death of Alexander the Great.

300 B.C.
Rise of the Roman Empire. The island under Spartan rule.

100 B.C.
Pirate attacks against Kythera.

A.D. 267
Pirate attacks continue.

A.D. 375
Elesa arrived on Kythera and was beheaded,

A.D. 500
Mention of a Christian diocese on Kythera.

A.D. 662
Kythera under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Rome.

A.D. 655
Pirates control seas off Kythera.

A.D. 800
Powerful earthquake and tidal wave damaged Kythera.

A.D 291
Theodoros arrived on Kythera. Pirate attacks continue.

1100
The beginning of the Crusades.
The Eudaemonogiannis ruled Kythera from Sparta.
The holy icon of Myrtidiotissa found.

1200
The city of St Dimitrios - Paliohora - was built. The citadel of Potamos built.

1207
Marco Venieri was appointed Marquis of Cerigo. Kythera becomes known as Cerigo.

1300
The construction of the fortress of Hora.

1363
Cretans revolt against Venetians. Venetians assume direct rule on Kythera.

1453
The fall of Constantinople.

1537
The destruction of Paliohora.

1560
The construction of the fortress of Mylopotamos.

1571-72-79
Continuous Turkish attacks on Kythera.

1715
Kythera occupied by Turks.

1776
Migration to Asia Minor (Smyrna) begins.

1780
The Kytherian peasants revolt.

1797
The French liberate Kythera.

1798
Turkish and Russian forces occupy Kythera.

1799
Anarchy and disobedience rule the island.

1800
The Russians depart.

1803
The constitution of the Democracy of the Ionian islands was passed.

1808
The French return.

1809
The British take possession of Kythera.

1817
New constitution is introduced.

1821
The proclamation of the Hellenic revolt against the four hundred years of Turkish occupation. Construction of many roads on the island begins.

1824
The historian loannis Mikelis writes the History of the island of Cerigo while in exile there.

1840
Kytherians declare desire to unite with Greece.

1863
The Ionian parliament votes on union with Greece.

1864
British forces depart from Kythera.
King George I visits Kythera.

1902
Efthimios Kavathas appointed as Bishop.

1905
National Bank of Greece opens branch at Hora.

1917
Kythera is declared an independent state.

1922
The Kytherian Brotherhood of Australia formed in New South Wales, Australia.

1926
Foundation stone of the high school of Kythera is laid at Hora.

1928
Anglo-American Bank opens sub-branch at Potamos.

1930
Electricity generator at Potamos.

1933
The foundation stone of wharf of Agia Pelagia is laid.

1936
Electrification of Hora.

1939
World War II erupts.

1941
Kythera under German occupation.

1944
The Germans depart. E.A.M.-E.L.A.S in control.
The formation of the Kytherian Association of Queensland, Australia.

1944
British land at Kapsali and Avlemona.

1945
The Australian government encourages immigration.
By 1990 only 3,000 Kytherians live on the island.

1985
The formation of the Kytherian Brotherhood of Canberra, Australia.


Many thanks to Peter Vanges and the Kytherian Association of Australia for their kind permission to reproduce this excerpt from Kythera, a History, which is still available from the Association. For the contact information, please see the Associations section under "Culture".