Axioupoli
Encyclopedia
Axioupoli known until 1927 as Boymitsa (Боймица, Μποέμιτσα), is a small town and a former municipality in the former Paionia Province
of Kilkis regional unit, Greece
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Paionia
, of which it is a municipal unit. As of 2001 the town had a population of 3,458, and the municipal unit 6,725.
and it was established in prehistoric times. As Atalanti was conquered by Bottieans
who were Cretans and came in the area in the 12th century BC. In the 5th century BC Atalanti was annexed in the Macedonian Kingdom and by that time it followed the Greek history. The Bulgarian
and Macedonian
name is Boymitsa/Bojmica (Cyrillic: Боймица/Бојмица) by which the town was known until the name was changed in 1927. There have been suggestions that its former name was obtained during the era of Byzantine Empire and its transliteration means strong. Slavic tribes, who entered the area in the 7th century AD, named the area Boymitsa, which means 'little Boymia', because the valley of Axios
looks like the Valley of Bohemia
(although in Ottoman era the valley of Axios river used to be called Roumlouki, meaning 'Valley of Greeks'). The town was renamed Axioupoli on 1 January 1927, after the river Axios which is located in its vicinity.
settlers from adjoining areas, they chose it as their new home due to its proximity to the Axios River, near the ruins of ancient town Atalanti. The town form part of the Ottoman Empire
until the early 20th century. In the Greek revolution of 1821, inhabitants of Axioupolis and other villages, fought against Ottomans. The family of Papazafiriou Stamatiadi from Idomeni gave the most famous Greek fighters of 1821. The Ottoman troops defeated the rebels in the area, and the revolution continued only in Southern Greece.
Construction of Axioupolis' first church, Saint Dimitrios (Greek: Αγίου Δημητρίου), started in 1843 after Christians were given the right to build churches and schools by the Ottomans. Saint Dimitrios was completed in 1859. During the national competitions in the area, a lot of locals resisted in the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) and defend the area. From Idomeni, Nikolaos Stoidis', Stoikos Stoidis' and Dellios Kovatsis' teams act. From Gevgelija
, Demosthenes Kyrou organizes the Greek defence in all over the area. From Gevgelija also, Christos Dellios' and Simos Malios' teams act. Athanassios Giangkoulas', Ioannis Taskos' and Petros Charissiadis' teams act from Negorci. In the area of municipality of Axioupolis, there are also the teams of Athanassios Kapetanopoulos and Petros Avramidis from Tikveš. The leaders Nikolaos Nikoltsas, Georgios Xanthos and Dellios Petkou Topalis from Mrzenci had an important participation to the Greek defence in the area. Dellios Petkou Topalis killed in 1898 by Bulgarians.
The first school in town was built in 1894. People of Axioupolis Municipality participated in the Macedonian Struggle
, and the main leaders of Greek efforts are mentioned below.
Macedonian Fighters (Makedonomachi):
On 22 October 1912 the Ottomans were expelled and the town became part of Greece. During the population exchange of the early 20th century the town was settled by refugees from all over the Balkans
and Anatolia
n regions, giving it a unique feel. Its residence played a big part in helping win the Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas
and with the battle of Skra-di-Legen
.
Because of its location it has had geopolitical significance, being one of the last places from which the Germans left after World War II
ended. The main railway between Thessaloniki
and Europe went through the town's center, making Axioupoli a center of information during the Balkan Wars
, World War I
and World War II. In 1913 the first customs
office between Greece and Serbia
was opened in Axioupoli.
In World War I the French Army was stationed there to control one of the main supply routes. They helped build numerous projects in town, and within the region, to help with their supply transportation. They built an additional railroad from the center of Axioupoli to Skra (Skora) and the railroad bridge which crosses over the Axios river and leads into Paris
. These projects helped change the town as one of Greece's industrialized centers.
On 8 April 1944 the Germans took control of the town, which gave them access to the railroads, bridges and control over the supply routes for the Axis
. They occupied the town until 31 October 1944. During the occupation, the Greek People's Liberation Army (Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) staged many sabotaged missions against the Axis in the region while residents helped hide Greek fighters from the Germans.
the capital of Greece; 62 km (39 mi) northwest from the regional capital Thessaloniki
; 33.9 km (21.1 mi) west from the prefectural
capital Kilkis
, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) west from the small town of Polykastro
a small town located in Kilkis Prefecture
and West of the Axios River.
Paionia Province
Paionia is the western Province of Kilkis Prefecture. Its capital is Goumenissa. According to the , as of 2001 the population was:-References:* http://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/Επαρχίες_της_Ελλάδας...
of Kilkis regional unit, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Paionia
Paionia (municipality)
Paionia is a municipality in the Kilkis regional unit, Central Macedonia, Greece. The seat of the municipality is the town Polykastro. The municipality is named after the ancient region of Paeonia.-Municipality:...
, of which it is a municipal unit. As of 2001 the town had a population of 3,458, and the municipal unit 6,725.
Name
Its ancient name was AtalantiAtalanti (Bottiaea)
Atalanta or Allante or Allantium was an ancient city of Bottiaea, between Gortynia and Europos, near Axius river, which may have been built by the Bottiaeans before their expulsion by Macedonians to Bottike. Axioupoli of today's Kilkis Prefecture claims to be the ancient location. N. G. L...
and it was established in prehistoric times. As Atalanti was conquered by Bottieans
Bottiaea
Bottiaea was a geographical region of ancient Macedonia and an administrative district of the Macedonian Kingdom. It was previously inhabited by the Bottiaeans, a people of uncertain origin, later expelled by the Macedonians into Bottike...
who were Cretans and came in the area in the 12th century BC. In the 5th century BC Atalanti was annexed in the Macedonian Kingdom and by that time it followed the Greek history. The Bulgarian
Bulgarian language
Bulgarian is an Indo-European language, a member of the Slavic linguistic group.Bulgarian, along with the closely related Macedonian language, demonstrates several linguistic characteristics that set it apart from all other Slavic languages such as the elimination of case declension, the...
and Macedonian
Macedonian language
Macedonian is a South Slavic language spoken as a first language by approximately 2–3 million people principally in the region of Macedonia but also in the Macedonian diaspora...
name is Boymitsa/Bojmica (Cyrillic: Боймица/Бојмица) by which the town was known until the name was changed in 1927. There have been suggestions that its former name was obtained during the era of Byzantine Empire and its transliteration means strong. Slavic tribes, who entered the area in the 7th century AD, named the area Boymitsa, which means 'little Boymia', because the valley of Axios
Axios
"Axios!" is an acclamation that is made by the faithful at the ordination of bishops, priests and deacons in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches...
looks like the Valley of Bohemia
Bohemia
Bohemia is a historical region in central Europe, occupying the western two-thirds of the traditional Czech Lands. It is located in the contemporary Czech Republic with its capital in Prague...
(although in Ottoman era the valley of Axios river used to be called Roumlouki, meaning 'Valley of Greeks'). The town was renamed Axioupoli on 1 January 1927, after the river Axios which is located in its vicinity.
History
Refounded in 1760 by ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
settlers from adjoining areas, they chose it as their new home due to its proximity to the Axios River, near the ruins of ancient town Atalanti. The town form part of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
until the early 20th century. In the Greek revolution of 1821, inhabitants of Axioupolis and other villages, fought against Ottomans. The family of Papazafiriou Stamatiadi from Idomeni gave the most famous Greek fighters of 1821. The Ottoman troops defeated the rebels in the area, and the revolution continued only in Southern Greece.
Construction of Axioupolis' first church, Saint Dimitrios (Greek: Αγίου Δημητρίου), started in 1843 after Christians were given the right to build churches and schools by the Ottomans. Saint Dimitrios was completed in 1859. During the national competitions in the area, a lot of locals resisted in the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) and defend the area. From Idomeni, Nikolaos Stoidis', Stoikos Stoidis' and Dellios Kovatsis' teams act. From Gevgelija
Gevgelija
Gevgelija is a town with a population of 15,685 located in the very southeast of the Republic of Macedonia along the banks of the Vardar River, situated at the country's main border with Greece , the point which links the motorway from Skopje and three other former Yugoslav capitals with...
, Demosthenes Kyrou organizes the Greek defence in all over the area. From Gevgelija also, Christos Dellios' and Simos Malios' teams act. Athanassios Giangkoulas', Ioannis Taskos' and Petros Charissiadis' teams act from Negorci. In the area of municipality of Axioupolis, there are also the teams of Athanassios Kapetanopoulos and Petros Avramidis from Tikveš. The leaders Nikolaos Nikoltsas, Georgios Xanthos and Dellios Petkou Topalis from Mrzenci had an important participation to the Greek defence in the area. Dellios Petkou Topalis killed in 1898 by Bulgarians.
The first school in town was built in 1894. People of Axioupolis Municipality participated in the Macedonian Struggle
Greek Struggle for Macedonia
The Macedonian Struggle was a series of social, political, cultural and military conflicts between Greeks and Bulgarians in the region of Ottoman Macedonia between 1904 and 1908...
, and the main leaders of Greek efforts are mentioned below.
Macedonian Fighters (Makedonomachi):
- Axioupolis: Athanassios Gertzikis (priest), Ioannis Goussidis, Vassilios Papageorgiou, Anastassios Karakechagias, Nikolaos Koulerdas, Christos Kotsidis (priest), Sofia Nikou, Dimitrios Penos
- Ryzia: Vassilios Vantsis, Christos Karamarkos,
- Skra: Dimitrios Papageorgiou, Anastassios Stavridis, Athanassios Tsempis
- Chamilo: Panagiotis Varvatis
- Idomeni: Stylianos Kovatsis Sideras, Grigorios Kokkalis, Georgios Papazafiriou Stamatiadis, Grigorios Papazafiriou Stamatiadis, Zafirios Papazafiriou Stamatiadis
On 22 October 1912 the Ottomans were expelled and the town became part of Greece. During the population exchange of the early 20th century the town was settled by refugees from all over the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
and Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
n regions, giving it a unique feel. Its residence played a big part in helping win the Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas
Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas
The Battle of Kilkis–Lahanas took place during the Second Balkan War between Greece and Bulgaria for the town of Kilkis in Macedonia. The battle lasted three days from 19 to 21 June 1913 and ended with a Greek victory.-Background:...
and with the battle of Skra-di-Legen
Skra-di-Legen
The Battle of Skra di Legen was a two day World War I battle which took place at the Skra fortified position, located NE of Mount Paiko North of Thessaloniki on May 30, 1918....
.
Because of its location it has had geopolitical significance, being one of the last places from which the Germans left after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended. The main railway between Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
and Europe went through the town's center, making Axioupoli a center of information during the Balkan Wars
Balkan Wars
The Balkan Wars were two conflicts that took place in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe in 1912 and 1913.By the early 20th century, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia, the countries of the Balkan League, had achieved their independence from the Ottoman Empire, but large parts of their ethnic...
, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II. In 1913 the first customs
Customs
Customs is an authority or agency in a country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods including animals, transports, personal effects and hazardous items in and out of a country...
office between Greece and Serbia
Kingdom of Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbia was created when Prince Milan Obrenović, ruler of the Principality of Serbia, was crowned King in 1882. The Principality of Serbia was ruled by the Karađorđevic dynasty from 1817 onwards . The Principality, suzerain to the Porte, had expelled all Ottoman troops by 1867, de...
was opened in Axioupoli.
In World War I the French Army was stationed there to control one of the main supply routes. They helped build numerous projects in town, and within the region, to help with their supply transportation. They built an additional railroad from the center of Axioupoli to Skra (Skora) and the railroad bridge which crosses over the Axios river and leads into Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. These projects helped change the town as one of Greece's industrialized centers.
On 8 April 1944 the Germans took control of the town, which gave them access to the railroads, bridges and control over the supply routes for the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. They occupied the town until 31 October 1944. During the occupation, the Greek People's Liberation Army (Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) staged many sabotaged missions against the Axis in the region while residents helped hide Greek fighters from the Germans.
Demographics
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1920 | 1,595 |
| 1928 | 1,945 |
| 1940 | 2,237 |
| 1951 | 2,738 |
| 1961 | 3,564 |
| 1971 | 3,155 |
Location
The town is located 547 km (340 mi) north-northwest of AthensAthens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
the capital of Greece; 62 km (39 mi) northwest from the regional capital Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
; 33.9 km (21.1 mi) west from the prefectural
Kilkis Prefecture
Kilkis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Kilkis.-Geography:The mountains near Kilkis are Paiko to the west, parts of the western part of Kerkini to the northeast and Krousia to the east...
capital Kilkis
Kilkis
Kilkis is an industrial city in Central Macedonia, Greece. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper, 24,812 people living in the municipal unit, and 56,336 in the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the regional unit of Kilkis.-Name:Kilkis is located in a...
, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) west from the small town of Polykastro
Polykastro
Polykastro , is a town and a former municipality in Kilkis regional unit, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Paionia, of which it is a municipal unit, and the seat. The municipal unit of Polykastro has 12,000 inhabitants, and includes Polykastro and 23...
a small town located in Kilkis Prefecture
Kilkis Prefecture
Kilkis is one of the regional units of Greece. It is part of the region of Central Macedonia. Its capital is the city of Kilkis.-Geography:The mountains near Kilkis are Paiko to the west, parts of the western part of Kerkini to the northeast and Krousia to the east...
and West of the Axios River.
Sightseeing
You can visit the Natural History Museum Axioupoli http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Museums/Anthropological_and_Nat_History/Fysikhs_Istorias_Ajioypolh.html, one of the best in Greece, the Library, Mega Rema (Kotzadere), the Statue of Liberty in the main square and the Metalio Lake, the big Plane tree which tradition has as being there since the era of Alexander the Great. Last but not least, it is worth visiting the Blue Lake on mountain Paiko. It is situated between village Koupa and village of Skra, which is internationally famous for the battle that took place there during the first World War, on 17 May 1917.Education
Axioupoli has a complete system of State schools including two Nursery schools, two Primary, two Elementary, one Secondary and one High School. There is also a Technical school (TEE). Apart from these you can find three Foreign Language Schools (Hassapi-Sidera, Sphera and Pasiata) and a Computer School (Hassapi-Sidera).Famous people born in the town
- Apostol PetkovApostol PetkovApostol Petkov or the Sun of Enije Vardar was a Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the revolutionary movement in Aegean Macedonia...
- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO) Revolutionary (1869–1911)