Old Pylos castle
Encyclopedia
Old Pylos castle is a 13th-century fortress near Pylos
, Greece
. It is one of two castles guarding the strategic bay on which it sits; the other is New Pylos castle. It is also known by its historical Italian
and Turkish
names, respectively Old Navarino and Anavarin-i atik. Locally, it is simply Palaiokastro . The castle sits atop an imposing 200-m rock formation on the northern edge of the bay, flanked by sheer cliffs; the naturally defensible site has probably been occupied since classical times.
, the lord of Thebes
in the Principality of Achaea
, one of the Latin states ruling Greece following the Fourth Crusade
. By the mid-14th century it belonged to the Genoese
, who used it as a base in their conflicts with Venice, raiding Venetian
colonies in Messenia
. In the 1360s, the castle was occupied by Marie de Bourbon during her attempt to claim the Principality following the death of her husband, Robert of Taranto
. By 1381, the castle is found in the hands of the Navarrese Company
.
The Venetians attempted to purchase the castle several times, worried about the threat it posed to their trading interests; they occupied it in 1417 to prevent the Genoese from doing so, and finally secured its sale from the Prince of Achaea, Centurione II Zaccaria
, in 1423. Venetian control survived the First Ottoman–Venetian War
of the late 15th century, but not the Second War at the turn of the 16th. Following the Venetian defeat in the Battle of Modon (1500), the Pylos garrison simply surrendered when the forces of Bayezid II
arrived from Modon, despite significant strength and ample provisions.
Upon gaining control of the region, the Ottomans constructed New Pylos castle (Anavarin-i cedid) on the southern end of the bay, and the old castle lost importance. The new castle better covered the main practical entrance to the bay towards the south, especially as the narrower northern entrance was blocked in 1571 by ships scuttled during the Battle of Lepanto
; the new site also had a more secure water supply. By the late 16th century, the old castle had only a token garrison, and it became increasingly dilapidated and partly ruined through the 17th century. During the Morean War
, the Ottomans concentrated their defenses at the new castle, and the old castle's 100-man garrison surrendered to the Venetians without a battle on June 2, 1686.
The Venetians considered either improving or demolishing the fortress, but ended up making few modifications before it was retaken by the Ottomans in 1715, during the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War. Neither were any major repairs or improvements made by the Ottomans, though it was garrisoned with a token force. When the Ottomans retreated in 1828 during the Greek War of Independence
, the French Morea expedition
found the castle essentially a ruin.
Pylos
Pylos , historically known under its Italian name Navarino, is a town and a former municipality in Messenia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Pylos-Nestoras, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit. It was the capital of the former...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
. It is one of two castles guarding the strategic bay on which it sits; the other is New Pylos castle. It is also known by its historical Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
and Turkish
Turkish language
Turkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
names, respectively Old Navarino and Anavarin-i atik. Locally, it is simply Palaiokastro . The castle sits atop an imposing 200-m rock formation on the northern edge of the bay, flanked by sheer cliffs; the naturally defensible site has probably been occupied since classical times.
History
The castle was built in the late 13th century by Nicholas II of Saint OmerNicholas II of Saint Omer
Nicholas II of Saint Omer was the lord of half of Thebes, Greece from 1258 to 1294. He served as bailiff of the Principality of Achaea between 1287 and 1289. He was the son of Bela of Saint Omer and the Theben heiress Bonne de la Roche....
, the lord of Thebes
Thebes, Greece
Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
in the Principality of Achaea
Principality of Achaea
The Principality of Achaea or of the Morea was one of the three vassal states of the Latin Empire which replaced the Byzantine Empire after the capture of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. It became a vassal of the Kingdom of Thessalonica, along with the Duchy of Athens, until Thessalonica...
, one of the Latin states ruling Greece following the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
. By the mid-14th century it belonged to the Genoese
Republic of Genoa
The Most Serene Republic of Genoa |Ligurian]]: Repúbrica de Zêna) was an independent state from 1005 to 1797 in Liguria on the northwestern Italian coast, as well as Corsica from 1347 to 1768, and numerous other territories throughout the Mediterranean....
, who used it as a base in their conflicts with Venice, raiding Venetian
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
colonies in Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
. In the 1360s, the castle was occupied by Marie de Bourbon during her attempt to claim the Principality following the death of her husband, Robert of Taranto
Robert of Taranto
Robert II of Taranto , of the Angevin family, Prince of Taranto , King of Albania , Prince of Achaea , Titular Emperor of Constantinople ....
. By 1381, the castle is found in the hands of the Navarrese Company
Navarrese Company
The Navarrese Company was a company of mercenaries, mostly from Navarre and Gascony, which fought in Greece during the late 14th century and early 15th century, in the twilight of Frankish power in the dwindling remnant of the Latin Empire...
.
The Venetians attempted to purchase the castle several times, worried about the threat it posed to their trading interests; they occupied it in 1417 to prevent the Genoese from doing so, and finally secured its sale from the Prince of Achaea, Centurione II Zaccaria
Centurione II Zaccaria
Centurione II Zaccaria , scion of Genoese powerful merchant family established in the Morea, was installed as Prince of Achaea by Ladislaus of Naples in 1404 and was the last ruler of the Latin Empire not under Byzantine suzerainty....
, in 1423. Venetian control survived the First Ottoman–Venetian War
Ottoman–Venetian War (1463–1479)
The First Ottoman–Venetian War was fought between the Republic of Venice and her allies and the Ottoman Empire from 1463 to 1479. Fought shortly after the capture of Constantinople and the remnants of the Byzantine Empire by the Ottomans, it resulted in the loss of several Venetian holdings in...
of the late 15th century, but not the Second War at the turn of the 16th. Following the Venetian defeat in the Battle of Modon (1500), the Pylos garrison simply surrendered when the forces of Bayezid II
Bayezid II
Bayezid II or Sultân Bayezid-î Velî was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II, ruling as Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1481 to 1512...
arrived from Modon, despite significant strength and ample provisions.
Upon gaining control of the region, the Ottomans constructed New Pylos castle (Anavarin-i cedid) on the southern end of the bay, and the old castle lost importance. The new castle better covered the main practical entrance to the bay towards the south, especially as the narrower northern entrance was blocked in 1571 by ships scuttled during the Battle of Lepanto
Battle of Lepanto
The Battle of Lepanto normally refers to the 1571 Holy League victory over the Ottoman fleet. There were also three earlier battles fought in the vicinity of Lepanto:*Battle of Naupactus in 429 BC, an Athenian victory during the Peleoponnesian War...
; the new site also had a more secure water supply. By the late 16th century, the old castle had only a token garrison, and it became increasingly dilapidated and partly ruined through the 17th century. During the Morean War
Morean War
The Morean War is the better known name for the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War. The war was fought between 1684–1699, as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire...
, the Ottomans concentrated their defenses at the new castle, and the old castle's 100-man garrison surrendered to the Venetians without a battle on June 2, 1686.
The Venetians considered either improving or demolishing the fortress, but ended up making few modifications before it was retaken by the Ottomans in 1715, during the Seventh Ottoman–Venetian War. Neither were any major repairs or improvements made by the Ottomans, though it was garrisoned with a token force. When the Ottomans retreated in 1828 during the Greek War of Independence
Greek War of Independence
The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution was a successful war of independence waged by the Greek revolutionaries between...
, the French Morea expedition
Morea expedition
The Morea expedition is the name given in France to the land intervention of the French Army in the Peloponnese, between 1828 and 1833, at the time of the Greek War of Independence....
found the castle essentially a ruin.