THE PREFECTURE OF RETHYMNO - HISTORY

According to archaeological data, prefecture of Rethymnon was inhabited since Prehistoric period. There are lots of archaeological data (archaeological finds, settlements, sanctuaries, churches, monasteries, villages etc.) which indicate that the region was inhabited from Neolithic to Modern Times.
The existence of human life during Neolithic period (6000 - 2600 BC) is proved by archaeological findings which have been found in Ideon Andron cave on Mount Psiloritis, the Gerani cave west of Rethymnon, the Elenes cave in the Amari district etc.
During the Minoan period human activity spread throughout the whole province. Some of the most important sites of that period have been found in Chamalevri, Stavromenos (Rethymnon), Elenes, Monastiraki, Apodoulou (valley of Amari), Margarites, Perama, Aggeliana (Milopotamos area), Koxare, Spili (province of Agios Vasileios). Lots of the settlements of the Minoan period have been flattened by the earthquake of 1450 BC, catastrophic fire or sudden abandonment. Mycenaean took advantage of the destruction above in order to invade and be settled in Crete.

During the Geometric and Daedalian period (1100-620 BC) important cities such as Eleutherna and Axos (Oaxos), in the Mylopotamos area have flourished. Continuous development of the same areas can also be observed during the period of Antiquity (620-500 BC), when works of great artistic value were produced. According to the testimony of more recent sources, during Classical (500-330 BC) and Hellenistic (330-67 BC) times, the ancient town of Rithymna must have flourished; it was situated in the same place as the modern town of Rethymno is today. Simultaneously, the other large cities of the prefecture, as for example Eleutherna, Axos and Sivrytos continued to exist during the Hellenistic and the Graeco-Roman period (67 BC - 323 AD). During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Lappa (near Argiroupoli) appears as the most important city. It was conquered by Quintus Caecilius Metellus c. 68 BC. Lappa had its own coins with the inscription Lappaion. The city was in the region near the modern village Argyroupolis.

During the First Byzantine period (330-824) when the capital of the Roman Empire was transferred to the Byzantium and the Constantinople was founded in 330, Crete was included in the East Roman Empire, constituting a separate district, which was governed by a Byzantine general. Henceforth Christianity expanded on the island, and in the 8th century the Cretan Episcopate was integrated with the Patriarchate of Constantinople. During the early Christian and First Byzantine period a large number of temples were built. There is little information referring to the town of Rethymno during the First Byzantine period (325-824) and the period of Arab occupation (824-961). During the years 824 - 961, the island was governed by the Arabs, although very little evidence of this fact was found in the area of Rethymno apart from some Arabian coins, which were found in the village of Giannoudi. During the Second Byzantine period (961-1210) started in Rethymno the construction of fortification works.

Crete's liberation by Nikiforos Fokas in 961, followed by its re-integration into the Byzantine Empire, signalled the beginning of the Second Byzantine Period, which lasted up until the arrival of the Venetians on the island in 1204. At that stage a fortified wall was built around all the buildings, thus constituting the first fortified settlement, the so-called "Castrum Rethemi", which the Venetians later called Castel Vecchio.

The period of the Venetian occupation formally began in 1204, when Crete was passed over to Bonifatius of Montferrato, who later handed it over to the Venetians. However, in 1206 the Genoese pirate Enrico Pescatore invaded the island, and it was not until as late as 1210 that the Venetians actually succeeded in regaining control of Crete again. The Cretans were in opposition to their conquerors, which resulted in a series of revolutions during the period between 1211 and 1367. Despite the Cretan resistance, the Venetians embarked on successive administrative changes, according to which the island was initially divided into six, and later, during the 14th century, into four sections, with the capitals Chania, Rethymno, Chandakas and Sitia. The Duke (Duca), who had his seat in Chandakas, had sovereign power over the entire island. Rectors (Rettore), who were supported by two Councillors (Consiglieri), were in administrative command of the districts of Chania, Rethymno and Sitia.

Rethymnon was destroyed in 1567 when Algerian pirates conquered, robbed and burned it. The Turks took over Rethymnon at 1646. The Turkish occupation is known as a dark period for Rethymnon. The economy became agricultural, education ceased for a few centuries and oppression became unbearable. The Revolution at Sfakia (Chania) in 1770 prepared for the uprising of 1821. In the revolution of 1866, Arkadi Monastery near Rethymnon became the martyrdom of its defenders. Crete was eventually unified with the rest of Greece in 1913 and since then it has followed the nation's history. In May 1941, Rethymnon was one of the German Parachutists' three fronts. The memorable resistance of the local people led to the execution of hundreds of inhabitants and the levelling of whole villages.

During the period of Ottoman rule, Rethymnon fell into decline as did the other towns in Crete. During the difficult years of the struggle for independence, its inhabitants were actively involved and, as a result, many of its freedom – fighters were executed. In 1897, the Russian army took up Rethymnon and held over it until 1909. In 1913, it became part of Greece, together with the rest of Crete. During the German occupation, the habitats of Rethymnon took an active part in the resistance against fascism. Nowadays, Rethymnon shows a significant growth because of the development of tourism, the University of Crete, the produce and export of Cretan products, the cultural communication with European Countries during summer etc.