Mystras.
The town thus becomes a Byzantine area and gets influenced by the Byzantine architecture and artwork. Since then, Mystras became an important military centre and the inhabitants of the neighboring areas started building their homes on the slope of Mystras, seeking for security. |
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Mystras had a permanent lord that ruled for indefinite terms and owned the title of "despot". Along time, Mystras became the capital of the famous "despotate of Moreas".
From this point on, the history continues with plenty of fights against foreign invaders, including Franks, Slavs, Turks and Albanians.
The first despot of Mystras was Emmanuel Kantakouzinos, who ruled from 1348 to 1380. Matthew Kantakouzinos (1380-1383) and Demetrios Katankouzinos (1383-1384) were the following despots. Then, Theodor I Paleologos ruled until 1407. During this period, the prosperity of Mystras reached a high level.
In fact, the Neoplatonist philosopher George Gemistos Plethon (1355-1452) founded a philosophic school there in 1400. |
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courageous efforts to free their city from the Turks but with no result.
In 1825, the Albanian Turks slaugh tered the population and ruined the area, which was later abandoned. Finally, it became free a few years later and formed part of the first Greek state.
In 1831, King Otto founded the new city of Sparta 9 km away and this resulted to the final decline and abandonment of Mystras; most families moved to Sparta and others to New Mystras, a small village built in the countryside.
In 1952, the remaining properties were expropriated and the city started to be appreciated as one of the most interesting Greek archaeological sites.
In 1989, the old town of Mystras was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
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