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Nafpaktos History, Greece: Information about the history of Nafpaktos Greece

 
The first fact about Nafpaktos city is its name; "Nafs" comes from "naus", meaning "ship", and "pact" or "pakt" is a form of the verb "pegnimi", meaning "build".

The location of Nafpaktos benefited not only the ship building activity; Being located so close to the Peloponnese assured it a good control over the western side of the Corinthian bay.

During the Peloponnesian War in 455 BC, Nafpaktos became a chief naval station. In Medieval times, in spite of the earthquakes suffered, it also worked as one of the most important ports in the area, as it served as a connection
 
Nafpaktos history

Nafpaktos became one of the most important ports of the Byzantine fleet, being also used as a proper station for diplomatic communications to the West and at the same time to Constantinople.

Then, in 1204 Nafpaktos started
 
In 1407, it fell under the Venetians again who looked after repairing the Byzantine walls and fortified the port in order to achieve a safe station. The Ottomans finally invaded the city in 1499. In October of 1571, the legendary Battle of Lepanto took place. Among the fighters to participate in this fight was Miguel de Cervantes, the famous writer. His statue lies today close to the port to pay an attribute to his contribute in setting this town free.

Many fights followed to set the town free. Nafpaktos had an important contribution to the Greek War of Independence and
 
between the west Europeans to the Holy Land.

In addition, its position was useful for the defence of Etolia –on the north coast of the Corinth bay. Going ahead in time, the historian Procopius mentions the castle of Nafpaktos in the 6th century.

Bourtzi

In the 8th and 9th century, the city suffered various Slavic raids. Then, after the early 10th century it became a ‘theme’ –an administrative unit of the Byzantine Empire- of Nikopolis.
 
to be ruled by the Venetians and was recorded as ‘Nepanto’ or ‘Lepanto’ on their documents, a name that became very popular for this site, due to the famous battle.

However, in the 13th century the city was ceded to the founder of the Epirus Michael A’Doukas Komnenos.

During this same century, he offered Nafpaktos to Philip A’ of Taras, the fiancé of his daughter as a marriage portion.

The following century, the control of the city passed to the Albanians, while in the last decades the ruling of Nafpaktos varied according to the constant confrontations between Venetians, Albanians and Ottomans.
 
many heroes acted there. In fact, the statue of Anemogiannis, a Revolution personality, stands today in the port of Nafpaktos.

Nafpaktos history

Finally, in 1829, Nafpaktos got its freedom and got included on the legally established Greek State. In our days, the small port of Nafpaktos is still remarkable for its beauty and the Castle stands proudly above the town to remind of past times.
 
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