History of Kalymnos
Kalymnos, together with Leros, was both known in the ancient times with
the name of the Kalyndes islands. Rich in history and mythical
traditions,
The island of Kalymnos had already been inhabited from the prehistoric
times, the first inhabitants was the Carrians, Lelegs and Pelasgians,
later those tribes were succeeded by the Dorians who came from the
Peloponnese. In the prehistoric times, Kalymnos had been divided in 7
municipalities and the island lived with a democratic rule.
Kalymnos in the archaic period from the 7th century B.C joined the Doric
Alliance combined from the 6 States during the Persian Wars, Kalymnos
became part of the Athenian Alliance, and joined the military forces of
the Athenians during the Peloponnesian War.
In the following years Kalymnos island shifted alliances and finally
join up with the Spartans. Kalymnos finally was occupied by the
Persians.Ptolemaeus In the year 333 B.C. liberated Kalymnos .
In 144 B.C. Kalymnos invaded by the Romans, the island having had taken
sides with the Romans in their war against Philip the 5th. The Romans
bequeathed in the beginning several privileges to the island of
Kalymnos, later Kalymnos suffered from a heavy Roman taxation and
several looting raids that eventually lost its wealth and its population
was in misery.
During the Byzantine times, Kalymnos island experienced manyraids by
pirates that infested the Aegean sea during this time, calamities that
only came to make worst the bad circumstances of an island that often
was hit by natural disasters like earthquakes, the worst of them shook
Kalymnos in 533 AD strongly enough to change the island's shape.
During the occupation of the Francs (1204 -1261) Kalymnos island managed
to remain under the Byzantine rule and its administration was exercised
by the city of Nikea, until the year 1306 AD, when it was occupied by
the Knights of Saint John, until 1522. Pirates raids and other natural
disasters ,mostly earthquakes , continued to bring disaster to the
island during the time of the Knights.
The Turks also raid the island in many occasions until finally managed
to settle in Kalymnos as masters, the Turks did not prevent the Aegean
sea pirates from pursuing their attacks whenever they wanted. The
problem became so critical that the islanders had to take the arms in
order to protect them selfs. Having get used to protect them selves the
Kalymnians was ready when the whole Greek nation rose to overthrow the
Turkish rule. Finally Kalymnos was liberated in 1912 from the Turkish
oppressors by the Italians.
The place of the Turks now was taken by the Italians who actually
occupied the island without any resistance from the Turks. In 1948
Kalymnos like all the Dodecanese unified with Greece.
During its history, the island of Kalymnos has been always closely
associated with the the sea. The kalymnians became famous sponge divers
bringing to the island prosperity and wealth.
