Caned the (in Greek τα Χανιά (in the plural), often transcribed in Chania or Hania ) is a town of Western Crete, in the department of the same name. It is the second city of the island, with approximately 55.000 inhabitants.
History
Antiquity
Caned is located on the old Minoan site of Kydonia, Coing in Greek. The city was redéveloppée at the end of the Minoan time like important a City-State of the traditional Greece, whose limits extended from bay of Canée to the foot of the Blanches mountains. Kydonia was constantly in war with other city-States such as Aptera, Falasarna and Polyrrinia, and even Égine, which commemorates a victory with the temple of Aphaia. The city is enough important to be mentioned in the Odyssée of Homère. In 69 av. J. - C., the Roman consul Metellus demolishes Crétois and conquers Kydonia to which it grants the privileges of a city-State independent. Kydonia had the right to strike its own currency until the 3rd century after J. - C.
The Middle Ages
The beginning of the period of Byzantine domination is rather badly documented. The Moslem armed take possession of the island into 824, taken again by the Byzantine in 921. They then start to strengthen the city to prevent its reconquest by the Moslems.
After the Fourth crusade and the dismantling of the Byzantine Empire, in 1204, Crete is given to Boniface, marquis de Montferrat who chooses to resell it with the Vénitiens. In 1252, the Venetian ones manage to subject Crétois but in 1263, the Génois, with the support of the population, take the city, carried out by the count of Malta, Henrico Pescatore. They hold the city until in 1285 and its reconquest by the Venetian ones. Caned is then the administrative seat of the area, and becomes a center of trade as well as a fertile area for agriculture. The contacts with the Vénitiens support the exchanges between the two cultures. The name of the city is transformed into Canea and of the fortifications are built all around the city to protect it from the invasions and the pirates, giving with Canée the form which it has today.
However, the walls do not prevent the Turks from entering the city after only two months of seat. The Turks unload with the monastery of Gonia, with Kissamos, which they plunder and burn. They capture Caned on August 2nd, 1645. The seat made of many deaths, especially in the rows Turkish. The commander of the Turkish armies is carried out while returning to the country to have lost 40 000 men.
Modern time
The majority of the churches are transformed into mosques and the richnesses of the city are taken. Turkish resides mainly in the districts is city, Kastelli and Splantzia, where they convert the Dominican church of Saint Nicolas's Day into mosque Houghiar Tzamissi . They also build new mosques such as the mosque Kioutsouk Hassan Tzamissi on the port, of the public baths - Haman S, and of the fountains, important components of the Turkish cities. The pasha of Crete resided Caned.
In 1821, whereas the Greece is raised against the Ottoman Empire, much of Christians are massacred, including the bishop of Kissamos, hung with a tree.
Eleftherios Venizelos, originating in Mournies close of Caned, is one of the leaders of rising against the Othomans. He will become Prime Minister of Greece thereafter. Its tomb is at the overhanging top of a Caned hill. In 1898, during the last steps towards independence and of the Enosis (union with Greece), the great powers make Canée the capital of an semi-autonomous State crétois, with Prince Georges Ier of Greece at its head. The district of Hallepa has several neo-classic embassies and consulates going back to this period. The capital of the island will become Héraklion in 1971.
The city today
Although it was bombarded during the Second world war, Caned is regarded as one of the prettiest towns of Crete, particularly the Venetian old port with its headlight of the 15th century and the Mosquée of the Janissaires. The majority of the buildings were restored in order to become hotels, stores or bars. However, the district of the Splantzia, behind the Venetian port and arsenals is always very largely intact and very evocative of the atmosphere of then. The Greek cathedral orthodoxe of 1860 is located in a public garden, facing the cathedral roman catholic. The Synagog - Etz Hayyim in the Topanas- district was restored these last years, thus empéchant it to fall in ruin after the Jewish community of Canée was off-set of the island by the soldiers Nazi in 1944. Tragically, a British torpedo ran the Tanais which transported the majority of the captive Jews.The city glorifie to have an archaeological museum, a museum of the navy and a museum of the folklore, art galleries and many stores and taverns in the old city. The market hall going back to 1913, based on the plans of that of Marseilles, is with the accesses of the old city and is popular as well near the tourists as local inhabitants. In the new city, one finds the university and the town hall.
Transport
The city has an international airport (code AITA: CHQ), on the peninsula Akrotiri. The airport holds its name of Daskalogiannis, a sharp hero sfakiot skinned by the Turks at the 18th century. There are several daily flights since Athens. The summer the flights charters since Germany, Great Britain or the other countries of Europe are also frequent.Welded, with 7km in the east, is the port of the city and the place of a naval base of NATO. Ferries go daily to Athens.
See too
Related articles
External bonds
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the site of Caned the
Simple: Chania
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