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79-614: In the late 16th century, the English Levant Company , trading with the Ottoman Empire , established a significant commercial presence in the city they knew as Leghorn. Soon the English community, which was predominately Anglican , needed a burial place for its dead. Some historians argue that the cemetery was founded before 1609, although the oldest graves are dated around the 1640s. Some sources say that in 1594

158-420: A great deal of American silver, which the English took up at Cadiz . The more valuable returns were in raw silk , cotton wool and yarn, currants and raisins, nutmeg, black pepper, indigo , galls , camlets , wool and cotton cloth, the soft leathers called maroquins , soda ash for making glass and soap, and several gums and medicinal drugs. Velvet, carpets, and silk were bought by the traders. The commerce of

237-505: A new charter was granted and by 1595 its character as a regulated company had become clear. In the early days of the company there were threats not just from Barbary pirates but also from Spain during the 1585 to 1604 war . In that conflict however the company with its heavily armed ships managed to repel the Spanish galleys intent on capturing the cargo in a number of pitched naval battles, in 1586 , 1590 , 1591 and 1600 The company as

316-631: A passage from Lesbos to Samos . After the permanent division of the Roman Empire in 395 AD, Chios was for seven centuries part of the Byzantine Empire . This came to an end when the island was briefly held (1090–97) by Tzachas , a Turkish bey in the region of Smyrna during the first expansion of the Turks to the Aegean coast. However, the Turks were driven back from the Aegean coast by

395-544: A result surrendered some of their ships to the English Crown and these were used during the Spanish Armada campaign, proving their worth. James I (1603–25) renewed and confirmed the company's charter in 1606, adding new privileges. However he engaged in a verbal anti-Turk crusade and neglected direct relations with the Turks. The government did not interfere with trade, which expanded. Especially profitable

474-569: A small Jewish population from at least 1049 AD. The original Greek ( Romaniote ) Jews, thought to have been brought over by the Romans, were later joined by Sephardic Jews welcomed by the Ottomans during the Iberian expulsions of the late 15th century . The mainstay of the island's famous wealth was the mastic crop. Chios was able to make a substantial contribution to the imperial treasury while at

553-587: A thousand infantrymen, a hundred cavalrymen and two galleys, expelled the Zacharia family from the island (1329) and dissolved the fiefdom. Local rule was brief. In 1346, a chartered company or Maona (the " Maona di Chio e di Focea ") was set up in Genoa to reconquer and exploit Chios and the neighbouring town of Phocaea in Asia Minor. Although the islanders firmly rejected an initial offer of protection,

632-580: A treaty was signed between England and the Ottoman Empire, giving English merchants trading rights similar to those enjoyed by French merchants. In 1582, William Harborne , an English merchant who had carried out most of the treaty negotiations in Constantinople to French protestations, made himself permanent envoy. But by 1586 Harborne was appointed 'Her Majesty's ambassador' to the Ottoman Empire, with all his expenses (including gifts given to

711-402: Is mountainous and arid, with a ridge of mountains running the length of the island. The two largest of these mountains, Pelineon (1,297 m (4,255 ft)) and Epos (1,188 m (3,898 ft)), are situated in the north of the island. The center of the island is divided between east and west by a range of smaller peaks, known as Provatas. Chios can be divided into five regions. Midway up

790-625: Is the fifth largest Greek island , situated in the northern Aegean Sea , and the tenth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait . Chios is notable for its exports of mastic gum and its nickname is "the Mastic Island". Tourist attractions include its medieval villages and the 11th-century monastery of Nea Moni , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Administratively,

869-483: Is the presence of what some believe are elms from Virginia , said to have been planted by American sailors visiting the graves of their loved ones. Among the most ancient graves is that of Leonardo Digges, son of Dudley Digges , whose grave, dated 1646, is decorated with a bas-relief , which served as a model for many other monuments in the cemetery. Also notable are some graves from the 18th century, such as Robert Bateman's grave, which have convex and concave shapes. At

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948-559: The Chios massacre , in which tens of thousands of Greeks on the island were massacred, expelled, and enslaved by Ottoman troops during the Greek War of Independence in 1822. Chios remained a part of the Ottoman Empire until 1912. Chios island is crescent or kidney-shaped, 50 km (31 mi) long from north to south, and 29 km (18 mi) at its widest, covering an area of 842.289 km (325.210 sq mi). The terrain

1027-578: The Ionian League . As a result, Chios, at the end of the 7th century BC, was one of the first cities to strike or mint coins, establishing the sphinx as its symbol. It maintained this tradition for almost 900 years. In the 6th century BC, Chios' government adopted a constitution similar to that developed by Solon in Athens and later developed democratic elements with a voting assembly and people's magistrates called damarchoi . In 546 BC, Chios

1106-635: The Latin emperors of Constantinople , with Chios nominally becoming a possession of the Republic of Venice . However, defeats for the Latin empire resulted in the island reverting to Byzantine rule in 1225. The Byzantine rulers had little influence and through the Treaty of Nymphaeum , authority was ceded to the Republic of Genoa (1261). At this time the island was frequently attacked by pirates, and by 1302–1303

1185-688: The Levant . The company remained in continuous existence until being superseded in 1825. A member of the company was known as a Turkey Merchant . The origins of the Levant Company lay in the Italian trade with Constantinople, and the wars against the Turks in Hungary, although a parallel was routed to Morocco and the Barbary Coast on a similar trade winds as early as 1413. The collapse of

1264-588: The Ottoman Empire after the surrender to Piyale Pasha . Subsequently, the Genoans were sent to the capital and after some time upon the request of the French ambassador they were allowed to return with a firman. During Ottoman rule, the government and tax gathering again remained in the hands of Greeks and the Turkish garrison was small and inconspicuous. As well as the Latin and Turkish influx, documents record

1343-517: The Sublime Porte became increasingly important, the Crown had to assume control of the appointment. One of the best regulations of the company was not to leave the consuls, or even the ambassador, to fix the impositions on the vessels for defraying the common expenses—something that was fatal to the companies of most other nations—but to allow a pension to the ambassador and consuls, and even to

1422-659: The Third Macedonian War , thirty-five vessels allied to Rome, carrying about 1,000 Galatian troops, as well as a number of horses, were sent by Eumenes II to his brother Attalus . Leaving from Elaea, they were headed to the harbour of Phanae, planning to disembark from there to Macedonia. However, Perseus 's naval commander Antenor intercepted the fleet between Erythrae (on the Western coast of Turkey) and Chios. According to Livy , they were caught completely off-guard by Antenor. Eumenes' officers at first thought

1501-674: The Venetian empire , high tariffs, and the ousting of the Genoese from Scio ( Chios ) had left a vacuum that was filled by a few intrepid adventurers in their own cog vessels with endeavour to reopen trade with the East on their own accounts. Following a decline in trade with the Levant over a number of decades, several London merchants petitioned Queen Elizabeth I in 1580 for a charter to guarantee exclusivity when trading in that region. In 1580

1580-528: The Venice Company (1583) and the Turkey Company (1581) merged, because their charters had expired, as she was eager to maintain trade and political alliances with the Ottoman Empire . Its initial charter was good for seven years and was granted to Edward Osborne , Richard Staper , Thomas Smith and William Garrard with the purpose of regulating English trade with the Ottoman Empire and

1659-582: The moment magnitude scale , damaged a large portion of the island's buildings and resulted in great loss of life. Reports of the time spoke of 5,500–10,000 fatalities. Remarkably, despite the terrible devastation, in the later 19th century Chios emerged as the motherland of the modern Greek shipping industry. Indicatively, while in 1764, Chios had 6 vessels with 90 sailors on record, in 1875 there were 104 ships with over 60,000 registered tonnes, and in 1889 were recorded 440 sailing ships of various types with 3,050 sailors. The dynamic development of Chian shipping in

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1738-486: The 19th century is further attested by the various shipping related services that were present in the island during this time, such as the creation of the shipping insurance companies Chiaki Thalassoploia (Χιακή Θαλασσοπλοΐα), Dyo Adelfai (Δυο Αδελφαί), Omonoia (Ομόνοια) and the shipping bank Archangelos (Αρχάγγελος) (1863). The boom of Chian shipping took place with the successful transition from sailing vessels to steam. To this end, Chian ship owners were supported by

1817-720: The Byzantines aided by the First Crusade , and the island was restored to Byzantine rule by admiral Constantine Dalassenos . This relative stability was ended by the sacking of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade (1204) and during the turmoil of the 13th century the island's ownership was constantly affected by the regional power struggles. After the Fourth Crusade, the Byzantine empire was divided up by

1896-623: The Chians were ultimately forced to retreat and were again subjected to Persian domination. The defeat of Persia at the Battle of Mycale in 479 BC meant the liberation of Chios from Persian rule. When the Athenians formed the Delian League , Chios joined as one of the few members who did not have to pay tribute but who supplied ships to the alliance. By the fifth to fourth centuries BC,

1975-521: The Company in 1821 until its dissolution in 1825. Membership began declining in the early eighteenth century. In its decline the company was looked upon as an abuse, a drain on the resources of Britain. The company's purview was thrown open to free trade in 1754, but continued its activities until dissolution in 1825. The name of the bird called 'turkey' came from the Turkey merchants. Turkish opium

2054-570: The Levant Factory in Aleppo , as well as Constantinople , Alexandria and Smyrna . Throughout the company's history, Aleppo functioned as the central hub for the entire Middle East operations. By 1588, the Levant Company had been converted to a regulated monopoly on an established trade route, from its initial character as a joint-stock company . The prime movers in the conversion were Sir Edward Osborne and Richard Staper. In January 1592,

2133-716: The Roman world and later. It has a pinkish coloured background containing yellow-orange, brown and grey spots of variable shape and size, separated by whitish or red veins. The name "portasanta" derives from the door jambs of St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, being made of this marble. According to the Acts of the Apostles , Luke the Evangelist , Paul the Apostle and their companions passed Chios during Paul's third missionary journey, on

2212-523: The Seas of the Levant . The number of members was not limited, but averaged about 300. The principal qualification required was that the candidate be a wholesale merchant, either by family, or by serving an apprenticeship of seven years. Those under 25 years of age paid 25 pounds at their admission; those above, twice as much. Each made an oath, at his entrance, not to send any merchandise to the Levant, except on his own account; and not to consign them to any but

2291-500: The Sultan and his court) to be paid by the Levant Company. When the charters of the Venice Company and the Turkey Company expired, both companies were merged into the Levant Company in 1592 after Queen Elizabeth I approved its charter as part of her diplomacy with the Ottoman Empire . The company had no colonial aspirations, but rather established " factories " (trading centers) in already-established commercial centers, such as

2370-528: The burial ground was opened by authorization of the Grand Duke Ferdinando I , who had recently completed a commercial agreement with Queen Elizabeth I . The cemetery was erected outside the city walls, in an area called "Fondo Magno". For a long time it was the only English and Protestant cemetery in Italy and probably in the entire Mediterranean area. Initially the cemetery was unenclosed, which

2449-467: The chief officers—including the chancellor, secretary, chaplain, interpreters, and janissaries —so that there was no pretence for their raising any sum at all on the merchants or merchandises. It was true that the ambassador and consul might act alone on these occasions, but the pensions being offered to them on condition of declining them, they chose not to act. In extraordinary cases, the consuls, and even ambassador himself, had recourse to two deputies of

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2528-476: The city gates, and on the road leading to the city. Of the 1,000 men, 800 were killed, 200 taken prisoner.' After the Roman conquest Chios became part of the province of Asia . In the spring of 14 BC, King Herod of Judaea , known for his extensive architectural projects, funded the construction of a stoa on Chios, which had suffered destruction during the Mithridatic War . Additionally, he settled

2607-530: The company to Smyrna, Constantinople, and İskenderun , was much less considerable than that of the East India Company ; but was, more advantageous to England, because it took off much more of the English products than the other, which was chiefly carried on in money. The places reserved for the commerce of this company included all the states of Venice , in the Gulf of Venice ; the state of Ragusa ; all

2686-454: The company's agents, or factors. The company governed itself by a plurality of voices. The company had a court, or board at London, composed of a governor, sub-governor, and twelve directors, or assistants; who were all actually to live in London, or the suburbs. They also had a deputy-governor, in every city and port where there were any members of the company. This assembly at London sent out

2765-675: The company, residing in the Levant, or if the affair be very important, assemble the whole nation. Here were regulated the presents to be given, the voyages to be made, and every thing to be deliberated; and on the resolutions here taken, the deputies appointed the treasurer to furnish the required funds. The ordinary commerce of this company employed from 20 to 25 vessels, of between 25 and 30 pieces of cannon. The merchandises exported there were limited in quality and range, suggesting an imbalance of trade; they included traditional cloths, especially shortcloth and kerseys , tin, pewter , lead, black pepper, re-exported cochineal , black rabbit skins and

2844-422: The construction of a huge multi-level parking lot was started just a few yards from the cemetery walls, replacing the historical Odeon cinema. In 2009 a restoration and study project was started by a group of volunteers and is still ongoing (April 2013). The cemetery survived great damage caused by bombing during World War II , which also damaged the adjoining Waldensian and St. George's churches. It remains one of

2923-444: The east coast lie the main population centers, the main town of Chios, and the regions of Vrontados and Kambos. Chios Town, with a population of 32,400, is built around the island's main harbour and medieval castle. The current castle, with a perimeter of 1,400 m (4,600 ft), was principally constructed during the time of Genoese and Ottoman rule, although remains have been found dating settlements there back to 2000 B.C. The town

3002-548: The end of the 18th century and in the 19th century, the Neoclassical style of decoration became evident in the monuments, which often bore citations from the works of Bertel Thorvaldsen , who lived in Livorno. Notable people buried here include: Levant Company The Levant Company was an English chartered company formed in 1592. Elizabeth I of England approved its initial charter on 11 September 1592 when

3081-499: The far south of the island. Scholars lack information on this period. The size and duration of these settlements have therefore not been well-established. The British School at Athens under the direction of Sinclair Hood excavated the Emporeio site in 1952–1955, and most current information comes from these digs. The Greek Archaeological Service has also been excavating periodically on Chios since 1970, though much of its work on

3160-467: The frequent raids by marauding pirates. Between Chios Town and the Mastichochoria lie a large number of historic villages including Armolia ( Αρμόλια ), Myrmighi ( Μυρμήγκι ), and Kalimassia ( Καλλιμασιά ). Along the east coast are the fishing villages of Kataraktis ( Καταρράκτης ) and to the south, Nenita ( Νένητα ). Directly in the centre of the island, between the villages of Avgonyma to

3239-467: The hands of the local Greek landowners. Benedetto Zacharia was followed by his son Paleologo and then his grandsons or nephews Benedetto II and Martino . They attempted to turn the island towards the Latin and Papal powers, and away from the predominant Byzantine influence. The locals, still loyal to the Byzantine Empire, responded to a letter from the emperor and, despite a standing army of

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3318-476: The intercepting fleet were friendly Romans, but scattered upon realizing they were facing an attack by their Macedonian enemy, some choosing to abandon ship and swim to Erythrae. Others, crashing their ships into land on Chios, fled toward the city. The Chians however closed their gates, startled at the calamity. And the Macedonians, who had docked closer to the city anyway, cut the rest of the fleet off outside

3397-487: The island after a series of clashes that lasted for over a month. The Ottoman Empire recognized Greece's annexation of Chios and the other Aegean islands by signing the Treaty of London (1913) . Although Greece was officially neutral, the island was occupied by the British during World War I, on 17 February 1916. This may have been due to the island's proximity to the Ottoman Empire and the city of İzmir in particular. It

3476-541: The island are the Mastichochoria (literally 'mastic villages'), the seven villages of Mesta ( Μεστά ), Pyrgi ( Πυργί ), Olympi ( Ολύμποι ), Kalamoti ( Καλαμωτή ), Vessa ( Βέσσα ), Lithi ( Λιθί ), and Elata ( Ελάτα ), which together have controlled the production of mastic gum in the area since the Roman period. The villages, built between the 14th and 16th centuries, have a carefully designed layout with fortified gates and narrow streets to protect against

3555-460: The island forms a separate municipality within the Chios regional unit , which is part of the North Aegean region . The principal town of the island and seat of the municipality is Chios . Locals refer to Chios town as Chora ( Χώρα literally means land or country, but usually refers to the capital or a settlement at the highest point of a Greek island). The island was also the site of

3634-549: The island had grown to an estimated population of over 120,000 (two to three times the estimated population in 2005), based on the huge necropolis at the main city of Chios. It is thought that the majority of the population lived in that area. In 412 BC, during the Peloponnesian War , Chios revolted against Athens, and the Athenians besieged it. Relief only came the following year when the Spartans were able to raise

3713-529: The island is attested by ceramics, while a Phoenician presence is noted at Erythrae , the traditional competitor of Chios on the mainland. Pherecydes, native to the Aegean, wrote that the island was occupied by the Leleges , Pre-Greeks who were reported to be subjected to the Minoans on Crete . They were eventually driven out by invading Ionians . Chios was one of the original twelve member states of

3792-510: The island remained under Genoese control for two centuries. A notable Genoese inhabitant from this period was Christopher Columbus who lived in Chios in the 1470s before his voyages to the Americas. In 1566, when Genoa lost Chios to the Ottoman Empire , there were 12,000 Greeks and 2,500 Genoese (or 17% of the total population) in the island. In April 1566, the island of Chios was captured by

3871-596: The island remains unpublished. The noticeable uniformity in the size of houses at Emporeio leads some scholars to believe that there may have been little social distinction during the Neolithic era on the island. The inhabitants apparently all benefited from agricultural and livestock farming. It is also widely held by scholars that the island was not occupied by humans during the Middle Bronze Age (2300–1600), though researchers have recently suggested that

3950-479: The island was invaded by a Genoese fleet, led by Simone Vignoso , and the castle besieged. Again rule was transferred peacefully, as on 12 September the castle was surrendered and a treaty signed with no loss of privileges to the local landowners as long as the new authority was accepted. The Maona was controlled by the Giustiniani family. The Genoese, being interested in profit rather than conquest, controlled

4029-546: The island. Theopompus was exiled again sometime after Alexander's death and took refuge in Egypt. During this period, the island also had become the largest exporter of Greek wine, which was noted for being of relatively high quality (see " Chian wine "). Chian amphoras , with a characteristic sphinx emblem and bunches of grapes, have been found in nearly every country with whom the ancient Greeks traded. These countries included Gaul , Upper Egypt , and Southern Russia . During

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4108-429: The lack of evidence from this period may only demonstrate the lack of excavations on Chios and the northern Aegean . By at least the 11th century BC the island was ruled by a monarchy, and the subsequent transition to aristocratic (or possibly tyrannic ) rule occurred sometime over the next four centuries. Future excavations may reveal more information about this period. 9th-century Euboean and Cypriote presence on

4187-663: The most charming and interesting places in Livorno. After the Second World War the cemetery was to be found hidden behind a large six-storey apartment-block, showing the distinct lack of sensitivity of the local administration of the time. The entrance is located in a small square, accessible through the property of the Arciconfraternita della Misericordia . The cemetery is a large quadrangle, characterized by dense arboreal vegetation, with century-old cypress trees and various Mediterranean plants. A notable feature

4266-404: The orchards of Kampos and their bodies driven through the main town on the back of a truck. In March 1948, the island was used as an internment camp for female political detainees (communists or relatives of guerillas) and their children, who were housed in military barracks near the town of Chios. Up to 1300 women and 50 children were housed in cramped and degrading conditions, until March 1949 when

4345-409: The outstanding taxes owed by the people of Chios to the Romans. Pliny remarks upon the islanders' use of variegated marble in their buildings, their appreciation for such stone above murals or other forms of artificial decoration, and the cosmetic properties of the local earth . The marble from Chios, called marmor chium or "portasanta" today, became one of the most desireable and expensive in

4424-404: The poet Ion of Chios believed the island received its name from Chios , the son of Poseidon by a nymph of the island, who was born amidst snowfall ( Ancient Greek : χιών chiōn 'snow'). Known as Ophioussa ( Ὀφιοῦσσα , 'snake island') and Pityoussa ( Πιτυοῦσσα , 'pine-tree island') in antiquity, during the later Middle Ages the island was ruled by a number of non-Greek powers and

4503-493: The regulations prescribed. Charles II , upon his restoration, endeavored to set the company upon its original basis; to which end, he gave them a charter, containing not only a confirmation of their old one, but also several new articles of reformation. By the charter of King Charles II in 1661, the company was erected into a body politic , capable of making laws, under the title of the Company of Merchants of England trading to

4582-490: The revenues derived from this trade, and English diplomacy was complicated by this trade. For example, James refused to provide financial support to Poland for its war against the Turks. During the English Civil War (1642–1651), some innovations were made in the government of the company, allowing many people to become members who were not qualified by the charters of Elizabeth and James, or who did not conform to

4661-464: The revolution and launched attacks against the Turks, at which point islanders decided to join the struggle. Ottomans landed a large force on the island consequently and put down the rebellion. The Ottoman massacre of Chios expelled, killed or enslaved thousands of the inhabitants of the island. It wiped out whole villages and affected the Mastichochoria area, the mastic growing villages in

4740-543: The same time maintaining only a light level of taxation. The Ottoman government regarded it as one of the most valuable provinces of the Empire. When the Greek War of Independence broke out, the island's leaders were reluctant to join the revolutionaries, fearing the loss of their security and prosperity. However, in March 1822, several hundred armed Greeks from the neighbouring island of Samos landed in Chios. They proclaimed

4819-494: The second, all the sails, pennants, and ensigns argent, each charged with a cross gules , a chief engrailed of the third, in base a seahorse proper . * The crest was: On a wreath of the colours, a demi seahorse saliant . Chios Chios ( / ˈ k aɪ . ɒ s , ˈ k aɪ . oʊ s , ˈ k iː -/ ; Greek : Χίος , romanized :  Chíos [ˈçi.os] , traditionally known as Scio in English)

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4898-405: The siege. In the 4th century BC, Chios was a member of the Second Athenian League but revolted against Athens during the Social War (357–355 BC) , and Chios became independent again until the rise of Macedonia . Theopompus returned to Chios with the other exiles in 333 BC after Alexander had invaded Asia Minor and decreed their return, as well as the exile or trial of Persian supporters on

4977-449: The south of the island. It triggered also negative public reaction in Western Europe, as portrayed by Eugène Delacroix , and in the writing of Lord Byron and Victor Hugo . In 1825, Thomas Barker of Bath painted a fresco depicting the Chios Massacre on the walls of Doric House, Bath, Somerset . Finally, Chios was not included in the modern Greek state and remained under Ottoman rule. The 1881 Chios earthquake , estimated as 6.5 on

5056-463: The states of the "Grand Signior" (the Ottoman Sultan ), and the ports of the Levant and Mediterranean Basin ; excepting Cartagena , Alicante , Barcelona , Valencia , Marseilles , Toulon , Genoa , Livorno (Leghorn), Civitavecchia , Palermo , Messina , Malta , Majorca , Menorca , and Corsica ; and other places on the coasts of France, Spain, and Italy. Ships owned by the Levant Company from 1581 to 1640: The British government took over

5135-460: The strong diaspora presence of Chian merchants and bankers, and the connections they had developed with the financing centers of the time (Istanbul, London), the establishment in London of shipping businessmen, the creation of shipping academies in Chios and the expertise of Chian personnel on board. Chios joined the rest of independent Greece after the First Balkan War (1912). The Greek Navy landed at Chios in November 1912 and took control of

5214-438: The trade-posts and warehouses, in particular the trade of mastic, alum, salt and pitch. Other trades such as grain, wine oil and cloth and most professions were run jointly with the locals. After a failed uprising in 1347, and being heavily outnumbered (less than 10% of the population in 1395), the Latins maintained light control over the local population, remaining largely in the town and allowing full religious freedom. In this way

5293-409: The vessels, regulated the tariff for the price at which the European merchandise sent to the Levant were to be sold; and for the quality of those returned. It raised taxes on merchandise, to defray impositions, and the common expense of the company; presented the ambassador, which the King was to keep at the port; elected two consuls for Smyrna and Constantinople , etc. As the post of ambassador to

5372-411: The west and Karyes to the east, is the 11th century monastery of Nea Moni , a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The monastery was built with funds given by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX , after three monks, living in caves nearby, had petitioned him while he was in exile on the island of Lesbos . The monastery had substantial estates attached, with a thriving community until the massacre of 1822 . It

5451-489: The year, with wind direction predominantly northerly (" Etesian " Wind—locally called the "Meltemi") or southwesterly (Sirocco). The Chios Basin is a hydrographic sub-unit of the Aegean Sea adjacent to the island of Chios. A kind of white dirt found near Pyrgi on the southern part of the island was famed as an astringent and cosmetic since antiquity as Chian earth ( Latin : Chia terra ; Greek : πηλομαιοτικο , pēlomaiotiko ). Extracted around May each year, it

5530-437: Was a target for the renewed Turkish fleets. To prevent Turkish expansion, the island was reconquered and kept as a renewable concession, at the behest of the Byzantine emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus , by the Genovese Benedetto I Zaccaria (1304), then admiral to Philip of France. Zaccaria installed himself as ruler of the island, founding the short-lived Lordship of Chios . His rule was benign and effective control remained in

5609-418: Was affected also by the population exchange after the Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922 , with the incoming Greek refugees settling in Kastro (previously a Turkish neighborhood) and in new settlements hurriedly built south of Chios town. The island saw some local violence during the Greek Civil War setting neighbour against neighbour. This ended when the final band of communist fighters was trapped and killed in

5688-471: Was bought by the Levant Company. The Levant Company encompassed American merchants before 1811 who bought Turkish opium. These merchants would sell the opium to the Chinese, beginning in 1806. Among these American Turkey merchants were members of the famous Astor family . The arms of the Levant Company were: Azure, on a sea in base proper, a ship with three masts in full sail or, between two rocks of

5767-478: Was considered less valuable than the similar medicinal earth produced by Lemnos given that the Limnian earth was considered protective against venoms and poisons but nonetheless reputed to be "the greatest of all cosmetics... giv[ing] a whiteness and smoothness to the skin and prevent[ing] wrinkles beyond any of the other substances... for the same purposes." The ancient writer Pausanias tells us that

5846-703: Was further damaged during the 1881 earthquake. In 1952, due to the shortage of monks, Nea Moni was converted to a convent. The island's climate is warm and moderate, categorised as temperate, Mediterranean ( Köppen : Csa ), with modest variation due to the stabilising effect of the surrounding sea. Average temperatures normally range from a summer high of 30 °C (86 °F) to a winter low of 7 °C (45 °F) in January, although temperatures of over 40 °C (104 °F) or below freezing can sometimes be encountered. The island normally experiences steady breezes (average 3–5 m/s (6.7–11.2 mph)) throughout

5925-602: Was known as Scio ( Genoese ), Chio (Italian) and Sakız ( صاقيز in Ottoman Turkish ). The capital during that time was Kastron ( Κάστρον , 'castle'). Archaeological research on Chios has found evidence of habitation dating back at least to the Neolithic era. The primary sites of research for this period have been cave dwellings at Hagio(n) Galas in the north and a settlement and accompanying necropolis in modern-day Emporeio (also known as Emporio) at

6004-479: Was rectified by the erection of railings in 1745, thanks to a substantial bequest from the wealthy merchant Robert Bateman. In 1838, during the construction of the new Anglican church of St. George, the cemetery was closed and replaced with a new one in the northern part of the city, close to the San Marco gate. Despite the important historical value of the cemetery, and against the advice of art historians, in 2007

6083-809: Was subjected to the Persian Empire . Chios joined the Ionian Revolt against the Persians in 499 BC. The naval power of Chios during this period is demonstrated by the fact that the Chians had the largest fleet (100 ships) of all of the Ionians at the Battle of Lade in 494 BC. At Lade, the Chian fleet doggedly continued to fight the Persian fleet even after the defection of the Samians and others, but

6162-476: Was substantially damaged by an earthquake in 1881, and only partially retains its original character. North of Chios Town lies the large suburb of Vrontados (population 4,500), which claims to be the birthplace of Homer . The suburb lies in the Omiroupoli municipality, and its connection to the poet is supported by an archaeological site known traditionally as "Teacher's Rock". In the southern region of

6241-479: Was the arms trade as the Porte modernised and re-equipped its forces. Of growing importance was textile exports. Between 1609 and 1619, the export of cloth to the Turks increased from 46% to 79% of total cloth exports. The business was highly lucrative. Piracy continued to be a threat. Despite the anti-Ottoman rhetoric of the king, commercial relations with the Turks expanded. The king's finances were increasingly based on

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