Gramvousa, also Grampousa (, further names include ''Akra'', ''Cavo Buso'', ''Cavo Bouza'', ''Garabusa'' and ''Grabusa''), refers to two small uninhabited islands off the coast of a peninsula also known Gramvousa Peninsula (Greek: ''Χερσόνησος Γραμβούσας'') in north-western

Crete Crete ( ; , Modern Greek, Modern: , Ancient Greek, Ancient: ) is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the List of islands by area, 88th largest island in the world and the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fifth la ...

in the regional unit of Chania. The Gramvousa Peninsula forms the more westerly of the two pairs of peninsulae in northwestern Crete (the other being Rodopos Peninsula), and is the western part of Kissamos Bay. The Gramvousa islands are administered by the municipality of

Kissamos Kissamos () is a town and a municipality in the west of the island of Crete, Greece. It is part of the Chania regional unit and of the former Kissamos Province which covers the northwest corner of the island. The town of Kissamos is also known as ...

Naming

Imeri Gramvousa (), which translates to ''Tame Gramvousa'', hosts the remains of a Venetian

fort A fortification (also called a fort, fortress, fastness, or stronghold) is a military construction designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from La ...

and the remains of buildings left behind by Cretan insurgents, who were compelled to live as pirates during the

Greek War of Independence The Greek War of Independence, also known as the Greek Revolution or the Greek Revolution of 1821, was a successful war of independence by Greek revolutionaries against the Ottoman Empire between 1821 and 1829. In 1826, the Greeks were assisted ...

. Today, Imeri Gramvousa is a popular tourist attraction. Agria Gramvousa (), which translates to ''Wild Gramvousa'', is much less hospitable and is located due north of Imeri Gramvousa. It has also been named ''False Gramvousa''. In ancient times the larger island was known as ''Korykos'', page 133 which means ''leather bag''. The island was named "Gramvousa" in honour of Vousa, the wife of a pirate chief and the only inhabitant of the island to evade capture when the pirates were forcibly removed.

Ottoman–Venetian Wars

The fort at Imeri Gramvousa was built between 1579 and 1584 during Venetian rule over Crete to defend the island from the

Ottoman Turks The Ottoman Turks () were a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group in Anatolia. Originally from Central Asia, they migrated to Anatolia in the 13th century and founded the Ottoman Empire, in which they remained socio-politically dominant for the e ...

. The fort remained in Venetian hands throughout the prolonged Cretan War, and in the treaty of 16 September 1669, which surrendered Crete to the Ottomans, Gramvousa, along with the fortresses of Souda and

Spinalonga Spinalonga () is an island in the Gulf of Elounda, north-eastern Crete, in the municipality of Agios Nikolaos, Crete, Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, next to the town of Plaka in the area of Kalydon (Elounda), Kalydon. It is near the Spinalonga peninsu ...

, was retained by Venice.Maltezou, ''Crete under Venetian rule'', p. 159 These three forts defended Venetian

trade routes A trade route is a Logistics, logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. The term can also be used to refer to trade over land or water. Allowing Good (economics and accounting ...

and were also strategic bases in the event of a new Ottoman–Venetian war for Crete.Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 343 In 1691, during the

Morean War The Morean war (), also known as the Sixth Ottoman–Venetian War, was fought between 1684–1699 as part of the wider conflict known as the "Great Turkish War", between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire. Military operations ranged ...

(another Ottoman–Venetian war), the venal Venetian commander betrayed Gramvousa to the Ottomans. He lived the rest of his life in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

and was well known by the nickname "Captain Grambousas". Not long after the start of Turkish rule, Cretan insurgents used to gather at the three coastal forts which included Gramvousa.Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 355

Greek War of Independence

With the outbreak of the

, the fort fell to the insurgents' hands. In 1823, Emmanouil Tombazis, the Greek provisional government's

commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to incl ...

for Crete, failed to strengthen the defences at Gramvousa when he had the opportunity, soon after his arrival on the island.Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 378 Towards the summer of 1825, a body of three to four hundred Cretans, who had fought with other Greeks in the

Peloponnese The Peloponnese ( ), Peloponnesus ( ; , ) or Morea (; ) is a peninsula and geographic region in Southern Greece, and the southernmost region of the Balkans. It is connected to the central part of the country by the Isthmus of Corinth land bridg ...

, journeyed to Crete. On 9 August 1825, led by Dimitrios Kallergis and Emmanouil Antoniadis, this group of Cretans, disguised as Turks, captured the fort at Gramvousa, which became their base. These and subsequent actions revitalized the Cretan insurgency, ushering the so-called "Gramvousa period".Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 381 Although the Ottomans did not manage to retake the fort, they were successful in blocking the spread of the insurgency to the islands' western provinces. The insurgents were besieged in Gramvousa for more than two years and they had to resort to piracy to survive. Gramvousa became a hive of piratical activity that greatly affected Turkish-Egyptian and European shipping in the region. During that period the population of Gramvousa became organised and they built a schoolDetorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 422 and a church. The church was called '' Panagia i Kleftrina'' and was dedicated to the wives of the klephts, namely the pirates.Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 383 In 1828, the new governor of Greece,

Ioannis Kapodistrias Count Ioannis Antonios Kapodistrias (; February 1776 –27 September 1831), sometimes anglicized as John Capodistrias, was a Greek statesman who was one of the most distinguished politicians and diplomats of 19th-century Europe. Kapodistrias's ...

, sent Alexander Mavrocordatos with British and French ships to Crete to deal with the pirates. This expedition resulted in the destruction of all pirate ships at Gramvousa and the fort came under British control. On 5 January 1828, on Kapodistrias' orders Hatzimichalis Dalianis landed at Gramvousa with 700 men. During the Cretan revolt of 1878, only the forts at Gramvousa,

Ierapetra Ierapetra (; ancient name: ) is a Greece, Greek city and municipality located on the southeast coast of Crete. History The town of Ierapetra (in the local dialect: Γεράπετρο ''Gerapetro'') is located on the southeast coast of Crete, sit ...

Heraklion Heraklion or Herakleion ( ; , , ), sometimes Iraklion, is the largest city and the administrative capital city, capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion (regional unit), Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in G ...

, Rethymnon, Izeddin, Hania, and

could not be captured by the insurgents because they did not have the necessary artillery.Detorakis, ''Turkish rule in Crete'', p. 408

Balos Lagoon

There is a lagoon, named the Balos lagoon, between the island and the coast of Crete. There is an islet which forms part of a cape, through the lagoon, called Cape Tigani (which means "frying pan" in Greek). North of Balos, at the Korykon cape, are the ruins of the small ancient Roman city of Agnion, with a temple to the god

Apollo Apollo is one of the Twelve Olympians, Olympian deities in Ancient Greek religion, ancient Greek and Ancient Roman religion, Roman religion and Greek mythology, Greek and Roman mythology. Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, mu ...

Image gallery

File:Balos Beach.jpg, Balos Lagoon with Cape Tigani to the right File:'Ημερη & Άγρια Γραμβούσα.jpg, Imeri and Agria Gramvousa File:Gramvousa Fort.jpg, View of Balos Lagoon from the Gramvousa Fort

References

Sources

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External links

''Scoglio e Fortezza di Garabuse''
map by Marco Boschini {{Aegean Sea Landforms of Chania (regional unit) Islands of Greece Mediterranean islands Venetian fortifications in Crete Uninhabited islands of Crete Greek War of Independence Ottoman–Venetian Wars Pirate dens and locations Piracy in the Mediterranean 16th-century fortifications in Greece