I am of Greek ancestry with roots in villages near Sparta. My paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather were born in Agios Ioannis (St. Johns), and my maternal grandmother was born in Mystras. I love family history research and have been tracing my roots for many years. I was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in a predominantly Greek neighborhood close to extended family. I live in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and work as a volunteer Co-Director of the Washington, D.C. Family History Center and a genealogy aide/project aide at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. I am always updating and adding new information. Please contact me - I would love to hear from you!
Among the civic responsibilities assumed by some of our ancestors was the opportunity to serve on a jury in a court of law. The Φ.Ε.Κ. or Government Gazette (the Official Newspaper of the Government of Greece) publishes official laws, decrees and appointments (see this previous SpartanRoots post). Its supplemental issues includes names of men called into military duty and men who were qualified to serve as jurors.
In its Catalog under Greece, FamilySearch has digitized microfilms of early Φ.Ε.Κ. newspapers. Juror’s lists are found in film numbers: 1038847 and 1039000 and 08053376 (viewable at a Family History Center or affiliate library near you). These lists were organized by region, then prefecture, then village, then men’s names.
As noted above, men’s ages, annual incomes and occupations were given. Here is an example of a Juror’s List of men, predominantly from my village of Agios Ioannis, Sparta, in 1894:
1849 Jurors List, FamilySearch FIlm 08053376, Item 6, Image 266
FamilySearch has Jurors Lists from 1849-1860. I extracted the names of men from Agios Ioannis as noted below. It is interesting to look at the ages. From 1849-1857, the same age is given; it is not until 1858 that the age increases by one year during each succeeding year. Note the clerk’s error in the entry for Kokkonis, Dim. Th. who jumps from age 44 in 1860 to 55 in 1861.
The men listed above were estate owners with varying incomes ranging from 800-1,800 drachmas. If you would like the income of a specific person, contact me.
Any document, especially the earliest ones of the modern Greek state, can provide important information about our Agios Ioannis families. I am eager to see what new information will be forthcoming in the months and years ahead.
The horrors of the Axis occupation of Greece (1941-1945) are beyond the comprehension, and understanding, of those who did not experience it. Military and political factors divided both country and family. The execution of thousands is a well-documented fact, and the loss of these individuals has forever changed the lives of their families.
This post is not to debate history and politics, but to remember the men and women who were executed in Mystras on October 10-11, 1944. These are not just names, but members of our families. One of them is my cousin, Panagiotis Grigoris Kostakos, of Agios Ioannis.
Panagiotis Grigorios Kostakos, circa 1942
Panagiotis’ granddaughter, Panorea, sent me an article, The Battle of Mystra, October 10-11, 1944, which describes in detail the horrific events of that day. The Greek version can be accessed here, and the English translation here. Following is a brief synopsis of this article and the names of the casualties. Twenty four of twenty-eight young men executed were from my village of Agios Ioannis. An additional thirty-seven civilian men and women from villages surrounding Mystras were killed. May their memories be eternal.
The civil battle of Mystra occurred about 40 days after the withdrawal of the Nazi troops from Laconia. During World War II, Right and Left political parties developed in Greece, with radically different perspectives regarding the Italian-German occupation.
Right wing Security Battalion guards (Τάγματα Ασφαλείας, TA) arose in the spring and summer of 1944 against left wing EAM/ELAS guerillas. Conflicts between these parties had already begun in the summer of 1943, and escalated after Italy pulled out of Greece in September 1943. In most prefectures of the Peloponnese, the TA and EAM had limited interactions until after the Nazi withdrawal one year later in October 1944. But this was not the case in Lakonia, where EAM set up prisoner camps for”reactionary” individuals in Arna, Geraki, Georgitsi, Kremasti, Socha, Barsinikos, Tripi and the Monastery of Giatrissa (Mani).
Between January and August 1944, dozens of battles took place between ELAS and TA at various locations in Lakonia. The homes of ELAS and TA members were looted and burned by opposing forces, and reprisals taken against their families. When the Germans departed on September 3, 1944, the 800-man TA of Sparta moved to the castle of Mystras. Hundreds of local civilians who feared for their lives followed them.
An ELAS attack on Mystras, using light weapons, began the morning of October 10. Thirty ELAS fighters were killed. The next day, ELAS fired cannons onto the castle and mortars into the city, causing many civilian casualities. The TA called for a truce on the afternoon of October 11. An agreement was reached with the following terms:
The TA was to hand over the weapons in the morning of the next day (October 12),
Thirty TA leaders, military and civilian, were to remain in the Mystras Castle under guard until judged for their actions by representatives of the Greek government,
All other officers and soldiers of the TA, as well as civilians, were to be released to return to their homes. No executions of battalion officers or civilians were to be committed.
The representatives of ELAS refused to draw up a document of the agreement, instead giving “the word of their military honor.” The next day, the TA’s delivered their weapons to ELAS but no men were released. Instead, they were marched to the “Bezestini,” an arena in Mystras. Along the route, riots broke out and people were killed.
Meanwhile, a platoon of TAs was stationed at Prophet Ilias in the Taygetos. When they were notified that the TA agreed to surrender their weapons, they descended from their outpost to Mystra. Their march was interrupted by ELAS guerrillas, who persuaded them to hand over their weapons to them, instead of going down to Mystra. After doing so, the ELAS forces tied them up and led them back to prison in Xerovouna, where the TA were locked up in a small farmhouse. Then, taking one by one ostensibly for interrogation, ELAS tortured and executed them all.
Photo of some of the 28 victims before they were thrown into a mass grave. The photowas taken by an ELAS guerrilla. From the article, Battle of Mystras.
These civilian women and men were also executed in Mystras:
Vasilis Stamatakos posted this 1894 map of Sparta and villages on the Lakoniki Bibliothiki Λακονικι Βιβλιοθικη Facebook page. In the mid-20th century, the Government of Greece began renaming villages with Ottoman names to Greek names. Maps like this one give the former names which are the ones written in old documents. Old maps are research treasures.
As Vasilis wrote:
Map of the wider area of Sparta in 1894. In it we see names that have been lost or changed. The Tsuni Tower has become Tsuni, today’s Kokkinorachi. (Χάρτης της ευρύτερης περιοχής της Σπάρτης του 1894. Σε αυτόν βλέπουμε ονομασίες που έχουν ποια χαθεί ή έχουν αλλάξει π.χ Ο πύργος του Τσούνη έχει γίνει Το Τσούνι η σημερινή Κοκκινοραχη)
1894 Map of Sparta Villages, source: “Greece Handbook for Travelers by Karl Baedeker 1905”
My ancestral villages on this map are: Agios Ioannis (written as Hag. Joannes), Mystras (Mistra), Amykles (formerly Sklavochorion and written as such), Sykaraki. Off this map are Theologos and Xirokampi.
The 2nd International Greek Ancestry conference is steaming live today & tomorrow (Saturday & Sunday, January 29-30) on the Greek Ancestry YouTube channel.
Sessions begin at noon EST both days. No registration needed. Just click and join! We have 18 sessions with outstanding presenters. A detailed Conference schedule can be accessed at the Greek Ancestry website.
An International Time schedule is below. Hope to “see” you there!
From the 12th to 18th centuries, the Venetians controlled a large empire which included parts of Greece. As the Ottomans expanded their conquests in the 14th century, it was inevitable that conflicts between the two empires would arise in the eastern Mediterranean. Indeed, seven wars, the first in beginning in 1463 and the seventh ending in 1718, erupted. Greece was caught in the crosshairs and endured a series of conquests from these two powers.
1680 Map of the Mediterranean; source: Wikimedia Commons
The Venetians ruled from 1685-1715, between the first period of Ottoman occupation (1580-1685) and the second (1715-1821). The successful military strategies of General Francesco Morosini brought the Peloponnese and other areas of Greece under Venetian domination. The Peloponnese, known then as the Kingdom of Morea, was divided into four districts (Messenia, Achaia, Lakonia, Romania now the region of Corinth) and within them were twenty-six territories. The entire Peloponnese in 1700 had only fifteen towns/cities with 1,000 or more inhabitants[1] and among these was Mystras.
While reading historian Evangelia Balta’s informative essay, Venetians and Ottomans in the Southeast Peloponnese, 15th-18th century[2], I came across an interesting paragraph referencing Mystras: ”In the Venetian archives there are lists of inhabitants of the wider region of Mystras, who were conscripted in 1698 to work on the fortification works at the Isthmus of Corinth. These lists mention the number of persons that each village in the districts of Mystras, Elous and Chrysapha should provide for the corvee[3]. In the event of someone escaping, the elders of the village were obliged to pay six reals.[4]”
Historical essays on the Peloponnese during its period of Venetian rule often cite documents held at the Venetian Archives. Balta explains the importance of this repository: “ If we have an idea of the settlement pattern and the population of the Peloponnese prior to the Greek War of Independence, we owe this to the published Venetian registers of the late seventeenth century.”[5]
Therefore, I was very excited to learn about the research trip to the Venetian Archives recently undertaken by researcher Nick Santas. He will be speaking about this experience at the 2nd International Greek Ancestry Conference to be held next weekend, January 29-30. Nick describes his session: The Kingdom of Morea Archives collection covers the period of the second Venetian conquest of the Peloponnese (1685-1715). It has been the subject of historical research in the past, but has had very limited genealogical examination.During this session, Nick aims to share his findings with you, help you familiarise yourself with the practical steps when accessing the archives, and give you a taste of what is available.
I was thrilled when Nick sent me the following Venetian Archive document from my village of Agios Ioannis, Sparta (Ayiannis). He also (thankfully) provided a translation. I am extremely grateful for Nick’s thoughtfulness in sending me this document, and for his generous expenditure of time in making the translations, first into modern Greek, then into English.
These historical records bring the past into the present and provide us with invaluable facts about the past. Every one brings us one step closer to understanding our history and our ancestors’ lives.
1699 Document, Agios Ioannis Sparta, page 11699 Document, Agios Ioannis Sparta, page 2
TRANSLATION: Village of Ai Yiannis
On May 16, 1699 in Mistras, appeared Mr. Demetrios Priest and Rector of the church of Virgin Mary located in this village (Ai Yiannis), who under oath made known the standing dedications.
First, a yard around the said church, where the Christians are buried, dedicated in years gone by without a document (σκρίττον from the Italian scritto) which no one can recollect
Nearby, there is a place dedicated in years gone by, without a letter. The house (on this land) was built and dedicated to the church by Ioannikios, approximately (ιντζίρκα from the Iltalian incirca) 10 years ago
An orchard lying in the said village with 20 Mulberry trees, 18 fig trees, 12 pomegranates, 20 wild trees with their vines, 6 metritikion in size from Panagiotis Stamatopoulos, approximately 9 years ago with a letter made on 6 January 1690
Near the above church, there is a salad garden, one metritikion (μετρητίκιον) in size dedicated in years gone by without a document, not knowing how many years
A house with a floor, lying inside the said village dedicated by Giorgos Chatzakis a (religious) convert, with a will made on 28 February 1692 for his memorial service (δια μνημόσυνον)
An orchard near the above house lying with 13 mulberry trees, 10 vines and land of 2 metritikion dedicated from the said late Chatzakis with a will
20 Mulberries lying at the [….] of the same village dedicated by the above convert in the same will
One field lying at Sikaraki (Συκαράκι) near St. Nicholas 20 metritikia, dedicated without a document approximately 10 years ago by Maria Pragamaditza, convert
Another field lying at ‘Xerokampi’ (Ξεροκάμπι) three metritikia dedicated by Nikolos Kavilos kai Panagiotis Psicharis by letter written on 10 August 1692
4 olive trees lying near the said church dedicated from Ioannis Boukouris 5 years now, without a letter
2 mulberries lying at ‘Alambei’ (Αλάμπεη) dedicated from the late Anthousa by will made on 30 October 1696
Another 2 mulberries lying near the above ones dedicated from the above Rector for the salvation of his soul with a document
An orchard lying near the above Rectors’ with 25 mulberries, one pomegranate, 6 vines and 6 metritikia land, dedicated from the late Stathoula Kofinidou without a document approximately 50 years ago
For the truthfulness of the above He signs with his own hand
Demetrios Priest and Rector of the said village
TRANSLATION: Greek
Χωρίον Αγιάννης
1699 μηνί μαϊου 16 μιστρά ανεφάνη ο παπα κυρ δημήτριος και Οικονόμος ευφημέριος της Εκκλησίας της Κυρίας Θεοτόκου κυμένης στο χωρίον το αυτό, ο οποίος μεθόρκου φανερώνι τα στεκούμενα, οπού τινα αφιερωμένα από το καθένα, πρώτον Ένα προαύλιον εν τω γύρο τη αυτή εκκλησία, οπού θάπτωνται οι Χριστιανοί αφιερομένος ο αυτός τόπος έκπαλαι χωρίς σκρίττον που δεν θυμούνται. Εκεί σιμά ευρίσκετον εις την εκκλησίαν ένας τόπος αφιερωμένος από τον καιρόν των παλλαιών χωρίς γράμμα και ήτον ο αυτός τόπος μόνον τη αυτή. το δε σπήτι το έκτισεν και το αφιέρωσεν ει την εκκλησία κάποιος Ιωαννίκιος τρέχουν χρόνοι δέκα ιντζίρκα – Ένα περιβόλι κύμενον στο αυτό χωρίον με μουραίς 20 – συκαίς 18 – ροδαίς – 12 – δένδρα άγρια μετά κληματά των – 20 – μετριτικιών γή – 6 – αφιερομένον από τον παναγιότην σταματόπουλον όντας χρόνοι εννία ιντζίρκα με γράμμα γεννομένον 1690 εν μηνί 6 Ιαννουαρίου. Σιμά εις την άνωθεν εκκλησία ευρίσκεται ένας κήπος σαλατικών μετριτικιού ενός αφιερωμένον έκπαλαι χωρίς σκρίττον δεν ιξεύροντας πόσοι χρόνοι να είναι Ένα σπήτι πατομένον κύμενον μέσα στο αυτό χωρίον αφιερωμένον από τον Γιώργον Χατχάκη νεοφώτιστος με διαθήκη γεναμένη 1692 εν μηνί 28 φευρουαρίου δια μνημοσυνον του όντας το άνωθε σπήτι με την αυλήν του Ένα περιβόλι σιμά στο άνωθε σπήτι κύμενον με μουραις 13, κλίματα -10- και γη μετριτικιών δύο αφιερωμένης από τον άνωθε ποτέ Χατζάκη νεοφώτιστον με διαθήκη μοδηρική εις τον άνωθεν χρόνον και καιρόν Μουραίς – 20 – κύμενες στο μακελίον του αυτού χωρίου αφιερωμένες από τον άνωθεν νεοφώτιστον εις την αυτήν διαθήκην. Ένα κομάτι χωράφι κύμενον στου σικαράκη σιμά στο άγιον νικόλαον μετριτικιών – 20 – αφιερωμένον χωρίς σκρίττον χρόνοι δέκα περασμένοι ιντζίρκα από την μαρίαν πραγαμαδίτζα νεοφώτιστον. Ακόμη ένα κομάτι χωράφι κύμενον στο ξεροκάμπι, μετριτικίων τριών αφιερομένον από τον νικολόν καβίλον και Παναγιώτη ψυχάρην με γράμμα γεναμένον εν τους 1692 εν μηνί αυγούστου – 10 – Ελαίς 4 – κύμενες κοντά εν την αυτήν εκλησίαν αφιερωμέναις από τον ιωάννη μπουκούρι όντας τόρα χρόνοι πέντε χωρίς γράμμα. Μουραίς – 2 – κύμενες στου αλάμπεη αφιερωμέναις από την ποτέ γυναίκα ανθούση με διαθήκη γενάμενη εν τη τριάντα του οκτοβρίου 1696 i.v. Έτερες μουραίς δύο κύμεναις σιμά εις ταις άνωθε αφιερωμέναις από τον άνωθε Οικονόμο δια ψυχηκή του σωτηρία το άνωθεν χρόνον και μηνί με σκρίτον και χειρογράφοντου. Ένα περιβόλι κύμενον σιμά στου άνωθεν οικονόμου με μουραίς – 25 – ροδιά μια, κλίματα – 6 με γη μετριτικιών – 6 – αφιερομένα από την ποτέ σταθούλα Κοφινιδού με δίχως σκρίττον λεγοντας μας πως είναι τόρα χρόνοι πενήντα ιντζίρκα εκπαλαι και ούτως ει βεβαιώσιν της αληθίας ιδία τη χειρί μεθόρκου υπογράφεται Δημήτριος Ιερεύς και Οικονόμος του αυτού χωρίου βεβαιώνω τα
__________
[1] As documented by the Grimani Census taken in 1700. The Venetians appointed Giacomo Corner as the governor-general of the Morea. He commissioned Francesco Grimani to undertake the census.
[2] Balta, Evangelia. Venetians and Ottomans in the Southeast Peloponnese, 15th-18th century
[3] Unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord; labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair. Source: Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
[4] Silver coins of Spanish origin in the 1500s; their value was based on free market values of gold and silver. Tezcan, Baki. “The Ottoman Monetary Crisis of 1585 Revisited,” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient, Vol. 52, No. 3 (2009), pp. 460-504 (45 pages); accessed from JSTOR on January 23, 2022.
[5] Balta, Evangelia. Venetians and Ottomans in the Southeast Peloponnese, 15th-18th century, p. 270
Spartan Roots (Σπαρτιατικές Ρίζες) 