HISTORY OF CORFU

During the British period, a large number of Eptanesians eagerly joined the rebel forces on the mainland at the outbreak of the Greek Revolution, despite this being punishable by certain of the High Commisssioners, particularly Maitland.

Once the Greek State was recognised, fiery and bloody battles for unification followed.

The prevalence of liberal movements in Europe had forced England to accept modifications to the constitution proposed by the Eptanesians. One of these, freedom of the press, gave new life to the unification movement through the publication of radical proclamations.

On 15 November 1863, a treaty between the Great Powers was signed in London, by which Great Britain resigned from her position as protector of the islands. The treaty was not, however, entirely favourable, since it provided that the islands would become neutral and that all their military installations would be demolished.

Some fory years after the liberation of Greece, the liberation of Corfu took place. On 21 May 1864, the British flag withdrew and the Greek flag was raised on Corfu Castle. Unification with Greece had been achieved.

POST UNIFICATION CORFU UP TO MODERN TIMES

At this point Corfu followed the same historical course as Greece as a whole. The dawn of the 20^th century found the island in a state of renewed wealth and social well being. However in terms of the cultural and intellectual domination for which it had come to be known, Corfu had declined to the level of an ordinary provincial town.

During the First World War, despite strong protest by the Greek government, the Allied Forces (English, French and Italian) settled in Corfu in 1915 and temporarily overthrew Greek sovereignty. At the same time, following Serbia’s defeat towards the end of 1916, the Serbian army and parliament were transferred to Corfu. The government under Prime Minister, Pasich, took up residence at the Bella Venezia Hotel and the municipal theatre was used for its sittings. They were also given the church of St Nicholas the Elderly. Finally the Serbs published their own newspaper in Serbian.

Both World Wars had serious consequences for Corfu, the worst damage being caused by Italian bombing and burning in 1940 during the Second World War. Whole blocks of historical and architectural monuments and intellectual foundations of inestimable value were reduced to piles of ruins, including about twenty eight percent of the historical and picturesque old town.

In 1944 a battle for possession of the island took place between Germans and Italians. Consequences were starvation of the locals, the town being badly damaged and the deportation of the Jews. However, St Spiridon once again performed one of his miracles and those who took refuge in his church found themselves unscathed. It stands today, one of the few buildings that survived, untouched.

However the Cofiots managed to overcome the difficult times and bring the island back to prosperity with the development of Corfu as the important tourist destination it is today.