Spetses

Situated 1 .5 and 52 nautical miles from the coast of Hermionis and the port of Piraeus respectively, the pine-clad island of Spetses occupies a strategic position on the entrance of the Argolic Gulf . Spetses is a a semi-mountainous island with several hills, arable land and a 43 kilometre long coastline, which is characterized by considerable variety with capes and bays, small or larger . All these geographical elements create favourable conditions for the development of cultural extroversion and, consequently, seafaring . A typical example of this may be found in the island’s earliest habitation, which dates back to the 3rd millennium BC and is associated with coastal zones, specifically the Agia Marina and Agia Paraskevi Capes . The Spetsiotes of the Early Helladic period, like their successors throughout the centuries, clearly favoured maritime activities . Spetses, like the rest of the Argosaronic islands, played a key role in the transport of goods and ideas between Attica, Aegina, Cyclades and the Argolid, where there were important centres during this period, as can be seen from the identification of the relevant sites near the coastline, aiming to secure control of sea lanes .

During the Classical and Hellenistic periods, the island, known as “Pitioussa” (pine-clad), probably belonged to the Hermioneans, like Hydra, who would have used its enclosed safe harbour, while the population was rather limited . After the raids of Alaric’s Goths, in AD 396, refugees in search of a safe haven, settled in Spetses . Nevertheless, due to the barbaric raids of the Vandals and Slavs, which followed, the island was almost uninhabited during the 8th century .

In 1263, the Serenissima Republica Fleet defeated the combined Genoese and Byzantine fleet off Spetsopoula, establishing Venice’s maritime dominance in the eastern Mediterranean . Spetses was in the hands of the Venetians, where it remained until 1460, when it was occupied by the Ottomans . Subsequently, Arvanites

Map of Spetses by Joseph Roux (1804)

and Greeks from the Peloponnese settled on the island, creating an introverted community dealing exclusively with animal husbandry and land cultivation . However, over time, the inhabitants, in order to meet their everincreasing needs, turned to the sea, initially engaging in fishing and later on trade .

The 18th century was a period of great prosperity for shipping in the Aegean and Spetses, similarly to the other islands of the Argosaronic Sea, accumulated great naval power . The trade relations of the Spetsiotes with the neighbouring Peloponnesian coast provided them with the financial means to expand their fleet . The shipyards were concentrated in today’s Old Port, two kilometres east of Dapia, while wood from the island’s pine forests was used for ship construcion . The favourable conditions created by the signing of the Treaty of Kuchuk Kainarji, in 1774, for Greek shipowners and sailors, brought many funds to Spetses, which increased during the Napoleonic wars . During this period, the demand for grain peaked, due to the blockade of European ports by the British fleet . Then, the intrepid Spetsiotes and Hydrian captains, sailing under the Russian flag, were “breaking” the blockade and supplying ports with grain, while at the same time arming their ships to face the pirates .

Shortly before the Revolution outbreak, the Spetsiotes, responding to the call of Alexander Ypsilantis to convert their merchant ships into warships, were in full readiness, together with the people of Hydra and Psara . In Spetses, the flag of the Revolution was raised on April 3, 1821, after the Spetsiotes had removed all Turkish emblems from the command post in Dapia . To commemorate this historic moment, the Municipality of Spetses organizes annual events that include a re-enactment of the event with Spetsian boats, in the sea area in front of the Agios Nikolaos church . Throughout the Revolution, Spetsiotan war operations were directed by Georgios Androutsos or

Right, top: View of Laskarina Bouboulina’s house and statue in the town of Spetses (photo credit: Jeanhousen) Right, bottom: Burning the Armata in the Spetses harbour (photo credti: Constantine Melios)

Revolutionary flag of Spetses bearing the Filiki Etaireia symbols and the “Freedom or Death” motto

Kolandroutsos, while the leading role was played by the fearless captain Laskarina Bouboulina, whose house, converted into a museum, is one of the most important attractions of the island .

Bouboulina played a decisive role in the naval blockade of Nafplion . It is in this context that the naval battle of Spetses took place . The Ottoman fleet headed towards the Argolic Gulf, in an attempt to resupply the fortress, with the intention of moving against Spetses and Hydra . On September 8, 1822, the numerous enemy ships appeared east of Spetses, in the strait between Spetsopoula and Trikeri, aided by favourable winds . The Greek fleet under Admiral Andreas Miaoulis immediately moved against them . A decisive role in the outcome of the naval battle was played by the heroic intervention of Spetses’ fireraiser Kosmas Barbatsis, who managed to enter the heart of

the Ottoman formation, forcing the enemy ships to retreat . In commemoration of this historical event, the people of Spetses built a church dedicated to Virgin Mary of the Armata in the Fanari Cape . The anniversary of the naval battle is celebrated on an annual basis, during the second week of September, with a large festival culminating in the re-enactment of the historic naval battle and the burning of an model of the Turkish flagship . In 1837, the stone lighthouse at the north-eastern end of the Old Port, near the Virgin Mary of Armata church, operated for the first time . The Spetses lighthouse together with the one in Agios Nikolaos, on Kea island, are the first two lighthouses of the Greek Lighthouse Network, the formation of which was inMonument itiated after the liberation . The original structure excommemorating ists no more, whereas the current buildings and towthe Spetses naval battle in the Spetses old harbour er were built in 1885 . It was originally powered by oil and had up to six lighthouse keepers . It has a fo(photo credit: cal height of 27 metres and a tower of 11 .6 metres . Cindy McMillan) The lighthouse became automated in 1986 . Although at the beginning of the 20th century Spetses experienced economic recession, as a result of which many Spetsiotes emigrating, from the 1950s onwards the island developed rapidly and became a popular tourist destination, while maintaining its traditional character . One of its most important attractions is the Spetses Museum, which is housed in the mansion of Hatzigiannis Mexis, ship owner and Greek Revolution pioneer . Here, one can see objects related to Spetsiotan shipbuilding and navigation (paintings, prows, documents, clothing, tools, etc .), while on the ground floor, the finds from an important Late Bronze Age shipwreck, which was located near the Iria Cape, on the Argolic coast, during the 1960s . Shipbuilding, a key factor in the prosperity and progress of the island and one of the main occupations of the people of Spetses in the past, continues to be practiced, although on a smaller scale . In 2012, the ship carpenters of Spetses founded the Association for the Promotion and Rescue of the Spetses Shipbuilding “Agamemnon”, after the name of Laskarina Bouboulina’s ship . The aim of the association is to preserve the maritime tradition of Spetses and the wood shipbuilding art . The Spetses port is used by 79 professional shipping boats . [AL]