Greece 2023: Mystras I

 The history of the Citadel and walled city of Mystras begins during the Frankish Conquest of Greece following the Fourth Crusade (1204 A.D.) when William II of Villehardouin, who ruled the Frankish principality of Achaea.  Having just completed his conquest of Laconia in 1248 A.D., he chose a spur of Mt. Tagyetos - long famous in ancient literature as towering above Sparta - to build a fortress to control the region.

William was captured by Byzantine forces in 1259 A.D.; in 1262 A.D. the fortress was returned to the Byzantines.  It was expanded and became the governmental seat of the Morea.  Initially it served as a major fortress in the ongoing struggle between the Byzantines and the Franks.  It continued to grow in importance until in 1349 A.D. it was declared a royal capital and the seat of the Despotate of the Morea. It survived the fall of Constantinople ibut was surrendered to the Ottoman Turks in 1460 A.D., the last major Byzantine territory in the Greek Peninsula (in an interesting historical footnote, it fell on the same day as Constantinople did, 9 years later).  Other than being occupied by the Venetians briefly in the late 16th - early 17th century, it remained in Ottoman hands until 1823, when the local population was destroyed in the Greek War for Independence.  A few families moved to the small town of Mystras at the foot of the mountain. 

The city remains a unique archaeological site, a very well preserved walled city with many of its buildings intact - if you want to think about it such (I did), a sort of "What would Minas Tirith look like and be like in real life?"  Short answer:  Lots and lots of uneven stairs and climbing.

Today's views are all taken from the citadel.  Next post we will visit the rest of the city.