Imprisoned in the tower
Frangokastello was built by the Venetians in 1371-1374 in their effort to exercise their control on Crete, Originally named ‘Castle of St Nikitas’ by the Venetians. It’s current name, Frangokastello, the ‘Castle of the Franks’ as it was contemptuously referred to by Cretians, was adopted early. As it was being built, legend has it, the rebellious six Patsos brothers destroyed at night what has been built during the day. They were eventually caught and executed by the Venetians. The buildings within the walls as well as battlements were built by the Ottoman Turks. In 1770, Daskalogiannis (Ioannis Vlachos), a Cretian rebel was captured at the fortress and executed by the Turks. In 1828, a battle was fought in the fortress between the defending Turks and the Cretians (led by Hatzimichalis Dalianis). The Turks won and all the Cretians were massacred. In turn the Turks were killed in ambushes in the country side. On the anniversary of the battle in May, it is said that shadows of the killed Greeks parade to the castle. They are called Drosoulites (Dew Man).
Size: 5050px × 3366px
Location: Frangokástello, Crete, Greece
Photo credit: © Lighttrace Studio / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: brothers, castle, crete, dalianis, daskalogiannis, dew, drosoulites, fortification, fortress, frangokástello, franks, garrison, hatzimichalis, ioannis, men, nikitas, ottoman, patsos, st., tower, venetians, vlachos
