The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1899-01-07
The ISLAND OF CRETE
A Brief Historical Account OF
Thrilling Interest


There are not many Islands With q
more stormy or more heroic history
than that of Crete. In remote antiquity
it was the redoubtable Isle of One
Hundred Cities" and had an illustrious
line of kings, among whom were Rhad-
Minos and Idomeneus. The
last-named led feet of so ships to
assist in the conquest of Troy, and was
the last of what we may call the legend
ary kings. After him gap of several
centuries occurs, and when the record
is resumed it is no longer fable, but
authentic history. At the time OF the
Persian invasion of Greece the island
was populous and prosperous. 1t was
divided into several independent re-
publics, which, like those of the penin-
sular Hellas, were not always in peace
and friendship with each other. They
kept free from foreign wars, however,
except as they voluntarily furnished
mercenary troops to whichever side
would pay. best for them. This was
done in both the Persian and Pelopon-
nesian wars, when the Cretan archers
were as noted and as dreaded as those
Of Merry England in later ages. /.
The prowess of the ancient Cretans
and their insular position kept them
free from invasion down almost to the
Christian era. While the eagles OF Rome
"flapped wide wings in fiery fight
over nearly all else of the known world
that island retained it's Independence.
Indeed. it was only through intestine
quarrels that it was at last subdued.
Some 20 years before the Christian era
Rome took advantage of the prevailing
discord in Crete to invade the island,
on the pretext that the Cretans had
given aid and comfort to Mithridates.
and had ill-treated some Roman soldiers.
The first army was repulsed and almost
annihilated by the Cretans. But Rome
was determined to achieve the conquest,
if it look the whole power of her em-
pire. Army after army was sent, and
after three years of desperate fight
ing Rome prevailed. For the first time
in her history Crete became, in 6S B. G.,
subject to an alien master. From that
day to the present, for more than 1000
years, she has been conquered prov
ince, never once regaining the inde-
pendence so long maintained and so re-
luctantly relinquished.
For many years Crete remained al
appendage of Rome, and then OF By
zantium. 1t first fell into Moslem hands
in S23, when the Arabs, led by Michael
the Stutterer, found it an easy prey
No important attempt to colonize il
was made by the new conquerors, but
many of the Greek inhabitants, volun'
tarily or involuntarily, accepted the
Moslem faith. So it comes to pass that
at this day there are few Turks or Arabs
IN the island, though many Moham'
medans, the latter being of as Pure
Greek blood as their Christian neigh
bors. After 1877 years of Arab rule the
island was retaken by the Greeks under
Nicephorus Phocas, who taught the
Arabs what he thought IAN everlasting
lesson" 1t remained under Greek rule
until the establishment of the Latin
empire by the crusaders, when. in 1904
it was turned over to Boniface, mar
ouis of Monferrat. The Genoese tried
to buy it of him, but he sold it to thei1
rivals, the Venetians, instead, for the
sum of 100, 600 silver marks. The Gre
tans revolted against the Venetians
and, assisted by Genoa, gave them mucf
trouble. Indeed, during their severa
centuries of ownership, the Venetians
had few years of peace with the turbu
lent islanders.
The second Moslem conquest dates
from 1645. Sultan Ibrahim, on the pre-
text that Venice had given assistance
to the Knights of Malta, sent an arm,
Of 1000 men to seize the island. L
took them nearly two months to cap
ture the port of Canea, and no less thar
"a years to reduce the capital city o.
! Gambia. Then Venice yielded the whole
island to the Turks, excepting thret
ports, the last of which she also re
linquished in1715. Thereafter came ths
bloodiest chapter in Cretan history. Op
pressions, rapine, torture and massacre
made up the daily story for more thai
100 wears. The Cretans were in chroni'
state of revolt, and in 1921 would prob
ably have been successful had not ar
Egyptian army come to the aid OF th'
Turks. Seven years later, when Greec'
became independent, Crete was cedet
to Egypt az a reward for the latter
services. For some years thereafter
under the wise rule OF Mehemet Ali ant ant
Mustapha Pasha, the Island enjoyed
such prosperity, peace and justice .
it had not known for many centuries
Unhappily, in ls4os the powers com
pelled Mehemet Ali to surrender i
again to Turkey, and since then At
fairs have been nearly as. bad al pos
sible. The great rebellion Of 80 years
ago resulted in the granting of som'
reforms. But the Cretans did not know
how to make proper use OF the adyan
tage they had gained, and now the who'll
battle must befought over again. IN. Z
| Tribune.