History
Antiquity
The first traces of settlement in Patras date to as early as the third millennium
BC, in the area of modern Aroe. Patras flourished for the first time in the Post-
Helladic or Mycenean period (1580–11). Ancient Patras was formed by the
unification of three Mycenaean villages in modern Aroe; namely Antheia (from
mythological Antheia) and Mesatis. Mythology has it that after the Dorian
invasion, a group of Achaeans from Laconia led by the eponymous Patreus
established a colony. In antiquity Patras remained a farming city. It was in
Roman times that it became an important port.
After 280 BC and prior to the Roman occupation of Greece, Patras played a
significant role in the foundation of the second "Achaean League" (Achaiki
Sympoliteia), along with the cities of Dyme, Triteia and Pharai. Later on, and
following the Roman occupation of Greece in 146 BC, Patras played a key
role, and Augustus refounded the city as a Roman colony in the area. In
addition, Patras has been a Christian centre since the early days of
Christianity, and it is the city where Saint Andrew was crucified.
Middle Ages and early modern
In the Byzantine era Patras continued to be an important port as well as an
industrial centre.
In 1205 the city was captured by William of Champlitte and Villehardouin, and
became a part of the principality of Achaea. It became the seat of the Barony
of Patras, and its Latin archbishop primate of the principality. In 1408, Patras
became Venetian, until it was recaptured in 1430 by the Despotate of Morea
and its despot Constantine Palaiologos, who thus succeeded in recovering for
the Byzantine Empire the whole of the Morea, apart from Venetian
possessions. The administration of Patras was given to George Sphrantzes,
while Constantine was immediately contested by the Ottoman Empire and
later, in 1449, became emperor of the Byzantine empire.
Patras remained a part of the Despotate of Morea until 1458, when it was
conquered by the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmet II. Under the
Ottomans, it was known as Baliabadra, from the Greek “Palia Patra ("Old
Patras").
Modern era
Patras was one of the first cities in which the Greek Revolution began in 1821,
but the Ottomans confined to the citadel, held out until 1828. Finally the city
was surrendered on 7 October 1828 to the French expeditionary force in the
Peloponnese, under the command of General Maison.. After the war, most of
the city and its buildings were completely destroyed. The new city was
planned under the supervision of Stamatis Voulgaris after orders by Ioannis
Kapodistrias.
Patras developed quickly into the second-largest urban centre in late-19th-
century Greece. [10] The city benefited from its role as the main export port for
the agricultural produce of the Peloponnese. [11]
In the early 20th century, Patras developed fast and became the first Greek
city to introduce public streetlights and electrified tramways. [12] The war effort
necessitated by the first World War hampered the city's development and also
created uncontrollable urban sprawl after the influx of displaced persons from
Asia Minor after the 1922 population exchange between Greece and Turkey.
In the Second World War the city was a major target of Italian air raids. In the
Axis occupation period, a German military command was established and
German and Italian troops stationed in the city. After the liberation in October
1944, the city grew fast to recover, but in later years was increasingly
overshadowed by the urban pole of Athens.
