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Mesolonghi

614 bytes added, 19:21, February 8, 2012
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'''Mesolonghi''' ([[Greek language|Greek]]: Μεσολόγγι, ''Mesolóngi'', older forms ''Messolongi'', ''Missolonghi'', ''Mesolongion''; officially "'''Holy City of Mesolonghi'''") is a town city of about 12,000 228 people (as of 1991 2001 census) in central [[central Greece]]. The town is the capital of [[Aitoloakarnania prefecture|Aitoloakarnania]] and is also the second largest town. It is the seat of the municipality of '''Iera Poli Messolonghiou'''. Messolonghi is linked and is bypasses since the [[1960s]] with [[Greece Interstate 5|GR-5]]/[[E55]]. The road to Astakos is to the northwest and is also accessed to [[Greece Interstate 48|GE-48]] to the east. It is located S of [[Agrinio]], SSW of [[Karpenisi]], WSW od [[Amfissa]], W of the [[Rio Antirio bridge|Rio-Antirio Bridge]], W of [[Nafpaktos]], E of [[Aitoliko]] and SE of Astakos. The town was founded in the [[16th century]] and is located between the [[Acheloos]] and the [[Evinos]] rivers. The town contains a port on the [[Gulf of Patras]] (Patra or Patrai). It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The [[Arakynthos]] mountains lie to the northeast. The town is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The [[Mesolonghi Lagoon]] lies to the west and is also a swampy area. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf. The town had a train station which used to link the railway line linking to [[Ioannina city|Ioannina]] and became abandoned in the [[1980s]].
The city is the capital of [[Aitoloakarnania prefecture|Aitoloakarnania]] and is also the second largest city. It is the seat of the municipality of '''Iera Poli Mesolonghiou'''. Mesolonghi is linked and is bypasses since the [[1960s]] with [[Greece Interstate 5|GR-5]]/[[E55]]. The road to Astakos is to the northwest and is also accessed to [[Greece Interstate 48|GE-48]] to the east. It is located S of [[Agrinio]], SSW of [[Karpenisi]], WSW of [[Amfissa]], W of the [[Rio Antirio bridge|Rio-Antirio Bridge]], W of [[Nafpaktos]], E of [[Aitoliko]] and SE of Astakos.  The city was founded in the [[16th century]] and is located between the [[Acheloos]] and the [[Evinos]] rivers. It contains a port on the [[Gulf of Patra]]. It trades in fish, wine, and tobacco. The [[Arakynthos]] mountains lie to the northeast. Mesolonghi is almost canalized but houses are within the gulf and the swamplands. The [[Mesolonghi Lagoon]] lies to the west and is also a swampy area. In the ancient times, the land was part of the gulf. The city had a train station which used to link the railway line linking to [[Ioannina city|Ioannina]] and became abandoned in the [[1980s]]. ==History==The city is first mentioned with its present name by a Venetian describing the Battle of Lepanto which took place nearby. It was under Venetian rule until [[1700]]. Mesolonghi revolted against Turkish rule on [[May 20]], [[1821]]. It was a major stronghold of the Greek insurgents revolutionaries in the Greek [[War of Independence]]. Its inhabitants, led by [[Markos Botsaris]], successfully resisted a [[First siege of Mesolonghi|siege ]] by Turkish forces of the Ottoman Empire in 1822–23 and [[1822]]. They also defeated the Ottomans in a second siege in [[1823]]. Mesolonghi held out heroically against a second third siege from [[1825 ]] to [[1826]], before the Ottoman forces captured the townafter a sortie by its entire population. On account of its inhabitants' heroism, it was named a "Holy City" - the only city in [[Greece]] to have such a distinction.  The famous English poet [[Lord Byron]], who supported the Greek struggle for independence, died there in [[1824]]. He is commemorated by a cenotaph and a statue located in the town.
==Historical population==
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"class=prettytable
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! Year !! Population !! Change !! Municipal population
*[[Spiridon Trikoupis]] (1788-1873) was born in Mesolonghi
*[[Kostis Palamas]] poet came from a Mesolonghi family
*[[Zinovios Valvis]], Prime Minister
*[[Dimitrios Valvis]], Prime Minister
*[[Antonis Travlantonis]], writer
==External links==
==See also==
*[[First siege of Mesolonghi]]
*[[Communities of Aitoloakarnania]]
*[[Communities of Aetolia-Acarnania]]
<br><br><br><table width = "75% " border = 2 1 cellpadding=1 cellspacing=1 align="center"><tr><td width = 3533% align="center">'''Northwest:''' [[Aitoliko]]<td width = 3033% align="center">'''North:''' [[Pappadates|Arakynthos]]</td><td width = 3533% align="center">'''Northeast:''' [[Gavalou|Makrynia]]
</td></tr>
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<td width = 10% align="center">'''West:''' Messolonghi Lagoon</td><td width = 35% align="center">'''Iera Poli Messolongiou'''</td><td width = 30% align="center">'''East:''' [[Chalkia]]<td></tr> <tr><td width = 35% align="center">&nbsp;<td width = 30% align="center">'''South:''' Gulf of Patras</td><td width = 35% align="center">&nbsp;</table></td><td width = 35% align="center"/tr>
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[[Category:Aitoloakarnania]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Greece]]
[[Category:Greek prefectural capitals]]

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