Το άγαλμα του Κολοκοτρώνη | Kolokotronis Statue
One of the most historical towns in Greece,
Nafplio, the first capital of the Greek state
played a key role in historical, political and
cultural occasions of major importance
during the previous centuries. In antiquity it
was known as Nafplia. Founder of Nafplion
(= naval city) is allegedly the homonymous
mythical hero, Nafplios, son of Poseidon
and father of Palamedes.In the Mycenaean
era, it was a powerful naval state. During the
Middle Ages it emerged as a hegemony and
experienced the reign of Byzantines, Vene-
tians and Franks. In 1388 it was occupied by
the Venetians, in 1540 by the Turks, in 1686
again by the Venetians with Morosini and in
1715 the Turks occupied it again and in 1822,
during the Greek War of Independence, the
city was liberated by Nikitaras. In 1823 it be-
came the seat of the provisional government
of Greece were established. In 1827, after the
decision of the National Assembly, Nafplio
is made the seat of governor Kapodistrias
and the capital of newly liberated Greece. In
1834 the first king of the country, Otto, dis-
embarked here and the city remained capital
of the new kingdom until 1834, when Otto
decided to move the capital to Athens.The
city is also known from the trials of Kolokot-
ronis and Plapoutas, prominent figures of the
Greek war of Independence, which were held
here, as well as from the imprisonment of
Kolokotronis at the castle of Palamidi (1834).
On 27 September 1831 Kapodistrias was
murdered outside the church of Saint Spyri-
don. On 1 February 1862 Nafplion revolted
against the reign of Otto.
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