Zakynthos has undergone a great many changes over the centuries, mainly owing to the influence of foreign invaders, all leaving their mark on the island, and devastating earthquakes; yet it has always managed to rise from the ashes and thrive, exerting a strong appeal on both its residents and visitors from the four corners of the world.
According to Homer, Zakynthos, son of Dardanus, King of Troy, founded his citadel on the island, after liberating it from the snakes that had overrun it. Later, Zakynthos Island was ruled by Ulysses, King of Ithaca, and actively participated in the war of Troy. Similarly, the islanders were present at the Peloponnesian War, having allied with the Athenians.
History has it that the Romans were the first to conquer the island, taking advantage of its strategic position.
During the Byzantine Era, Constantine the Great attempted many invasions and Zakynthos was, eventually, annexed to the province of Illiria. Evidently, the island flourished under the Venetian domination that followed. In fact, Venetians named Zakynthos, “Florence of Greece”, as it stood out in terms of culture and architecture.
Following the fall of the Venetian dynasty, the island was subjected to democratic France until 1809. That year, the British occupied Zakynthos, establishing it as the capital of the State of the Ionian Islands. This was founded as per the Russian – Turkish agreement. Albeit not conquered by the Turkish, Zakynthos played an instrumental role in the Greek fight against the Ottomans.
The year 1864 is considered a milestone, as all the Ionian Islands, including Zante, joined Greece. That year, the efforts of the radical movement that had been developed in the region bore fruit.