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History

The history of Corfu begins with a legend… A small island, which lies off the eastern shore, Pontikonissi, is said to be the ship of Odysseus, turned to stone by Poseidon, God of the Sea. Corfu’s history, which can be traced through the ancient Hellenic and post-Byzantine eras, is also marked by Venetian, French and British elements.All these cultures have created a unique blend, yet the island and its people are a vivid and integral part of modern Hellenic society.Today’s Corfu can be, thus, regarded as an authentic and ideal paradigm of unified Europe.

Circa 1200 BC	It has now been accepted by most historians that Homer's Scheria, or island of the Phaeacians was situated in Corfu
734 BC	Corfu is colonised by the Corinthians.
665 BC	The first naval battle in Greek history takes place between the Corcyreans and the Corinthians in the Straits of Corfu – the former being the victors.The Cenotaph of Menecrates at Garitsa is a monument of the period, bearing one of the oldest Greek inscriptions.
361 – 229 BC	Corfu is racked by continuous civil wars and raided by numerous enemies.
229 BC	Corfu is conquered by the Romans and remains a Roman colony until 445 AD.
445 AD	Corfu is raided by the Vandals.
562 AD	Corfu is raided by the Goths.
733 AD	Corfu comes under the religious jurisdiction of the Patriach of Constantinople instead of the Pope of Rome.
1080 – 1203 AD	Corfu is twice taken by the Sicillians but finally remains in the hands of Byzance.
1205 AD	Corfu is conquered by the Venetians, and later by the King of Sicily, and remains under this dynasty until 1386 AD.
1386 AD	Venice, at the request of the islanders takes over Corfu which remains in her possession until 1460 AD.
1460 AD	The holy body of St. Spiridon is brought to Corfu and becomes the patron saint of the island.
1797 AD	Corfu is taken over by the French.
1799 AD	The French are driven out by mixed Russo-Turkish force.
1807 AD	Corfu is returned to the French.
1814 AD	Corfu is occupied by the British after the defeat of Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig.
1864 AD	Corfu and the other Ionian islands are ceded to Greece on the accession to the throne of King George I of Greece.
1890 AD	The Achilleon Palace is built for the Empress Elisabeth of Austria.
1907 AD	Kaiser Wilhelm II purchases the Achilleon after the assassination of the Empress, and becomes his holiday retreat until the outbreak of WW1 in 1914.
1916 – 1919 AD	Corfu is occupied by the Allies but returned to Greece after the war.
1940 AD	Corfu is repeatedly bombed by the Italians from 1940 to 1942 when they finally occupy the island.
1942 AD	The Italians occupy the island.
1943 AD	More than a quarter of Corfu Town is destroyed by the Germans who occupy the island until 1944 when Corfu returns to Greece.

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