British Possessions in the Mediterraneam

Title

British Possessions in the Mediterraneam

Description

Map shows the islands Malta and Gozo with a view of Valetta, Gibraltar with a view of Gibraltar and the greece islands Corfu with a view of Corfu, the western geece islands nad a view of Vahti in Itaca, Paxo and Cerigo and 2 ship representations.

ca. 1850

Artist

Tallis (1817-1876)

John Tallis was an English cartographic publisher. His company, John Tallis and Company, published views, maps and atlases in London from roughly 1838 to 1851.

Historical Description

Greek settlers from Eretria founded in the 8th century BC. A first colony. From 395 onwards, Corfu belonged to the Eastern Roman Empire. The island was conquered by the Saracens and in the 11th century by the Norman Duke Robert Guiscard. As a result of the 4th crusade, Corfu came under the rule of the despot of Epiros after 1204. As the dowry of Helena of Epirus, the island had been in Manfred's possession in Sicily in 1258. From the 16th to the 18th centuries, Corfu's history was marked by conflicts with the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over mainland Greece and repeatedly tried to conquer and hold the Ionian Islands. The Venetians (Republic of Venice) ordered the removal of the vineyards and the planting of olive trees. In 1716, the Ottoman siege of the island's capital was lifted by the Venetian army under Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg and the last attempt to conquer the island was finally repelled. After the end of the Republic of Venice in 1797, France (under Napoleon) took possession of the Ionian Islands and Corfu as the Corcyre department. For a short time, from 1798 to 1807, Corfu was a Russian protectorate. This was followed by another French period until 1814. In 1815 (Congress of Vienna), Corfu became part of the Republic of the Ionian Islands under British protectorate. After a vote in parliament, the Ionian Islands joined the Greek state in 1864, which had been independent since 1830 and to which they have belonged since.