The Venetian Influence In Chania

Chania was an important city in Venetian Crete and centre of the public administration. The stratification was very clear and strict. Only the Venetian citizens had the privilege of being elected to public positions. They were the upper class of the place (nobili veneti), who were called "Noble lords and brilliant masters”. The next class was the nobles of Crete (nobili cretensi), a title that was given to the descendants of the aristocratic Byzantine families who were on the island at the time of the arrival of the Venetians. These two categories had the right to reside in Kastelli, in the inner citadel of the castle where the rector's palace was located. Third class were the cittadini (cittadini, burgenses), i.e. the citizens who practiced some intellectual profession, such as doctors, lawyers, etc. At the lower level belonged the plebeians (plebe, populari), ie farmers, workers, servants, etc., who were again distinguished in three categories: the agrafi, the franchi and the vilani parici. The Jews were a separate category. Throughout the island, during Venetian rule, 200-300,000 people lived (current population 600,000).sansal boutique hotel

The Venetians, in their attempt to protect their castle in Chania, created three forts along the northern Cretan coast. The first was built in Gramvousa, at the westernmost tip of Crete, which controlled those coming from the west. West, again, of their city Chania, and in visual response, the island of Ag. Theodoron or Theodorou. Finally, at the entrance of the gulf of Souda, the homonymous island was fortified, protecting the gulf from invaders. These castles communicated with fire systems mounted on the hinges which were a continuation of the frying pans of antiquity.

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