View source for Polykastro

{{Other uses|Policastro (disambiguation){{!}}Policastro}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |name = Polykastro
 |name_local = Πολύκαστρο
|type = municipal unit
|image_map = DE Polykastrou.svg 
|map_caption = Location within the regional unit
 |periph = [[Central Macedonia]]
|periphunit         = [[Kilkis (regional unit)|Kilkis]]
|municipality = [[Paionia (municipality)|Paionia]]
|pop_municunit   = 11338
|area_municunit  = 312.7
|pop_community   = 6609
|area_community   = 45.8
 |population_as_of = 2021
 |elevation =
 |coordinates = {{coord|41|00|N|22|34|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
 |postal_code = 612 00
 |image_skyline = Polykastro2.jpg
 |caption_skyline = General view
 |area_code =
 |licence = ΚΙ
 |website =
}}

'''Polykastro''' ({{langx|el|Πολύκαστρο}}, before 1928 {{lang|el|Καρασούλι}}, ''Karasoúli'';<ref name="Karasouli -- Polykastron">{{cite web |url=http://pandektis.ekt.gr/dspace/handle/10442/169373|title=Karasouli – Polykastron|access-date=2016-11-21}} ''Pandektis: Name Changes of Settlements in Greece'', compiled by the  [http://www.eie.gr/nhrf/institutes/inr/index-en.html Institute for Neohellenic Research]</ref>) is a town and a former municipality in [[Kilkis (regional unit)|Kilkis]] regional unit of [[Central Macedonia]], [[Greece]]. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality [[Paionia (municipality)|Paionia]], of which it is a municipal unit, and the seat.
The municipal unit has an area of 312.717&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, the municipal unit 45.775&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf|publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece|title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)|language=el}}</ref> The municipal unit of Polykastro has 12,000 inhabitants, and includes Polykastro and 23 villages. It is built near the [[Axios River]], on the road and railway from [[Thessaloniki]] to [[Belgrade]]. It was formerly known as '''Karasuli''' (Turkish),<ref name="ReferenceA">{{in lang|el}} Dikaeos Vassiliadis, "History of Polykastro", Polykastro</ref><ref name="Kanchov">[http://www.promacedonia.org/vk/vk_2_05.htm Vasil Kanchov, Macedonia; Ethnography and Statistics, 1900]</ref> Mavrosuli<ref name="ReferenceA"/> or '''Rugunovec''' ([[Macedonian language|Macedonian]] and [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: Ругуновец).<ref name = "Kanchov"/>

==History==
[[File:Polycastro mémorial 2512.JPG|thumb|left|[[Macedonian Struggle]] monument]]
[[File:Karasouli Polykastro British Military Cemetery.jpg|right|thumb|WWI British Military Cemetery near Polykastro ([[Doiran Memorial]])]]
===Ancient times===
The area is inhabited since the Neolithic Era. There are two settlements from that era: in Axiochorion ([[Amydon]]) and in Limnotopos ([[Carabia]]). In the Bronze Age, 3500 to 3000 BC, [[Paeonians]] moved into the area. In Axiochorion was the capital of Paeonia, Amydon.<ref name="Hammond">"History of Macedonia I" N. G. L. Hammond, 1972</ref><ref name="Sakellariou ">In Greek "Macedonia: 4.000 years of Greek Civilization" Sakellariou, 1990</ref> Paeonians from Amydon took part in the [[Trojan War]] as Trojan allies, with King [[Pyraechmes]] and [[Asteropaeus]]. King Pelegon was the one who led Paeonians from the northern valley of the Axios river to the southern valley, now called [[Amphaxitis]]. Paeonians also, founded the town [[Chaetae (town)|Chaetae]] in Tsaousitsa, near Pontoiraklia. In the 19th century BC, there was an invasion from the east. The invaders were [[Pelasgians]], later known as [[Crestonia]]ns, as they inhabited Krestonia, east of Amphaxitis. In the 12th century BC [[Bryges|Phrygians]] came in the area. Amydon became the first place of iron treatment in Southeast Europe. Phrygians founded the town [[Baerus]] or Vairos near the village [[Kastro-Kyllini|Kastro]]. In the 5th century B.C. [[ancient Macedonians|Macedonians]] conquered Amphaxitis and by that time, the Area of Polykastro followed the rest of [[Greece]].<ref name="Hammond"/><ref name="Sakellariou "/>

===Roman and East Roman (Byzantine) times===
In Roman times, Amydon was completely destroyed. The settlement in the region was called [[Tauriana (Greece)|Tauriana]] and belonged in 2nd Division of Macedonia, with Thessaloniki as the capital. During Roman times, 2nd century BC to 4th century AD, [[Gauls]], [[Goths]] and [[Germanic peoples|Germans]] made incursions. In Byzantine times there were many wars with the northern tribes, as [[Pannonian Avars|Avars]], Vardars, [[Bulgars]] and [[Slavs]] and the area was severely affected. In the 13th century, the Byzantine Emperors rebuilt the fortress of Vairos in order to face the northern enemies.<ref name="Sakellariou "/><ref name="Centennia">"Historical Maps of Europe" Centennia, U.S.A. 1992</ref><ref name="Vakalopoulos">In Greek: "History of Modern Hellenism 1204–1985" K. Vakalopoulos, Thessaloniki</ref>

===Ottoman times===
In 1397 the area was conquered by the [[Ottoman Empire]]<ref name="Centennia"/> and Ottomans started a program of [[Islamification]].<ref name="Sakellariou "/> Many people left the area to live in the mountains. 

The [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] called the town Karasouli. That name comes from the [[Turkish language|Turkish]] words ''"kara"''=black and ''"suli"''=swamp. Another interpretation of the name, is that the [[Ottoman Turks|Ottomans]] named it after a local man who had dark skin and was originally from [[Souli]], [[Epirus]].<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

According to [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] traveller [[Hadji Khalfa]], the area was populated only by Greeks and Turks.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} After the 15th century the area relied on its agricultural economy. Many farm workers came from other places of the Ottoman Empire, in order to work because many locals refused to work in Ottoman owned farms.<ref name="Sakellariou "/><ref name="Vakalopoulos"/> After the 16th century, many [[Sarakatsani]] arrived in the area from [[Epirus]]. During 17th and 18th centuries, [[Aromanians in Greece|Vlachs]] came also in the area, from [[Western Macedonia]], removed because of Turkish/Albanian loots.<ref name="Sakellariou "/><ref name="Vakalopoulos"/> It is remarkable that in the villages Evzoni and Korona, people used to speak a Romance dialect, called [[Megleno-Romanian language|Megleno-Romanian]].{{citation needed|date=October 2013}} There are such speakers even nowadays. Researcher Maria Papageorgiou claims that a lot of plays of ancient Greek tragic poets, not preserved nowadays, were kept verbally, in this dialect, as tales.

During the [[Greek War of Independence]], people of Polykastro fought against the Ottomans in the revolutionary movement of [[Bogdanci]], but were unsuccessful. The revolution continued in southern Greece. Many fighters from Polykastro and nearby villages (such as [[Gevgelija]], Bogdanci, etc.) went in Southern Greece to contribute. During the first [[First Hellenic Republic|provisional Greek government]], a committee was established, called "Committee of North Macedonians",<ref name="Pelagonia 1930 p. 230">In Greek "The Cultural Identity of Greeks in Pelagonia (1912–1930)" Nikolaos Vassiliadis, Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki, 2004, p. 230</ref> consisted of three members. One of the three members was from Bogdanci.<ref name="Pelagonia 1930 p. 230"/>

After 1850, five Greek communities had been established in the region; in Polykastro, Axiochori, Aspros, Evzonoi and Metamorfossis and four Greek schools; in Polykastro, Aspros, Axiochori and Evzonoi. Two Greek churches and one school were built in the village, they are known as Agii Anargyri (Taxiarches nowadays) and Agios Athanassios.<ref>In Greek: Neoklis Kazazis "To Makedonikon Problima (The Macedonian Problem". Athens, 1907</ref>
In 1870 the railway station of Karasouli was established.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> 

Late 19th century and early 20th century the conflict between Bulgarians and Greeks in Macedonia led to armed collisions. A lot of local Greek troops were acting in the region of Polykastro municipality. Georgios Vegyris, Georgios Didaskalou and Christos Doitsinis from village [[Evzoni]] organised troops against Bulgarians. In the nearby village of Vogoroitsa (now [[Bogorodica, Gevgelija|Bogorodica]], in the Rep. of North Macedonia) act troops with leaders: Christos Dringas and Dimitrios Ouroumis. Also in Pardeitsa (now [[Prdeic]], in the Rep. of North Macedonia) the teams of Aggelos Athanassiou and Aggelos Dakos act. Those troops were acting in the whole area from Bogdanci and Gevgeli, to Polykastro, Aspros and [[Doirani]].<ref name="ReferenceB">In Greek: "Modern History of Macedonia 1830–1912" K. Vakalopoulos, Thessaloniki</ref><ref>In Greek: "The Macedonian Struggle" K. Vakalopoulos, C. Nerantzis, 2000</ref><ref name="Intos"/><ref name="Obscure"/>

In 1900, the ethnic composition of the town had changed with many [[Turkish people|Turks]], [[Adyghe people|Adyghe]] and [[Romani people|Romani]] immigrating to the area. However, according to Bulgarian scholars, [[Macedonians (Bulgarians)|Bulgarians]] still comprised the majority of the population.<ref name="promacedonia.org">[http://www.promacedonia.org/vk/vk_2_05.htm Vasil Kanchov. „Makedoniya. Etnografiya i Statistika“. Sofiya, 1900, page.151.]</ref> The ethnic composition of the village according to [[Vasil Kanchov]] in 1900 was 340 Bulgarians, 200 Turks, 12 Adyghe and 55 Romani people.<ref name="promacedonia.org"/> The "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne" survey by Dimitar Mishev concluded that the Christian population was composed of 312 [[Bulgarian Exarchate|Bulgarian Exarchists]], 144 Bulgarian [[Patriarchate of Constantinople|Patriarchists]] and 30 Romanis. Bulgarians maintainеd a school also, in the village in the beginning of the 20th century.<ref>D.M.Brancoff. "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne". Paris, 1905, р.194–195.</ref> Another population data source could be found in [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]], [[Bulgaria]]n and [[Greece|Greek]] statistics of the era.<ref name="Sakellariou "/> According to these sources them the population of the area of Polykastro municipality was 7,000 people, 1,000 of whom [[Greek people|Greeks]], 4,000 [[Bulgarians]] and 2,000 Muslims, mainly [[Turkish people|Turks]].<ref name="Sakellariou "/>

===Macedonian Struggle===
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:G Karaiskakis Vogd.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Macedonian fighter Georgios Karaiskakis from Vogdantsa (Bogdanci)]] -->
<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[File:Sionidis M.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Macedonian fighter Michael Sionidis]] -->

The [[Greek Struggle for Macedonia|Macedonian Struggle]] of 1904–1908 aimed at liberating [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] from the collapsing Ottoman Empire and uniting it with Greece; several Polykastrins fought against Bulgarian detachments of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization ([[Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization|IMRO]]) and Turkish Armies. The Greek commander [[Georgios Karaiskakis (chieftain)|Georgios Karaiskakis]] from Bogdanca (now in the Republic of North Macedonia) and his troop were the main defenders of the area. Georgios Karaiskakis"Vogdantsiotis" was acting in an area from Gevgelija and Stromnitsa (now [[Strumica]]) to Doirani, Polykastro and Aspros. He was killed in a battle near Strumica against the Bulgarians in 1905.<ref name="ReferenceC">In Greek: "The Armed Phase of Macedonian Struggle 1904–1908" K. Vakalopoulos, Thessaloniki</ref> [[Michael Sionidis]] from Evzonoi was the most important Macedonian fighter against Bulgarians and took revenge for many assassinations of Greeks by Bulgarians. Georgios Koukogiannis from Metamorphossis with Asterios Demou and Lazaros Doitsinis from Evzonoi were defending their villages by Bulgarians. Konstantinos Argyriou from Polykastro with Traianos Antoniou and Demetrios Giovanis from Axiochorion were fighting and organising the Greek schools.<ref name="Intos">In Greek: "Centers of Organising, Action and Resistance of the Greeks of Kilkis Prefecture During the Macedonian Struggle" Christos Intos, Records of Convention "100 Years after Pavlos Melas' Death", Company of Macedonian Studies (CMS), Thessaloniki 2004</ref><ref name="Obscure">In Greek: Obscure Native Macedonian Fighters" Company of Macedonian Studies (CMS), University Studio Press, Thessaloniki, 2008</ref><ref name="ReferenceC"/>

Finally Polykastro and the area was captured by the Greek Army during the [[First Balkan War]] in 1912. Most of its [[Bulgarians (Macedonia)|Bulgarian]] population was expelled to Bulgaria.<ref>Georgi Daskalov; The Bulgarians in Aegean Macedonia – Myth or reality; 1996; p.145 (in Bulgarian)</ref> The area became again a war theatre during [[WWI]] ([[Macedonian front]]).

===Modern times===
[[File:POLYKASTRO.jpg|thumb|center|550px|General view of the town]]

Polykastro has witnessed the flow of [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|refugees]], from [[Syria]] and other countries. Refugees who had arrived on the [[Southern Sporades]] islands, and had subsequently been transported to [[Athens]] or [[Thessaloniki]] would then make their way to the border at [[Idomeni]] to the north of Polykastro, often passing by the town on the highway. After the substantial closure of that border in 2015, refugees started camping out, for example at petrol stations on the highway. Humanitarian agency [[Médecins Sans Frontières]] set up its offices for the area in Polykastro.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://activityreport2015.msf.org/country/greece/|title="MSF Activity Report 2015: Greece"|access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref>

==Famous inhabitants==

*[[Ivancho Karasuliyata]] (1875–1905), IMRO revolutionary
*[[Michael Sionidis]][http://www.imma.edu.gr/imma/dbs/Artifacts/index.html?start=110&show=1], (1870–1935), Greek Macedonian leader in the ''Macedonian Struggle''
*[[Georgios Karaiskakis Vogdatsiotis]] [http://www.imma.edu.gr/imma/cache/image/Image/iView_Vlasis/%CE%A7%CE%91%CE%A1%CE%A4%CE%9F%CE%9D%CE%99%CE%91/0408.w.800.jpg], Greek Macedonian leader in the ''Macedonian Struggle''
*[[Anton Yugov]] (1904–1991), [[Prime Minister of Bulgaria]]
*[[Alexandros Karathodoros]], (1908–1981), member of parliament (1946–1967), minister of transport (1952–1954)
*[[Pagonis Vakalopoulos]], international football player
*[[Zafirios Katramadas]], actor
*[[Chryssoula Goudenoudi]], champion runner
*Vasiliki Pappa, actress, singer

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Polykastro}}

{{Paionia div}}

[[Category:Populated places in Kilkis (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Paionia (municipality)]]