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'''Kilkis''' ({{lang-el|Κιλκίς}}; {{lang-bg|Кукуш}} ''Kukush'') is an industrial city in ], ]. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper and a total of 24,812 people living in the administrative area of the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the prefecture (or ''nomos'') of ] and the capital of one of the two local provinces (or ''eparchia'') of its prefecture. '''Kilkis''' ({{lang-el|Κιλκίς}}) is an industrial city in ], ]. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper and a total of 24,812 people living in the administrative area of the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the prefecture (or ''nomos'') of ] and the capital of one of the two local provinces (or ''eparchia'') of its prefecture.

==Name==
Kilkis is located in a region that was multi-ethnic in the recent past and is known by several different names. The name of the city in early Byzantine times was ''Kallikon'', and was also known as Kalkis or Kilkis by the Greeks. In ], it is known as Кукуш (''Kukuš, Kukush'')<ref></ref>, while it was called ''Kilkitsi'' or ''Kılkış'' by the Ottomans.


==History== ==History==
===Ancient Times=== ===Ancient Times===
There have been important findings excavated at various regions of the prefecture of Kilkis with elements dating back to as early as the Bronze and Iron Age. Their remains as well as ancient tombs of the 2nd millennium BC provide invaluable information about lifestyle at that time. Findings dating back to as early as the Bronze and Iron Age have been excavated in the vicinity of Kilkis, including ancient tombs of the 2nd millennium BC.
The town of Paeonia, near the Axios River, is cited for the first time in the ]’s Epics. As early as the 8th century BC, the wider region of Kilkis was established as a Greek region and ruled as part of the Macedonian kingdom. Kilkis was in the centre of an area, called Krestonia. When Phillip the 2nd of Macedon, visited Krestonia, the locals offered to him, olives from Krestonia valley, something that he had never eaten before<ref> </ref>. At that time, many towns flourished, such as ''Idomeni'', '']'' (] nowadays), ''Gortynia'' (Gorgopi nowadays), ''Fyska'', ''Terpillos'', ''Klitae'' (Xylokeratia nowadays), ''Vragylos'' (] nowadays), ''Ioron'' (Palatiano nowadays), '']'' (Tsaousitsa nowadays), ''Carabia'' (Limnotopos nowadays), ''Bairos'' (Kastro nowadays), ''Morrylos'' (Ano Apostoli nowadays), ''Doveros'' (] nowadays), '']'' and ''Kallindria''. In ], the wider region of Kilkis was ruled by the Greek kingdom of ]. At the time, Kilkis was in the center of a region called Krestonia. When ] visited Krestonia, the locals offered him olives from Krestonia valley, something that he had never eaten before<ref> </ref>. At that time, many towns flourished in the region, such as ''Idomeni'', '']'' (] nowadays), ''Gortynia'' (Gorgopi nowadays), ''Fyska'', ''Terpillos'', ''Klitae'' (Xylokeratia nowadays), ''Vragylos'' (] nowadays), ''Ioron'' (Palatiano nowadays), '']'' (Tsaousitsa nowadays), ''Carabia'' (Limnotopos nowadays), ''Bairos'' (Kastro nowadays), ''Morrylos'' (Ano Apostoli nowadays), ''Doveros'' (] nowadays), '']'' and ''Kallindria''.


===Roman and Byzantine Times=== ===Roman and Byzantine Times===
In 148 BC, the ] take over for two and a half centuries and eventually gave way to invasions of different tribes, such as the ], the ], the ] and the ] who gradually settled in the Balkan Peninsula. The name of the city had different variants, depended on the accent of the different languages, the invaders spoke. ''Kallikon'' in early Byzantine times, Kalkis or Kilkis by the Greeks, ''Kilkitsi'' or ''Kılkış'' by the Ottomans and Кукуш (''Kukuš, Kukush'') by Slavs<ref></ref>. In 148 BC, the ] took over the area. In ] the area of Kilkis saw invasions of different tribes, such as the ], the ], the ] and the ], some of whom gradually settled in the Balkan Peninsula.


Kilkis changed hands several times over the years between the ] and ]s. In the Byzantine era it finally flourished, despite an almost complete destruction{{Fact|date=February 2009}} by the Bulgarians at the end of 10th century. During the reign of the ] dynasty in particular, the prefecture saw the completion of a number of important infrastructure works.{{Fact|date=February 2009}} In the ], Kilkis changed hands several times between the ] and ]s. In the Byzantine era it flourished, despite an almost complete destruction by the Bulgarians at the end of 10th century. During the reign of the ] dynasty, the region saw the completion of a number of important infrastructure works.


===Ottoman Rule=== ===Ottoman Rule===
The period of prosperity ended in 1430, when ] and the entire region of ] came under Ottoman rule. After 1850, there was one Greek church, "Panagia tou Kilkis", (Madonna of Kilkis), at the foot of Saint George hill and one Greek school.
⚫ The period of prosperity ended in 1430, when ] and the entire region came under the Ottomans. After 1850, there was one Greek church, "Panagia tou Kilkis", (Madonna of Kilkis), at the foot of Saint George hill and one Greek school. In the ], several inhabitants of Kilkis participated with their efforts. The leaders of Greek efforts were Georgios Samaras, Ioannis Doiranlis and Petros Koukidis with their armed corps. Evangelia Traianou Tzoukou and Ekaterini Stampouli were also the leaders for the Greek education and hospitalization of Macedonian fighters,<ref> </ref> although the Bulgarians had the city under control. Great support to the Greek efforts was given by the '''Chatziapostolou''' family. Chatziapostolou family owned a great farm in ], the field crop of which, was almost completely given to fund the Greek efforts. The farm was also a shelter for the Macedonian fighters.<ref> </ref>


By the mid 1800s Kilkis had become a town primarily populated with ]<ref>, , , British Diplomatic Documents concerning Bulgarian National Question, 1878-1893, Sofia 1993 (bilingual edition), p. 286 By the mid 1800s Kilkis was a primarily ]-populated town<ref>, , , British Diplomatic Documents concerning Bulgarian National Question, 1878-1893, Sofia 1993 (bilingual edition), p. 286
</ref> (Slav speaking Christians with Bulgarain consciousness<ref>Vacalopoulos, Apostolos. Modern history of Macedonia (1830-1912), Thessaloniki 1988, p. 61-62</ref>). According to a neutral estimation, there were about 500 ], 500 ] and 4.500 ]<ref>In Greek "Macedonia: 4.000 years of Greek Civilization" Sakellariou, 1990</ref> at that era. A 1873 Ottoman study concluded that the population of Kilkis consisted of 1,170 households of which there were 5,235 Bulgarian inhabitants, 155 Muslims and 40 Romani people.<ref>„Македония и Одринско. Статистика на населението от 1873 г.“ Macedonian Scientific Institute, Sofiya, 1995, pages.160-161.</ref> A ] study of 1900 counted 7,000 Bulgarian and 750 Turkish inhabitants in the town.<ref></ref> Another survey in 1905 established the presence of 9,712 ], 40 ], 592 ] and 16 Protestants. <ref>Brancoff, D.M. "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne". Paris, 1905, р.98-99.</ref> </ref> (Slav speaking Christians with Bulgarain consciousness<ref>Vacalopoulos, Apostolos. Modern history of Macedonia (1830-1912), Thessaloniki 1988, p. 61-62</ref>). According to one estimate, there were about 500 ], 500 ] and 4500 ] in the town <ref>In Greek "Macedonia: 4.000 years of Greek Civilization" Sakellariou, 1990</ref> at the time. A 1873 Ottoman study concluded that the population of Kilkis consisted of 1,170 households of which there were 5,235 Bulgarian inhabitants, 155 Muslims and 40 Romani people.<ref>„Македония и Одринско. Статистика на населението от 1873 г.“ Macedonian Scientific Institute, Sofiya, 1995, pages.160-161.</ref> A ] study of 1900 counted 7,000 Bulgarian and 750 Turkish inhabitants in the town.<ref></ref> Another survey in 1905 established the presence of 9,712 ], 40 ], 592 ] and 16 Protestants. <ref>Brancoff, D.M. "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne". Paris, 1905, р.98-99.</ref>

⚫ In 1904, the inhabitants of Kilkis participated in the ]. The leaders of Greek efforts were Georgios Samaras, Ioannis Doiranlis and Petros Koukidis with their armed corps. Evangelia Traianou-Tzoukou and Ekaterini Stampouli were the leaders for the Greek education and hospitalization of Macedonian fighters,<ref> </ref> although the Bulgarians had the city under control. Great support to the Greek efforts was given by the Chatziapostolou family. The Chatziapostolou family owned a great farm in ], the field crop of which was almost completely given to fund the Greek efforts. The farm also served a shelter for the Macedonian fighters.<ref> </ref>


===First and Second Balkan Wars=== ===First and Second Balkan Wars===
In the ] of 1912 it was briefly taken over by ]. In the ] of 1913, the Greek army captured the city after a three-day battle between June 19 and June 21 from the Bulgarians who were badly outnumbered. The battle was costly, with over 8,652 casualties on the Greek side and 7,000 on the Bulgarian,{{Fact|date=August 2008}}. Kilkis was almost completely destroyed after the battle by the Greek army,<ref></ref> and virtually all of its pre-war 7,000 ] inhabitants were expelled into Bulgaria. The new town was built closer to the railway to Thessaloniki, around the Greek church of Saint George, and was settled by Greeks transferred from Bulgaria, the ] and ], especially from Strumica. The Patriachists from Strumica built the church of Pentekedeka Martyron (Fifteen Martyrs, which took its name from the main church of the Greek patriacharate in Strumica. The resettled Greeks were so many that Kilkis was temporarily renamed Nea Stromnitsa (New Strumica).<ref> </ref> In the ] of 1912, the town was briefly taken over by ]. In the ] of 1913, the Greek army captured the city from the Bulgarians after the three-day ] between June 19 and June 21. The battle was costly, with over 8,652 casualties on the Greek side and 7,000 on the Bulgarian side. The significance of the ] for the Greeks can be appreciated by the fact that Greece named a battleship after the city, the ]. Kilkis was almost completely destroyed after the battle,<ref></ref> and virtually all of its 7,000 pre-war ] inhabitants were expelled to Bulgaria. The new town was built closer to the railway to Thessaloniki, around the Greek church of Saint George, and was settled by Greeks transferred from Bulgaria, the ] and ], especially from ]. The Patriachists from Strumica built the church of Pentekedeka Martyron (Fifteen Martyrs, which took its name from the main church of the Greek patriacharate in Strumica). The resettled Greeks were so many that Kilkis was temporarily renamed Nea Stromnitsa (New Strumica).<ref> </ref>


In the mid-twenties, after the ] when Greece lost its ] territories to Turkey, waves of destitute refugees washed into Kilkis, thus giving a new boost to the region and contributing to the increase of its population. Likewise, the Turks (a generic term for the Muslim population) of the region had to leave for the new Turkish state in the exchange of populations. By 1928 1,679 Refugee families comprising of 6,433 individuals had been resettled in Kilkis.<ref></ref> Barely two decades later, the Second World War broke out and devastated the region once again. In the mid-twenties, after the ] when Greece lost its ] territories to Turkey, waves of destitute refugees washed into Kilkis, thus giving a new boost to the region and contributing to the increase of its population. Likewise, the Turks (a generic term for the Muslim population) of the region had to leave for the new Turkish state in the exchange of populations. By 1928 1,679 Refugee families comprising of 6,433 individuals had been resettled in Kilkis.<ref></ref> Barely two decades later, the Second World War broke out and devastated the region once again.


===World War II=== ===World War II===
The significance of the ] for the Greeks can be appreciated by the fact that Greece named a battleship after the city. However, ] was sunk by a German ] (Stuka) dive-bomber on April 23, 1941, along with its sister-ship, in the third week of the invasion of Greece by ]. The city of Kilkis came under the Axis of Bulgarian occupation in 1943 when the Bulgarian zone of occupation was expanded to include the prefectures of Kilkis and ]. The new authorities pursued a policy of "Bulgarianisation" to annex the region to Bulgaria, but were forbidden from doing so by their German allies, who feared destabilising Greece if the Bulgarians proceeded. The region became a major centre for Greek partisan resistance activity before being liberated and rejoint Greece in 1944. The local ] dialect, the ], is rarely spoken by Kilkis' inhabitants.<ref>{{cite book |title=Българска диалектология (Bulgarian dialectology)|last=Stojkov (Stoykov)|first=Stojko |authorlink=Stoyko Stoykov |origyear=1962 |year=2002 |location=Sofija |publisher= |language=Bulgarian |url=http://www.promacedonia.org/jchorb/st/index.htm |isbn=9544308466 |oclc=53429452}}</ref> During the ], Kilkis was included in the Bulgarian zone of occupation, which was expanded to include the ] and ]. The Bulgarian authorities pursued a policy of forcible ] and aimed to annex the region to Bulgaria. However they were prevented from doing so by their German allies, who feared that Greece would become completely de-stabilized if the Bulgarians proceeded. The region became a major center of Greek partisan resistance activity before being liberated and rejoining Greece in 1944.


==Municipal districts== ==Municipal districts==
Line 83: Line 88:


==Famous inhabitants of Kilkis== ==Famous inhabitants of Kilkis==
⚫ *], Greek singer
⚫ *], Bulgarian scientist and politician, ex minister
⚫ *], Greek journalist
⚫ *], Bulgarian officer and military historian
⚫ *], Bulgarian revolutionary from ] (1872-1903)
*], Greek politician, ex minister *], Greek politician, ex minister
⚫ *],Swedish politician
⚫ *], Greek politician, ex minister
⚫ *], Cherso, Greek singer
⚫ *], Greek journalist, tv-presenter
*], Greek politician, sub-minister of Agriculture *], Greek politician, sub-minister of Agriculture
⚫ *], Bulgarian revolutionary from ] (1872-1903)
⚫ *], Bulgarian officer and military historian
⚫ *], Bulgarian revolutionary (1878 - 1953)
⚫ *], Bulgarian poet (1898-1923)
*], Greek author (1929 - 2004)
*], Greek footballer *], Greek footballer
*], Greek Professional Basketball Player (1984) *], Greek Professional Basketball Player (1984)
⚫ *],Swedish politician
⚫ *], Greek journalist
*], Greek accountant *], Greek author (1929 - 2004)
⚫ *], Greek journalist, tv-presenter
⚫ *], Bulgarian poet (1898-1923)
⚫ *], Bulgarian scientist and politician, ex minister
⚫ *], Greek politician, ex minister
⚫ *], Bulgarian revolutionary (1878 - 1953)


==References== ==References==

Revision as of 23:53, 27 January 2010

Settlement in Greece
Kilkis Κιλκίς
Settlement
CountryGreece
Administrative regionCentral Macedonia
Government
 • MayorDimitrios Terzedis
Area
 • Total306.557 km (118.362 sq mi)
Elevation280 m (920 ft)
Population
 • Total24,812
 • Density81/km (210/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+3 (EEST)
Postal code611 00
Area code(s)23410
Vehicle registrationNI, ΚΙ*
Websitewww.dhmoskilkis.gr

Kilkis (Template:Lang-el) is an industrial city in Central Macedonia, Greece. As of 2001 there were 17,430 people living in the city proper and a total of 24,812 people living in the administrative area of the municipality of Kilkis. It is also the capital city of the prefecture (or nomos) of Kilkis and the capital of one of the two local provinces (or eparchia) of its prefecture.

Name

Kilkis is located in a region that was multi-ethnic in the recent past and is known by several different names. The name of the city in early Byzantine times was Kallikon, and was also known as Kalkis or Kilkis by the Greeks. In Bulgarian, it is known as Кукуш (Kukuš, Kukush), while it was called Kilkitsi or Kılkış by the Ottomans.

History

Ancient Times

Findings dating back to as early as the Bronze and Iron Age have been excavated in the vicinity of Kilkis, including ancient tombs of the 2nd millennium BC. In classical antiquity, the wider region of Kilkis was ruled by the Greek kingdom of Macedon. At the time, Kilkis was in the center of a region called Krestonia. When Phillip II of Macedon visited Krestonia, the locals offered him olives from Krestonia valley, something that he had never eaten before. At that time, many towns flourished in the region, such as Idomeni, Atalanti (Axioupoli nowadays), Gortynia (Gorgopi nowadays), Fyska, Terpillos, Klitae (Xylokeratia nowadays), Vragylos (Metalliko nowadays), Ioron (Palatiano nowadays), Chaetae (Tsaousitsa nowadays), Carabia (Limnotopos nowadays), Bairos (Kastro nowadays), Morrylos (Ano Apostoli nowadays), Doveros (Doirani nowadays), Evropos and Kallindria.

Roman and Byzantine Times

In 148 BC, the Romans took over the area. In late antiquity the area of Kilkis saw invasions of different tribes, such as the Goths, the Huns, the Avars and the Slavs, some of whom gradually settled in the Balkan Peninsula.

In the Middle Ages, Kilkis changed hands several times between the Byzantine and Bulgarian Empires. In the Byzantine era it flourished, despite an almost complete destruction by the Bulgarians at the end of 10th century. During the reign of the Palaeologus dynasty, the region saw the completion of a number of important infrastructure works.

Ottoman Rule

The period of prosperity ended in 1430, when Thessalonica and the entire region of Macedonia came under Ottoman rule. After 1850, there was one Greek church, "Panagia tou Kilkis", (Madonna of Kilkis), at the foot of Saint George hill and one Greek school.

By the mid 1800s Kilkis was a primarily Bulgarian-populated town (Slav speaking Christians with Bulgarain consciousness). According to one estimate, there were about 500 Greeks, 500 Turks and 4500 Bulgarians in the town at the time. A 1873 Ottoman study concluded that the population of Kilkis consisted of 1,170 households of which there were 5,235 Bulgarian inhabitants, 155 Muslims and 40 Romani people. A Vasil Kanchov study of 1900 counted 7,000 Bulgarian and 750 Turkish inhabitants in the town. Another survey in 1905 established the presence of 9,712 Exarchists, 40 Patriachists, 592 Uniate Christians and 16 Protestants.

In 1904, the inhabitants of Kilkis participated in the Macedonian Struggle. The leaders of Greek efforts were Georgios Samaras, Ioannis Doiranlis and Petros Koukidis with their armed corps. Evangelia Traianou-Tzoukou and Ekaterini Stampouli were the leaders for the Greek education and hospitalization of Macedonian fighters, although the Bulgarians had the city under control. Great support to the Greek efforts was given by the Chatziapostolou family. The Chatziapostolou family owned a great farm in Metalliko, the field crop of which was almost completely given to fund the Greek efforts. The farm also served a shelter for the Macedonian fighters.

First and Second Balkan Wars

In the First Balkan War of 1912, the town was briefly taken over by Bulgaria. In the Second Balkan War of 1913, the Greek army captured the city from the Bulgarians after the three-day Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas between June 19 and June 21. The battle was costly, with over 8,652 casualties on the Greek side and 7,000 on the Bulgarian side. The significance of the Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas for the Greeks can be appreciated by the fact that Greece named a battleship after the city, the Kilkis. Kilkis was almost completely destroyed after the battle, and virtually all of its 7,000 pre-war Bulgarian inhabitants were expelled to Bulgaria. The new town was built closer to the railway to Thessaloniki, around the Greek church of Saint George, and was settled by Greeks transferred from Bulgaria, the Ottoman Empire and Yugoslavia, especially from Strumica. The Patriachists from Strumica built the church of Pentekedeka Martyron (Fifteen Martyrs, which took its name from the main church of the Greek patriacharate in Strumica). The resettled Greeks were so many that Kilkis was temporarily renamed Nea Stromnitsa (New Strumica).

In the mid-twenties, after the Asia Minor Catastrophe when Greece lost its Asia Minor territories to Turkey, waves of destitute refugees washed into Kilkis, thus giving a new boost to the region and contributing to the increase of its population. Likewise, the Turks (a generic term for the Muslim population) of the region had to leave for the new Turkish state in the exchange of populations. By 1928 1,679 Refugee families comprising of 6,433 individuals had been resettled in Kilkis. Barely two decades later, the Second World War broke out and devastated the region once again.

World War II

During the occupation of Greece by the Axis Powers in World War II, Kilkis was included in the Bulgarian zone of occupation, which was expanded to include the prefectures of Kilkis and Halkidiki. The Bulgarian authorities pursued a policy of forcible Bulgarisation and aimed to annex the region to Bulgaria. However they were prevented from doing so by their German allies, who feared that Greece would become completely de-stabilized if the Bulgarians proceeded. The region became a major center of Greek partisan resistance activity before being liberated and rejoining Greece in 1944.

Municipal districts

Subdivisions

Famous inhabitants of Kilkis

References

  1. De Facto Population of Greece Population and Housing Census of March 18th, 2001 (PDF 39 MB). National Statistical Service of Greece. 2003.
  4. A report from Koukoush, Journal Bulgarski knizhitsi, Constantinople, No. 10 May, 1858, p. 19, A letter from a Russian official to Alexei N. Bekhmetev, Moscow, about the education of young Bulgarians at Moscow University, August 22nd, 1858, A petition from the Bulgarians in Koukoush to Pope Pius IX, July 12th, 1859, British Diplomatic Documents concerning Bulgarian National Question, 1878-1893, Sofia 1993 (bilingual edition), p. 286
  5. Vacalopoulos, Apostolos. Modern history of Macedonia (1830-1912), Thessaloniki 1988, p. 61-62
  6. In Greek "Macedonia: 4.000 years of Greek Civilization" Sakellariou, 1990
  7. „Македония и Одринско. Статистика на населението от 1873 г.“ Macedonian Scientific Institute, Sofiya, 1995, pages.160-161.
  8. Vasil Kanchov. „Macedonia. Ethnography and Statistics“. Sofia, 1900, pages.164.
  9. Brancoff, D.M. "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne". Paris, 1905, р.98-99.
  12. Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, published by the Endowment Washington, D.C. 1914, p. 97-99
  14. Κατάλογος των προσφυγικών συνοικισμών της Μακεδονίας σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία της Επιτροπής Αποκαταστάσεως Προσφύγων (ΕΑΠ) έτος 1928

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