Damalas

The first study of history of the Chiot aristocratic houses is owed to Karl Hopf, who first produced a monograph on the oikos of the Giustiniani, the rulers of the second and longest Genoese occupation (1346-1566).[5] G. Zolotas is credited for the first compilation of the medieval Chiot prosopography, which occupies a separate section in his "History of Chios"; it comprises all the Chiot and Genoese lineages from the tenth century until the very end of the Genoese period.[6]

The catalogue describes also the origins of the houses, which altogether comprised the Chiot upper class. According to his estimations, the narrow circle of the Chiot aristocrats was already established in the Komnenian period. E. Malamut uses the evidence of four 11th-century lead seals connected with Chios (three seals of strategol and one of a nobelissimos)" But the specimen is too small and chronologically limited to be taken seriously into consideration.[7]

The oldest historical mention of an archon of Chios is the testimony of John Kantakouzenos, who writes that the governor of the island during the period of the Zaccaria, was Leo Kalothetos, the most important of all the Chiot magnates. As a high imperial official, Kantakouzenos was a very close friend of Kalothetos. The latter held the governorship until 1340, when the emperor dismissed him from his office on account of a hostility that sprang against his person from the part of the Grand Domestikos Kantakouzenos and Apokaukos. The governorship of the island then passed to the hands of Kaloyannis Zyvos (or Cibo or Ziffo, as mentioned in the Genoese sources).[8]

The Quintet ruling houses of Chios during the 14th and 15th centuries.

The next most significant and probably the oldest source recording the Chiot archontes is the treaty of concession of 1346. The treaty bears the terms and conditions agreed between the protagonists of the two parts followed by their signatures. On the one hand, the Admiral Simone Vignoso signed on behalf of the Commune of Genoa. On the other, prominent members of the Chiot aristocrats, as representatives of the whole body of the inhabitants of the island. Among the first terms the fifth clause was highly favorable for the interests of the Chiot aristocracy because it "safeguarded the privileges and possessions... which this class acquired from purchase, inheritance or grants from the Byzantine Emperors with chrysobulls." The Chiot aristocrats would adhere to the terms of the conventions imposed on them and the Genoese would recognize their class as hereditary and would respect them.[9]

The Chiot signatories were: the Governor Kaloyannis Zyvus (Cibo or Ziffo), the Great Falconer Argenti, Constantine Zyvos (Cibo or Ziffo), the Grand Sakellarios Michael Koressios (Coressi), Sevastos Coressi (Syndicus), Georgio Agelastos (Syndicus et procuratore) and the "Protocomes Damala" (Centurione I Zaccaria).[10][11][12]

How they assumed the power and became governors of the island is recorded again by John Kantakouzenos. The political crisis in the early fourteenth century caused by the civil war between Andronikos II and Andronikos III coincided with the possession of Chios, at that time by the Zaccaria family (1304-1329). The emperor held the sovereignty of the island but conceded the administration to Benedetto Zaccaria (and, after his death, to his successors) with a renewable lease. The expulsion of the latters' heir, Martino Zaccaria, in 1329 had a major repercussion on the island as it allowed the concession of the political power to the hands of the local magnates. It is likely that even prior to that period the conditions must have been the same, with the island in a state of semi-autonomy or autonomy and the concentration of power to the magnates. The sources clarify that the Chiot aristocrats were so powerful that they practically governed the island, albeit in theory in the name of the Byzantine Emperor. During the brief Byzantine repossession (1329-1346), the emperor appointed five of the most illustrious local families to govern Chios in his name. Those were: Kalothetos, Zyvos (Ziffo or Cibo), Argenti, Koressios (Coressi), and Damala (Damalas). This is the first historical recording of the nucleus of the closed Chiot aristocratic circle, dubbed "The Quintet."[13] The treaty of submission is more valuable, because it is the first official recording of names of indigenous local magnates, and their offices.[14]

1 Denier Tournois; Barony of Damala.

The Byzantine rulers had little influence over Chios and through the Treaty of Nymphaeum, authority was ceded to the Republic of Genoa (1261).[15] At this time the island was frequently attacked by pirates, and by 1302–1303 was a target for the renewed Turkish fleets. To prevent Turkish expansion, the island was reconquered and kept as a renewable lease, at the behest of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, by the Genoese Benedetto I Zaccaria (1304), then admiral to Philip of France. As reward for his service to the empire Benedetto was married to the sister of the emperor.[16] Michael VIII Palaiologos gave him the island of Chios and the area neighboring Galata, Damalas/Damalis as a dowry.[17] This founded the short-lived Lordship of Chios. His rule was benign and effective control remained in the hands of the local Greek landowners. Benedetto was followed by his son Benedetto II, better known as Paleologo from his mother's family.[18] and then his grandsons Benedetto III and Martino.

Imperial banner adopted by the Palaiologos dynasty in the 14th century

In 1327 Martino took part in alliance negotiations between the Byzantines and the Republic of Venice.[19] At the same time, however, Martino's behavior became increasingly assertive. In 1325 he ousted his brother as co-ruler of Chios and began minting coins in his own name.[20][21] By this time the Zaccaria family had become one of the wealthiest dynasties in the region. Confirmation of the growing wealth of the family comes from the account of John Kantakouzenos, who claimed that by the late 1320's, the income of Martino had reached 120,000 hyperpyra per year; which has been estimated to equate to roughly one-fifth of the annual Byzantine Imperial Revenue under the reign of Andronikos III.[22][23]

In 1328, the rise of this new and energetic emperor to the Byzantine throne marked a turning-point in relations. One of the leading Chiot nobles, Leo Kalothetos, went to meet the new emperor and his chief minister, John Kantakouzenos. He proposed a reconquest of the island and Andronikos III readily agreed. On the pretext of Martino's unauthorized building of a new fortress on the island, the emperor sent him a letter, in which he ordered him to cease construction and present himself in Constantinople within the next year in order to renew the island's lease. Martino haughtily rejected the demands and accelerated construction. But now his deposed brother Benedetto lodged a complaint with the emperor claiming that his share of one-half of the island's revenues was his and was due. With these events as an excuse, in autumn 1329 Andronikos III assembled a fleet of 105 vessels—including the forces of the Latin Duke of Naxos, Nicholas I Sanudo—and sailed to Chios.[24]

Topographic map of Chios and Psara islands, situated in the Aegean Sea in Greece.

Even after the imperial fleet reached the island, Andronikos III offered to let Martino keep his possessions in exchange for the installation of a Byzantine garrison and the payment of an annual tribute, but Martino refused. He sank his three galleys in the harbor, forbade the Greek population to bear arms and locked himself with 800 men in his citadel, where he raised his own banner instead of the emperor's. His will to resist was broken, however, when Benedetto surrendered his own fort to the Byzantines, and when he saw the locals welcoming them, he was soon forced to surrender. The emperor spared his life, even though the Chiots demanded his execution, and took him prisoner to Constantinople.

Martino's family were allowed to maintain part of their wealth; being allowed to carry as much gold and furnishings as they could carry with their servants. Most of the Zaccaria adherents chose to stay on the island under imperial rule. His sons Bartolemmeo and Centurione whom fought on their father's side, left the island. Bartolemmeo sailed to the Marquisate of Bodonitsa, of which he was Marquis through his marriage to Guglielma Pallavicini in 1327. Meanwhile Centurione sailed with Jacqueline to Damala in Morea; where he had resided since 1327.[25] Benedetto was offered the island's governorship, but he obstinately demanded to receive it as a personal possession in the same way as his brother had held it, a concession the emperor was unwilling to grant. Benedetto retired to his ancestral lands of Damala, bordering the Genoese colony of Galata. A few years later he made an unsuccessful attempt to reclaim Chios; he died soon after. Andronikos III appointed Kalothetos as the new governor of Chios, and followed up his success by sailing to Phocaea, forcing it to acknowledge his suzerainty.[26][27]

Map of Damala in the Morea - Boschini Marco - 1658

Of Martino's two sons, Bartolomeo died in 1334. His other son Centurione inherited his older brother's title of "Seigneur de Damala" (Bosphorus); which he held since 1317.[28] He was also given control of his father's possessions in Morea sometime during his imprisonment. This began the dynastic struggle of the local baronies on the death of Philip of Taranto.

In thirteenth and fourteenth century France, a Baron was a lower member of the nobility. In the Principality of Achaea however, Barons were high lords, akin to a Duke. As such, they held their authority directly from the Prince and the principality consisted of twelve large baronies.

By supporting Roberto son of Filippo, Centurione obtained the recognition of his sovereignty and the confirmation of his rights; violated several times in the past by the Angioni princes. His father Martino had continued the system of alliances through the marriages of his own children. Bartolomeo with his marriage to Guglielma Pallavicino, who had brought the Marquisate of Bodonitsa as a dowry. Centurione married an unknown woman of the Bulgarian Asen family. With this marriage linking the Zaccaria to the Imperial house of Bulgaria, and already being connected to the Palaiologoi through his great-grandfather's marriage, it consolidated the aims of the family as a princely dynasty.[29]

After eight years in captivity, Martino was released from his imprisonment. This was only permissible upon the condition that he swear an oath to remain in Genoa; through the intervention of Pope Benedict XII and Philip VI of France in 1337. He swore to never again, by word or deed, oppose the empire. He was treated favorably by the Emperor, whom gave him the military command of Protokomes of Chios, as well as a few castles as compensation for his losses. This command would be succeeded by his second son Centurione.[30][31]

The Zaccaria would gain imperial favor once again, with Martino fighting to retake coastal lands of Anatolia. This ended with his death in 1345. Upon his father's death, Centurione officially inherited the barony of Chalandritsa, the command of Protokomes of Chios, and the fortresses of Stamira and Lysaria; which he later strengthened with the marriage of his son Andronikos with the only daughter of the powerful baron of Arcadia and Saint-Sauveur, Erard III Le Maure.

These improved relations with the Byzantines were cultivated by Centurione, with his return to Chios as Protocome. He reclaimed his paternal estates and jointly exploited the lands of Chios and Phocea with a few Genoese nobles whom the emperor had entrusted. These were the Ziffo, Corressi, Argenti, Agelasto.[32][33]

Imperial rule in Chios was brief. In 1346, a chartered company controlled by the Giustiniani called "Maona di Chio e di Focea", was set up in Genoa to reconquer and exploit Chios and the neighboring town of Phocaea in Asia Minor. Although the inhabitants firmly rejected an initial offer of protection, the island was invaded by a Genoese fleet; led by Simone Vignoso the castle was besieged.

Centurione did not wait for the arrival of the diplomats, sent by the Empress Anna in order to negotiate with those under Admiral Vignoso. He mounted a resistance to the siege, however after several months, had to surrender the island to prevent starvation as a result of their naval blockade; though he did not sign a capitulation. Prior to the surrender being formalized, drafted by I.N. of Agios Nikolaos, he escaped with a few of his sailors and headed for Byzantine territory in New Phocaea; in order to organize an operation to retake the island of Chios. The byzantine defenders surrendered though on the 12th of September, 1346.

Two treaties were drafted, the first treaty regarding the surrender of Chios, included an amnesty to the Zaccaria family. However when Centurione did not return to Chios, Vignoso sailed to New Phocaea and eventually achieved it's surrender. Thus a second treaty was signed, where the Admiral revoked amnesty for Centurione and his family. It forbade them from residing, owning property or interfering in the governance of Chios or Phocaea. While Centurione resigned, the rest of Chios was given favorable terms. All the privileges granted by chrysobulls of Byzantine emperors, as well as the religious freedom of Orthodox Christians in Chios. Centurione is recorded as "Protocomes Damala" in this treaty.

From here Centurione lived both in Damala of Morea and Damala of Galata; where in 1352 he signed as a witness "the first among the latins" to the treaty with Emperor John VI Kantakouzenos.[34]

Centurione and his descendants ruled his father's possesions in Morea after their expulsion from Chios. After Centurione, the barony of Damala seems to be lost to the byzantines as neither his son or grandson inherited it. Even so, his oldest son was named "Andronikos Asano de Damala".[35] This is the first reference of Damala not being used as a title, but as an extension of the surname.[36][37]

It is well documented what became of Andronikos and his descendants, as well as his sister Maria who married the Prince of Achaea, Pedro de San Superano. However, there are less sources for his presumed three brothers: Filippo, Manuele and Martino.[38] It is possible that Martino could have been the same person as Manuele as he does not appear in most genealogical records; he is known only from his participation in the Battle of Gardiki in 1375.[39] Filippo and Manuele are documented through their marriages to prominent women of the time.

Andronikos had four children: Centurione II, Stefano, Erardo IV and Benedetto (died young). Centurione being the eldest, inherited his father's titles and eventually reached the height of Prince of Achaea.[40] Through this much elevated rank he is only recorded as "Centurione II Zaccaria" in historical accounts, as Zaccaria was the older and more respected name of the time.

Centurione II had only one legitimate child, Catherine Zaccaria. Due to Centurione's defeat in 1430, he conceded to marrying his daughter to Thomas Palaiologos; brother and heir to the last emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantine XI Palaiologos. Although only having one legitimate child, Centurione had a bastard son known as Giovanni Asen Zaccaria by most sources. Sometime around 1446, he rose against the Despot Constantine Dragas, the future Emperor. Upon his uprising, he was proclaimed Prince of Achaea by Greek magnates and had the eagle as his emblem with the city of Aetos as his seat. Within a year, Giovanni was defeated by the combined forces of then despots Constantine and Thomas Palaiologos. He was then imprisoned with his eldest son by Thomas in Chlemoutsi castle, leaving these dangerous remnants of the previous dynasty to waste away.[41][42]

Giovanni nor his son died there as anticipated, and instead in 1453 convinced their guard to release them during a widespread revolt against the Despots. He was congratulated and recognized by many western rulers, namely Pope Paul II, King Alfonso V of Naples, and the Venetian Doge Francesco Foscari; titling him "Centurione III Asen Zaccaria". After his escape, he gained the support of the Albanians that began the revolt, but was eventually defeated once more by Despot Thomas and his Turkish allies under Turahan Bey.[43][44]

Giovanni escaped capture and found refuge with the Venetians in Methoni, where he remained for a period of roughly 3 years. In 1456, he retired under King Alfonso of Naples and received an annuity from Venice; he lost this though when he relocated to Genoa in 1459. There the Doge wrote him a letter of recommendation to Pope Paul II for support. In September of 1461 after moving to Rome, the Pope granted him a monthly pension of twenty florins as the Prince of Morea (Achaea) until his death in 1469.[45][46]

The precise descendance from Zaccaria to strictly Damala is not yet known. Giovanni was the last male of the family and is known to have had at least 2 sons. According to Ventian records of people friendly to them, in 1450 there is a person listed as the "Archon of Ligouri Damalas"; Lygourio was a castle and settlement within the Barony of Damala. This was located near the seat of the barony, also called Damala. According to current sources, there are no other specifics as to the identity of this person. It may be noteworthy that Giovanni maintained a close relationship with the Venetians, as he received a pension from them. He is first referenced in a historical account when he claims his father's title. During this time it was common for bastard sons to take the name of the land where they were born, and only legitimized bastards were able to bear their fathers surname. However there are currently no records of Giovanni listed with "de Damala" as his grandfather Andronikos, and thus it cannot be confirmed that this practice was observed. There are however many records of him being recorded as a Zaccaria, and from these he must be considered as such.

7 generations of the noble Damalas family. Based on the compilation in 2006 for Pelinnaeo Magazine, by the research of Dimitris Lainas into the Noble House of Damalas.

The names of Giovanni's sons are not yet known, and therefore there is no way to determine the lineage to Giovanni. However the transition from "de Damala" to "Damala" is recorded in the late 15th century. Antonio Damala (1498-1578) is given a fief by the Duke of Naxos, John IV Crispo; this was the establishment of a feudal relationship between the two and to this day the village is named Damalas. The father of Antonio is recorded as "Zaccaria de Damala"; this is the first reference of the name dropping the "de" and formally adopting "Damala" as a surname. Antonio played an important role in preventing the conquest of Naxos by the Turks. Giacomo IV Crispo, whom succeeded his father John after his death, sent Antonio to Constantinople in 1564 as the head ambassador to ask for the Sultan's mercy in order to recognize him. This is something that Antonio seems to have achieved, as the relevant firman was issued on the 29th of April, 1565.[47]

When in Constantinople, Antonio had become friends with the Sultan's son-in-law, Grand Admiral Piali Pasha. For this reason, when Piali Pasha occupied Chios in 1566, he invited him to settle there and at the same time gave him his ancestral estates that the Maona took from the Zaccaria.[48] Upon arriving in Chios Antonio took over lands in Volissos, Kardamyla, Delfini, Lagkada, Kalamoti, Kampos and the Dafnonas tower. After 1566, Antonio lived in the tower where he also owned the "Stratigato" and the "Damala" estates, whose churches he renovated. These churches were Panagia Coronata and Sotira.[49] These two churches, fortified towers, and manor house were all severely damaged during the 1822 massacre of Chios and subsequently damaged further by the earthquake of 1881. To this day there is an area of Dafnonas called "τού Δαμαλά" (belonging to Damala) at the "Stratigato".[50]

Starting with Antonio, the Damala appear in geneological records of Chios all bearing the surname "Damala"; eventually being hellenized to "Damalas". They are recorded as a one of the remaining noble houses of Genoese origin by Giovanni Battista de Burgo during his late 17th century visit of the island.[51][52]

It is important to note, that during this time it was common for servants to adopt the name of their Lord. Therefore, there must be a distinguishment between the modern day descendants of these servants and the actual family that are patrilineal descendants of the Zaccaria.[53] In 2006, Dimitri Lainas conducted a study compiling the family tree of these descendants and it was published in Pelinnaeo Magazine.

The Damalases remained a prominent noble family, often being cited in the codes and laws of the island. Producing many affluent land owners, bankers, shipping magnates and holders of political office. But the family was greatly destabilized with the massacre of Chios in 1822. It would never attain the status that it had during its peak, when they controlled the vast majority of the Peloponnese, Chios and entire regions of the Aegean.[54][55]

Church of the Holy Apostles, Pyrgi, Chios

Fresco of the founders, 1665. Symeon Damalas and family hold up an effigy of the Church. Above the church's dome "ΔΑΜΑ ΛΑΔΕC" is written in medieval Greek. Which translates to "ΔΑΜΑΛΑΔΕΣ" (DAMALAS plural) in modern Greek.

The Church of the Holy Apostles is a late Byzantine church located in Pyrgi, the largest medieval village of Chios. It is one of the best preserved examples of Byzantine architecture in Greece. The church originally existed as one of the personal shrines of the Damalas family, from which it is believed Pyrgi was built around. In the late Byzantine period, population centers began around churches with a tower and manor house.[56] As such, the church is situated just northeast of the village's main square.

Holy Apostles is a small reproduction of the katholicon (main church) of Nea Moni, being richly decorated outside with brick patterns. The interior is completely covered with frescoes painted by Antonios Kenygos of Crete, in 1665. An inscription over the main entrance of the church tells us that monk Symeon of the Damalas family, who eventually became the metropolitan bishop of Chios, raised the church "from its foundations" in 1564.[57] This most likely refers to an extensive renovation, since its architectural and morphological features indicate that it was constructed in the middle of the 14th century.

It is likely that the original church was destroyed in one of the great earthquakes of 1546, and thus 18 years later, Symeon came to it in ruins. Under the property law at the time, it would have belonged to his family and would have been his obligation to rebuild it.[58]

The manor house and fortified tower that accompanied the church were destroyed like many structures in the 1881 Chios earthquake.

The Massacre at Chios by Eugène Delacroix. This, and the works of Lord Byron, did much to draw the attention of mainland Europe to the catastrophe that had taken place in Chios (1824, oil on canvas, 419 cm × 354 cm (165 in × 139 in), Musée du Louvre, Paris).

Though the Damalases remained one of the most prominent houses in Chios, they abruptly lost their standing during the 1822 massacre. Ioannis Zanni Damalas, who was the governor of the island, was beheaded in the capitol of Chios. There was also irreparable damage done to centuries old estates.

After a roughly 50 year period they would produce notable figures, such as the shipping magnate and twice mayor Ambrosios Ioannou Damalas and the mayor of Chios from 1878 to 1882 Ioannis Zanni Damalas standing out in history.[59][60]

The Damalas Foundation, Piraeus, Greece

While members of this noble house are few, the Damalases have made efforts in recent years to regain former notoriety. In 2012, Anastasia Damala formed the philanthropic Damalas Foundation which hosts intellectual seminars on the sciences, philosophy, current events and history. These events are held in a 8-story building located in Piraeus which houses a library, museum, chapel, several offices and 2 conference halls.[61]

The foundation also has operations in Chios, within their ancestral home, directly across from Kamenos Pyrgos. Notably, this home is on land that has been held since their Zaccaria ancestors acquired it and constructed Kamenos Pyrgos.[62][63]

As a noble house of Chios, they also holds a senatorial seat of the Roman State. Legally revived in Greece in 2004, it follows original Byzantine legislation and etiquette.

• Centurione I Zaccaria de Damala, Baron of Damala in the Principality of Achaea; mid 14th century.
• Andronikos Asen Zaccaria de Damala, Lord in the Principality of Achaea; late 14th century.
• Centurione II Zaccaria, Prince of Achaea; early 15th century.
• Symeon Damalas, Bishop of Chios; mid 16th century.
• Loucas Damalas, Voivode of Mykonos; late 17th century.
• Ioannis Zanni Damalas, Governor of Chios; early 19th century.
• Konstantinos Damalas, Greek revolutionary during the Greek war of independence; early 19th century.
• Ambrosios Ioannou Damalas, Shipping magnate and Mayor of Hermoupolis from 1853 to 1862.
• Aristides Damalas, Diplomat, military officer, actor, socialite and husband of Sarah Bernhardt; late 19th century.
• Nicolaos Damalas, Theologian and university professor; mid to late 19th century.
• Ioannis Zanni Damalas, Mayor of Chios from 1878 to 1882.
• Pavlos Damalas, Commercial agent and politician, Mayor of Piraeus from 1903 to 1907 and founder of the Erete Sports Club
• Tereza Damala, Socialite, lover of Ernest Hemingway and Prince Gabriele D'Annunzio, model of Pablo Picasso in the early 20th century. Subject of the historical novel "Tereza", by Freddy Germanos.
• Mikes Damalas, cinematographer; mid 20th century.
• Antonios Damalas, Scientist, professor, researcher and writer; mid-late 20th century.
• Anastasia Damala, Professor, philanthropist and founder of the Damalas Foundation.

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