KASOS 200th YEAR BICENTENARY OF THE MASSACRES

[aukepalmhof]

Kasos  is  the southernmost island of the Dodecanese. It is a small, picturesque island, full of blue and white, like all the Greek islands . Picturesque and welcoming, it is bathed by the Carpathian Sea and the first thing the visitor sees is its small port in the island's capital, Fry. 
Like every corner of Greece, this small island of Kasos carries an important history behind it. Few may know that Kasos was a pioneer in commercial shipping, which reached its peak in the 18th century . Her merchant fleet was transformed overnight into a warship when the motherland needed it. And so, in 1821 the entire Kasiot fleet entered the fight for freedom.

Two stamps have a maritime theme, The woman in the row boat is I believe the logo of the festivities, and the sailing ship a hermaphrodite rigged brig, most probably from that time, but I can not find a name of any information on the vessel. (More info on the two stamps is welcome.)

KASSOS IN THE YEARS OF THE GREEK REVOLUTION
Kasos, due to its geographical location, but also the naval power it had, was a very important stronghold of the Greek revolutionary forces in the Aegean Sea and the main support of Crete, whose rebellion the Kasiotes successfully defended. For this reason, but also because our ships had carried out a series of aggressive actions against Egyptian and Turkish ships, and had also attacked the coasts of Rhodes and the coasts of Asia Minor, our island became the first target of the Ottoman Authorities after the suppression of the revolution in Crete, for reasons of revenge and punishment. On June 2, 1824 all the ships of the Egyptian fleet appeared on the island, equipped with four thousand troops under the general command of Hussein Bey, onder which were Turks, Egyptians and 3,000-4,000 Albanians
The island was not well fortified, except for a few cannons placed on the shore to cover possible landing points. The Egyptian commanders, moreover, planned to deceive the Cassiotes and began to pour heavy artillery fire for two days towards the northern end of the island. From this point, on the second night, 18 large landing-boats were detached and advanced, giving the impression that they intended to attempt a landing there, covered by much musket fire. So the Kasiotes did not realize that at the same time 24 boats with 1,500 Albanians were heading behind the village of Agia Marina secretly towards the position of Antiperatos, where they disembarked on a difficult place. The point was pointed out by the traitor Zacharias, who had previously been exiled by the Cassiotes for some offense he had committed, and wanted to take revenge on them in this way. This was followed by the destruction of the island, the murder of many Kasiotes, the captivity of the women and children. Captains Markos Maliarakis, Nikolaos Grigoriadis, Nikolaos Iulios (Bourekas) and the heroic inhabitants of the island resisted. Around 2,000 were killed and as many women and children were captured. Of the 2,000 captives, a small percentage were bought by their relatives, but most were then sold in the slave markets of Egypt and Crete. Cassian ships were confiscated and many of their owners were forced to join their crews to save their families.

Kasos, by resolution of the Hellenic Parliament since https://www.kasos1824.gr/ November 2018, is called the Heroic Island of Kasos. The Greek State recognized its contribution to the Liberation Struggle of the Nation in 1821.
200 years later, Kasos is trying to keep its approximately 1,000 permanent residents on the island. After the destruction and dispersion of the Cassiotes in many parts of Greece and the world, the Cassiotes, sailors since the time of the Trojan War, emerged as a strong naval force and contributed significantly to the development of Greek Merchant Shipping even to this day. Kasos has strong immigrant communities in the USA, Australia, various European cities, but also in Athens, Rhodes and elsewhere.

The Cassiotes keep their ties with the fatherland active and are present wherever and whenever they can. The living musical tradition is a connecting link of all Kasiotians everywhere that is preserved and passed down from generation to generation. The festivals, dances, mandinades and amazing cuisine make it stand out from many places.
Municipal authorities, collective bodies and citizens of the Heroic Island of Kasos are fighting for the development of their island even today!

https://www.kasos1824.gr/ Internet.
Greece 2024 4 x 1.20 Euro Mssg ?, Scott? ( Google translated.)