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Axioupoli (Template:Lang-el, Slavic: Бојмица, Bojmica or Боемица, Boemica) is a small town in the Paionia Province of Kilkis Prefecture, in Central Macedonia, northern Greece. As of 2001 it had a population of 3,500
Name
Its ancient name was Atalanti and it was established in the pre-historic times. As Atalanti was conquared by Vottieans who were Cretans and came in the area in the 12th century BC. In the 5th century BC Atalanti was annexed in the Macedonian Kingdom and by that time it followed the Greek histoy. The Slavic name is Bojmica (Slavic: Бојмица), obtained during the era of Byzantine Empire and it is of a Slavic word meaning strong. Slavs, who entered the area in the 7th century AD, named the area Bojmica, which means 'little Bojmia', because the valley of Axios looks like the Valley of Bohemia (although in Ottoman era the valley of Axios river used to be called Roumlouki, menaing 'Valley of Greeks'). The town was renamed Axioupoli on 1 January 1927, after the river Axios which it resides by.
History
Refounded in 1760 by Christian settlers from adjoining areas, they chose it as their new home due to its proximity to the Axios River, near the ruins of ancient town Atalanti. The town form part of the Ottoman Empire until the early 20th century. In the Greek revolution of 1821, inhabitants of Axioupolis and other villages, fought against Ottomans. The family of Papazafiriou Stamatiadi from Idomeni gave the most famous Greek fighters of 1821. The Ottoman troops defeated the rebels in the area, and the revolution continued only in Southern Greece.
Construction of Axioupolis' first church, Saint Dimitrios (Template:Lang-el), started in 1843 after Christians were given the right to build churches and schools by the Ottomans. Saint Dimitrios was completed in 1859. During the national competitions in the area, a lot of locals resist in IMRO and defend the area. By 1873 the population of the town comprised of 85 households, with 58 Muslim inhabitants, mainly Turks, and 348 Bulgarian inhabitants. The first school in town was build in 1894. People of Axioupolis Municipality participated in the Macedonian Struggle.
In 1900, the ethnic composition of the town had changed with many Turks immigrating to the area. However local Macedonian Slavic speakers still comprised a large part of the population.The ethnic composition of the village according to Vasil Kanchov in 1900 was 1,220 Bulgarians and 625 Turks. The "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne" survey by Dimitar Mishev concluded that the Christian population was comprised of 1,360 Bulgarian Exarchists. Bulgarians built a school also, in the village in the beginning of 20th century.
On 22 October 1912 the Ottomans were expelled and the town became part of Greece. During the population exchange of the early 20th century the town was settled by refugees from all over the Balkans and Anatolian regions, giving it a unique feel. Its residence played a big part in helping win the Battle of Kilkis-Lahanas and with the battle of Skra-di-Legen.
Because of its location it has had geopolitical significance, being one of the last places from which the Germans left after World War II ended. The main railway between Thessaloniki and Europe went through the town's center, making Axioupoli a center of information during the Balkan Wars, World War I and World War II. In 1913 the first customs office between Greece and Serbia was opened in Axioupoli.
In World War I the French Army was stationed there to control one of the main supply routes. They helped build numerous projects in town, and within the region, to help with their supply transportation. They built an additional railroad from the center of Axioupoli to Skra (Skora) and the railroad bridge which crosses over the Axios river and leads into Paris. These projects helped change the town as one of Greece's industrialized centers.
On 8 April 1944 the Germans took control of the town, which gave them access to the railroads, bridges and control over the supply routes for the Axis. They occupied the town until 31 October 1944. During the occupation, the Greek People's Liberation Army (ELAS) staged many sabotaged missions against the Axis in the region while residents helped hide Greek fighters from the Germans.
Location
The town is located 547 km (340 mi) north-northwest of Athens the capital of Greece; 62 km (39 mi) northwest from the regional capital Thessaloniki; 33.9 km (21.1 mi) west from the prefectural capital Kilkis, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) west from the small town of Polykastro a small town located in Kilkis Prefecture and West of the Axios River.
Sightseeing
You can visit the Natural History Museum Axioupoli, one of the best in Greece, the Library, Mega Rema (Kotzadere), the Statue of Liberty in the main square and the Metalio Lake, the big Plane tree which tradition has as being there since the era of Alexander the Great. Last but not least, it is worth visiting the Blue Lake on mountain Paiko. It is situated between village Koupa and village of Skra, which is internationally famous for the battle that took place there during the first World War, on 17 May 1917.
Education
Axioupoli has a complete system of State schools including two Nursery schools, two Primary, two Elementary, one Secondary and one High School. There is also a Technical school (TEE). Apart from these you can find three Foreign Language Schools (Hassapi-Sidera, Sphera and Pasiata) and a Computer School (Hassapi-Sidera).
External links
References
- "History of Macedonia I" N. G. L. Hammond, 1972
- In Greek: Obscure Native Macedonian Fighters" Company of Macedonian Studies (CMS), University Studio Press, Thessaloniki, 2008]
- In Greek: "The Macedonian Struggle" K. Vakalopoulos, C. Nerantzis, 2000
- „Macedonia and Edirne. Statistics of the population from 1873“ Macedonian Scientific Institute, Sofija, 1995, pages.170-171.
- Vasil Kanchov. „Makedoniya. Etnografiya i Statistika“. Sofiya, 1900, page.151.
- Vasil Kanchov. „Makedoniya. Etnografiya i Statistika“. Sofiya, 1900, page.151.
- D.M.Brancoff. "La Macédoine et sa Population Chrétienne". Paris, 1905, р.194-195.
40°59′N 22°32′E / 40.983°N 22.533°E / 40.983; 22.533
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