Castle of Zarnatas #1057

Description

Zarnata was reportedly transferred from Despot Theodoros Palaeologos to Constantine, the last Emperor of Constantinople, during the late Byzantine era. While Frankish records make no mention of the stronghold, its walls show a continuous development from antiquity, with some suggesting the presence of Frankish elements. It seems unlikely that a conquering power would have abandoned such a strategically important location.

According to 17th-century Turkish traveler Evliya Celebi, Sultan Mehmet II and his commander Khotsa Mahmud Pasha captured the castle around the same time as Corinth and Mistra, approximately in 1460.
Not long after, however, the local warriors, the Maniates, rebelled and seized the castle. It is clear that the Zarnata area changed hands several times during the 16th century, although by then the fortress was in poor condition.

Not long after, however, the local warriors, the Maniates, rebelled and seized the castle. It is clear that the Zarnata area changed hands several times during the 16th century, although by then the fortress was in poor condition.

The castle was occupied by the Turks in 1671, following one of their most significant attempts to conquer Mani. Evliya Celebi, who accompanied the Turkish forces, provides details of the siege of Zarnata, describing it as "the key castle of Mani." He notes that in the spring of 1670, the fortress surrendered with little resistance, likely due to the overwhelming number of Ottoman troops encircling it.