Medieval Castle of Hypatis #1261

Description

The history that follows refers to the city of Ypati, not just the castle itself, which was likely only a part of the ancient and medieval city—perhaps its acropolis. It is unclear whether the castle served as the main center of activity and administration, and it probably did not.

Ypati (Greek: Υπάτη), a village in Phthiotis, Greece, was known in the Middle Ages and Ottoman period as Neopatras (Νέαι Πάτραι, "New Patras"), or colloquially Patratziki. It was the capital of the Duchy of Neopatras.

The hill where the castle stands was first fortified in the Hellenistic period. The walls were rebuilt in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian. By 869, the city was referred to as Neai Patrai (New Patras), or Neopatria as it was called by the Franks.

In 1204, after the Fourth Crusade and the first fall of Constantinople, the Franks captured the castle. It was then taken by the Greeks of the Despotate of Epirus in 1218. In 1267, it was granted to Ioannis Angelos Komnenos (the illegitimate son of the ruler of Epirus), who repaired the castle and established the Duchy of Neopatria (or Neopatras) in 1271.

In 1318-1319, the Almogavars of the Catalan Company expanded into southern Thessaly, after conquering much of the Duchy of Athens. Under Alfonso Frederick, the infante of the Kingdom of Sicily, these newly conquered territories were organized into a duchy and united with the Duchy of Athens as new possessions of the Crown of Aragon. The Duchy was divided into captaincies, including Siderokastron, Neopatria, and Salona (modern Amfissa).

Gradually, attacks from the Byzantine Empire reduced the duchy’s territory until what remained of it was taken over by the Republic of Florence in 1390.

The city was eventually captured by the Turks in 1393.